The sun illuminated the house, Monica yawn flustering her eyes open, she turn and met the bed empty,she was expecting Daniel at her side but he isn't there, she stood up heading to the sitting room and met Daniel helping junior to tie his shoe lace, she smiled at them and wondered why Daniel was dressed up

"Good morning!"Daniel says when his eyes landed on Monica

"Morning! Why dressed up?"Monica asked yawning, she sat down on one of the sofas her eyes trained on them

"We are going to Lagos"Daniel stated as a matter of fact, Monica squinted observing his face

"We? I don't understand"Monica says

"I decided to accompany you down to Lagos"Daniel says

"Why?!"Monica asked

"I just want to be there for you, incase anyone is asking who this big boy look like then you can provide me, you know?"Daniel said shrugging making Monica to chuckle

"Okay, I should get ready then" Monica said beaming at him, she left immediately going over to have her bath. She got dressed in a white shirt on red palazzo, she came out of the room to perceive the amazing smell of a cooked food, she almost forgot Daniel is a good cook

"You cooked?"Monica asked and Daniel nodded, serving the food into three plates. They sat down and ate quietly before leaving the apartment, Monica called Lola to inform her she's leaving for Lagos, Lola was so happy and called the family beforehand.

With the plane lifting off the ground, Monica close her eyes and an image appeared on her eyes, she knew this wasn't her. It was definitely not her,the image she is seeing is that of Sarah, her heart constricted as she thinks about her only biological Sister. She took her phone immediately dialling the contact Lola gave to her, she only hoped the number is reachable, lucky enough for her the number was going through, her heartbeat started accelerating, she cut the call immediately not knowing what to say if she finally talks. She decided to gather up her courage later and talk to her when she's at Lagos.

"Are you okay?"Daniel asked noticing her changed facial features

"Perfect!"she says beaming and Daniel bought it. She closed her eyes trying not to think about Sarah but she couldn't, her mind wandered to the little discussion she had about Sarah with Lola, she knew the seven years she spent away from her family made her miss a lot.

****

Monica flustered her eyes opened, she had slept throughout the journey, she yawned stylishly using the back of her hand to cover her mouth, she turn to see Daniel busy on his phone. Noticing someone's eyes was on him, Daniel turn and smiled at her

"You should get ready,we are about landing"Daniel said and Monica nodded. True to his words in less than three minutes later the plane landed on the ground and the door was opened for the passengers to all come out. Her nerves started biting on her and she suddenly felt Daniel's hand on hers, she gave him a reassuring smile and suddenly felt junior holding her other hand, she chuckled slightly thinking about the two important men in her life standing beside her

Daniel took the heavier bag while Monica took the lighter ones, Junior was busy jumping about, it's obvious how excited he is to be in a new state

"Daddy!"he called

"Hmm"Daniel replied helping the taxi they boarded to arrange their bags in the car

"Is this really Lagos?"Junior asked

"Yes big man!"Daniel replied roughly his hair

They climbed into the taxi after Monica gave him the direction, sitting at the left side of the car, Monica watch the city passing in a blur. She started feeling nostalgic more of feeling sick. Daniel placed his hand on hers and she smiled looking away.

**

The ride was short, that was all Monica thought of when she saw the familiar building of her family house, she started dreading seeing them. She wondered what her mom or aunts are going to say though they sound happy on the phone to see her but everything had gone awkward

"Are you okay?"Daniel asked

"Oh my God! You have asked that a hundredth time already!"Monica whined

"That's because it's obvious you're not okay"Daniel says

"Then why keep asking?"Monica asked scowling. Daniel just shrugged and came out of the car with Junior,Monica shook her head trying to gather her thoughts and came out of the car. They suddenly heard the voice of children who ran over to meet them greeting them, Junior was astonished and obviously very excited contrary to his mom

"What's that noise!"Monica heard the familiar voice of her aunt,aunt Victoria! Hey breath cut up on her throat immediately and the next thing their eyes landed on each other.

Aunt Victoria's eyes went wide and shouted "Monica! Monica is back!"she ran over to Monica embracing her in a hug immediately, Monica hugged her back with so much energy and bursted into tears

"Stupid! Stupid girl! You should have talked to me, I thought we were close"Aunt Victoria said wiping a single tear away

"I'm sorry!"Monica said and bursted into a smile "I miss you"she said wiping her tears

"Nonsense!"Aunt Victoria said and Aunt Miriam and her mom suddenly came out of the house. Monica felt her world came to a stop when she look at her mom, she can't denied she's looking more like her mom the more and her mom's expression mirrored hers

The poor woman bursted into tears and Monica did thesame too

"What did I do? What did I do to deserve such ill treatment from you, you wanted to kill me"her mom said and she bursted into more tears

"I'm so sorry mom, I shouldn't have done that. I should have thought about you before taking any drastic decision"Monica said and her mother hugged her, she hugged her back crying on her shoulders

"Big boy!"she heard aunt Miriam call out to Junior and disentangled from her mom's embrace, Junior who doesn't know what is going on look around, his eyes landed on his mom and dad

"Aunt Miriam"Monica called and Miriam hugged her

"You shouldn't do that again Monica, Lola almost died thinking about you"Aunt Miriam said and Monica nodded sniffing

"Junior come over"Monica said and Junior went over to meet his mom,Daniel didn't mind he was totally ignored he's okay watching the family reunion

"This is your grandmother"Monica pointed at her mom,who carried him immediately "your two grand aunts"

"I saw them on phone"Junior said smiling, everyone chuckled,they suddenly heard David masculine voice chuckling, all eyes landed on him and he looked like a deer caught in a headlight

"Uhmm! Hello Ma'am! Uhmm I could...."Daniel started awkwardly and Monica cut him short

"This is Junior's father"Monica said and her mother nodded, she remembered seeing him years ago few days before Monica went missing

"How are you?"Monica's mom asked

"I'm fine ma'am"Daniel said with respect lacing his voice

"We should go inside"Aunt Miriam said and they nodded before going inside.

"Monica!"Monica's mom called and Monica turn to look at her mom

"Your dad misses you"she says and Monica nodded feeling lumps growing on her lungs. Aunt Miriam led the way and they went inside a room,Monica stopped on her tracks as soon as her eyes landed on her father

"Daddy!"she exclaimed with a tear dropping from her eyes,she rushed over to his side immediately kneeling beside the bed he is laying on

"What happened to you?!"Monica said bursting into tears. Mr Korede slowly open his eyes and his eyes landed on Monica

"Sarah?"he asked. His sight were bad and due to Monica and Sarah look alike a lot, he thought it was her and he wasn't even expecting Monica

"No daddy!"Monica said grabbing her dad's hand "it's me..." She chokes "it's me your daughter Monica"Monica said trying to control her tears

"Oh Monica?"Mr Korede asked in an unbelievable manner

"Yes Monica"Monica replied her voice louder than before

"Monica!"Mr Korede cried "where have you been?"he said his fragile hands pulling Monica into a hug. Monica bursted into happy tears,at least her dad still remembers her

"I'm so sorry...."Monica started but her dad stopped her

"I should be the one apologizing, I miss you so much"Mr Korede said and Monica nodded hugging her dad the more

"It's okay daddy, I came with your grandson"Monica said turning to look at junior who is wrapped up on his dad's arm "Okay! junior come and say hi to grand daddy" Junior left his father's embrace and went closer to his mom

"Grand daddy?"Junior asked and Monica nodded wiping her tears away

"My son!"Mr Korede said touching Junior's face. He tried sitting up,Aunt Victoria and Monica's mom quickly came to help him sit up

"What's your name?"he asked after giving aunt Victoria and his wife a graceful smile

"My name is Junior"Junior said and Mr Korede nodded no "My name is Daniel Junior Akinwale" Junior corrected himself immediately

"Akinwale!"Mr Korede tested the name in his mouth "come here!"he said carrying him on his lap. He look up and his eyes landed on Daniel

"I still remember you"Mr Korede said smiling and Daniel bend his head in form of respect immediately "Your son looks like you"

"Thank you sir"Daniel said not sure of what to say "how's your health sir?"

"I'm fine"Mr Korede said giving them a painful smile which shows he is everything but fine

"Okay! I think we should eat!"Aunt Victoria said "you wouldn't mind joining me in the kitchen Monica, would you?"

"No I don't mind"Monica said standing up after kissing her dad's cheek who gave her an adorable smile

"Junior you should come let me show you to the rest family members that are available"Mrs Korede said and Junior nodded standing up from Mr Korede's lap immediately

"I think we have to talk"Mr Korede told Daniel who nodded,he knew this was going to come anyways. He went closer to Mr Korede

"Sit!"Mr Korede said

**

"Monica! I missed you so much"Aunt Victoria said getting teary

"I'm so sorry,I didn't think well before taking my actions, everything was just too much for me then"Monica said apologizing

"I understand perfectly well my dear"Aunt Victoria said smiling at Monica "Jide is getting married soon"

"I heard about it from Lola,it's been long anty"Monica said and Aunt Victoria nodded

"And Sarah...."Aunt Victoria started and Monica stopped her

"I have to call her"Monica said before walking away with her phone. She went to the backyard of the house she's so familiar with and sat down at the balcony. She took her phone dialling Sarah's contact and her mind beat erratically with each ring

"Hello!"she heard Sarah's voice and it felt like the world stopped for awhile

"Sarah!"Monica cried, feeling nostalgic and relief all thesame

"Monica! Oh my God! Monica!"Sarah shouted, it's obvious she's surprised to hear Monica's voice too

"Oh My God! Sarah! I miss you!"Monica said crying

"I miss you so much! I tried looking for you, why did you leave like that! How can you do that to all of us"Sarah said crying

"Where are you?"Monica asked

"I'm in Lagos"Sarah replied

"Can you come down home? I'm in Lagos too"Monica asked

"Sure I can"Sarah replied

"And please come with your daughter"

*******

To MSAI lovers it's been long😄. You know how the Corona pandemic affected schooling and also ASUU strike. My school resumed and the work was hectic, I have to stop writing for awhile and alhamdulillah I'm back again. And special thanks to those that checked up on me and asked about the book. It shows you really appreciate my work 😍

I love y'all and thanks for your patience ❤️