When Bunmi paid Alex a visit in his class, he wasn’t there. Astonished, she checked the other classes and the toilets, hoping that he was safe.

“Ah-lex! Ah-lex! Ah-lex!” Bunmi heard the students cheering at her brother on the football field. He just scored a goal.

With darting eyes to proof he was the one, Bunmi walked to where the students sat and joined them. Wrinkles formed around her eyes as she smiled. The feeling of watching Alex play with such freedom was a beauty to behold. She couldn’t hide her happiness.

Bunmi cheered him up, and Alex scored three goals for his team.

After football, she walked up to him, chuckling.
“What’s so funny?” Alex raised, looking around as if it was probably something else.

“Congratulations on your freedom!” She wrapped her hands around him in a big cuddle, but Alex pushed her away with a hardened expression.

“How can one be so clingy? Can’t you see I’m sweaty?” his lips slacked as he bowed in embarrassment. People were watching.

Bunmi scrunched up her face and suddenly cracked up at his attitude. "Are you avoiding me now? How can you be so serious when I’m celebrating with you, come on! Look at how you chat with Eric and Boma. Who would have imagined?” she blushed and nodded.

“Yes. All thanks to you and your Amebo.” he made a duck mouth at her and turned away, looking for where to sit.

Then he found one.

“Uh! That’s called sisterly care, Alex. I’ll take that as a thank you.” Bunmi emphasized, sitting beside him. “You should be grateful you have someone like me to back you up. I thought I would lose you some weeks ago. Even though it hurts, I just had to say the truth.”

They sat close to each other. Alex raised his chin, and relaxed his shoulders back in dignity. It clicked to Bunmi that even his attitude changed. The power of companionship must have suddenly built his confidence.

“You could have found another way. Instead of meeting my parents saying. They bullied Alex! Yes! He was bullied by everyone in his class.” He mimicked Bunmi’s most childish voice. “Wasn’t that how you said it?” he focused his eyes on her with a smirk.

“Well, I can’t remember...  I couldn’t even think at that moment.” She told him frankly. “Look, just like I always told you, I will still tell you! Your life isn’t yours if you always care about what others think of you. So live your life the way you want to.”

“Thanks, ma’am.” He placed a hand on his chest in appreciation and bowed, still in his sitting position.

“That’s more like it.” She chuckled with a hand over her mouth.

The siblings were interrupted by the school bell that chimed at a distance.
They pulled up at once.

“It’s nice knowing you’re no longer tortured by your classmates.” She smiled. "See you later."

“Bye, dear sister.” He hummed in a tune and spine freely while running into the boy’s toilet to clean up himself before going to this class.

Unlike before when Alex followed her like a doll. It felt good to know that he was now facing other aspects of his life, living it the way he should. With the crinkled eyes and nose of a satisfied heart, Bunmi returned to her classroom.

Everything was purple and red roses until Bunmi got home. She discovered that her parents would be traveling on June 17th. Mr. And Mrs. Williams intended to travel to Dubai for their seventh wedding anniversary. They told Mr. John about it, and he agreed to take care of Bunmi till their arrival. Although Bunmi would have loved to follow them, the period fell between her revision and second term examination of Basic 3. She agreed to wait for them too.

To this, Mrs. Williams agreed to purchase new toys and outfits for her daughter. She advised Bunmi to be a good girl and always obey John’s family.

“Okay, mummy,” Bunmi replied with a nod and a warm smile.

“That’s my girl! We would be away for only three weeks and I will call you from time to time.” Mrs. Williams promised, and then she hugged her daughter before kissing her good night.

Bunmi had to stay with the John’s family. It wasn’t her first time of sleeping over, but it was going to be the first time her parents would journey so far and so long, without taking her along. Before leaving, Mr. Williams doubled the salary of both Mr John and his wife, providing the necessary so they won’t lack.

However, Bunmi was sure that she wouldn’t feel lonely in the company of Alex. Bunmi was well taken care of by Mr. John. He took her like his own daughter.

The third day after they travelled, Mr. And Mrs. John were watching the NTA news headline in the living room at 9:00 p.m. when they heard about an airplane crash. It was the worst accident in the history of commercial aviation in Nigeria.

“A Dana airplane crashed with 1,500 people in it.” A female reporter in a pink flowery suit reported the news.
“Miraculously, the two pilots escaped death, while five hundred passengers, who were admitted to Indigo Hospital in Qatar, where the crash occurred, suffered serious injuries. There are a hundred missing bodies and 900 found bodies. President Usman Gambo addresses the victims' families today, at the National Hospital, Garki Abuja.”

Listening to the news, Rebecca’s stomach flipped, paralyzed by fear. “Was it really their plane?” She sighed in despair. 

It was so unreal.

The television screen displayed a slim, dark-skinned man wearing dark shades to hide his tears. Even as the president, his voice and body shivered while he gave his speech.

“We will train, maintain and employ any other means we can to stunt the occurrence of news like this. By learning from this accident so we can avoid them. I appreciate and apologize to the families, citizens and nations that grief from the result of this accident.” He paused and wiped his nose with a white handkerchief, then pocketed it.
“I know that this pains last but my purpose is to create the avoidance of more accident. May the souls of the deceased rest in God’s perfect peace, Amin.”

After the president’s speech, the names of the departed were listed and depicted on the television screen. 

The living room was light with lights but it felt as it it was pitched dark. Rebecca’s heart dropped. The moment she read... Williams was on the screen, her eyes clouded in tears as she looked around. Hoping Bunmi wasn’t there. Of course, she isn’t here. She must be in the room. Mr John and his wife hurried to the bedroom, only to find Bunmi watching the news. The room’s television was on, Alex was fast asleep.

Time stopped as Bunmi sat there in front of the television screen on the bare floor. Frozen in time, she turned back to see Mr. and Mrs. John. Fear prickle tears in their identical eyes.

The worry on their faces spelt fear, grief, and loss. “What’s wrong? Is something wrong?” Bunmi asked, eyes wide above her smitten light brows. The thoughts of what might be wrong jabbed at her skin like needles.

Although Rebecca paused halfway to where Bunmi sat. She thought of what to ask. “Did you listen to the news?”

“Yes. What happened to my parents? I just read their names on the television.” Bunmi’s eyes begged for an answer.

“They just announced the names of the travellers, so their families would know that they had a safe journey.” Rebecca lied, placing a hand over her threaded hair. She forced on a smile that faded the next second.

“Really? Do they announce travellers name’s on the television?” her little, glittering eyes darkened with worry.

“Yes.” Rebecca affirmed. “Go to bed now. It’s late.”

Mr. John carried Bunmi and laid her on the bed to sleep. “Rest, my dear. There’s nothing to worry about.” He told her in a crack voice and covered her body in a blanket.

They watched her for a while. Unable to hold the sorrow, Rebecca scampered to the living room. What would’ve the destiny of Bunmi? How do we tell her that her parents were.... We’re involved in a plane crash? A bullet of panic rose in her tightened throat, making Rebecca choke on her words.

Although Bunmi never listened to news, she would rather watch a movie or cartoon. The newscaster’s every single word made sense to Bunmi, and this brought her to tears for the victim's families, not knowing she was included.

Fear squeezed fear from her lungs, and it forced a cough out of her mouth. Her lips pulled down as tears pooled in her eyes. Unable to stand well, Rebecca leaned against the wall and buried her face in both palms. Mr. John rushed to her and held her in a soft, side hug. With head placed on his shoulder, Rebecca let out a plaintive cry in a low moan, not to wake the kids.

“I still can’t believe it... I’ll have to rectify if it’s a false story. We met just like yesterday? I’m out of words for Bunmi, I don’t know what to say it that poor child.” Mr. John felt hot tears welling behind his ears. “This is not right.”

He turned off the television and lights. “Come with me darling, let’s go to bed.” Me. John wiped out the tears that dropped off his stinging eyes.

Rebecca bent unto his arm as they walked into their bedroom. The couple laid in bed for hours, thinking of what to tell Bunmi the following morning and how to tell her. ‘What if she hears it from a student at school or a teacher? No wonder they never called or replied our texts.’ 
It was a good thing Alex went to bed early. He might not be able to hold the pain. They both couldn’t sleep a wink.

With silent sobs, the couple embraced themselves in a position, and wept till sleep took over their heavy eyes.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were indeed, on a journey of no return.