### Chapter: **Filling the Gaps**

Two months had passed since Bliss's death, but life, somehow, had moved forward. I sat by the window, watching the garden sway in the evening breeze, the flowers dancing in the soft twilight. It was beautiful and serene—a stark contrast to the chaos that had swallowed my life not too long ago.

For the first time in a long while, my lips curled into a smile, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through my chest. Linda and Julius had helped me pull through the darkest of days. I wouldn't say I'd completely gotten over Bliss's death—could anyone ever truly get over such a loss?—but the raw, gnawing grief had dulled, making room for hope again. Somehow, life was beginning to feel normal, or at least as close to normal as I could imagine.

I remembered the day Julie had called me, her voice happy as she shared the news that Charles had finally come out of his coma. *A miracle,* she called it, and at that moment, I couldn't disagree. Julius, too, had fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Everything was starting to piece itself back together like the world had decided it owed me a break after all the rain.

I let out a deep breath, the weight on my chest lighter than it had been in months. The rainstorm had passed, and the sunshine, as they say, had finally broken through.

Linda had recently moved back to the orphanage, satisfied that I was finally finding my footing again. But even with her gone, there was one thing left undone—one last truth I hadn't dared to face: telling Linda about her family. The weight of that revelation sat heavy in my heart, growing heavier with each passing day. Bliss had left me with one final task—to reunite her sister with their mother—and I had delayed it for too long.

Linda had filled the gaps in my heart, and now it was time for her to do the same for her mum.

*How am I going to tell her?* The question gnawed at me, as it had for weeks. But then, a thought struck me—a way to ease into it without overwhelming her. "I'll ask her to come to the U.S. with me," I whispered, a plan beginning to form. "Let the truth reveal itself naturally."

That evening, Julius came over, and I wasted no time telling him about my plan. His face immediately fell, a sadness overtaking his usually bright demeanor. He understood what my leaving could mean—it wasn't just a vacation. This could be the start of something permanent.

"Sam... that means her life will change for the better," Julius said, though his voice was laced with melancholy. "You two might stay there for good. And I'll... well, I'll just stay here in Nigeria." He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

I felt the weight of his words. Julius had been my anchor, my brother through all of this. Leaving him behind wasn't something I took lightly. I took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "Julius, even if I go, I'll never forget you. You're part of me now, and nothing—not distance, not time—can change that."

We hugged, sealing the promise we had made to each other—our friendship would survive, no matter what.

As we pulled apart, I noticed a familiar blush creeping up Julius's face. It was the same look he'd had every time Adaobi's name came up. I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Speaking of which, how's Adaobi? Haven't heard much about her lately."

Julius's face lit up, the sadness from earlier completely vanishing. "She's good... her dad's overprotective as usual, but she's fine."

I chuckled softly. There was no doubt in my mind—Julius was head over heels for Adaobi. "You love her, don't you?"

He blinked, stunned. "How... how did you know?"

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "It's written all over your face. Trust me, I've been there before. I had a friend once, Julie... I loved her, but I was too afraid to tell her. By the time I realized it, she had fallen in love with someone else." My voice grew somber. "Don't make the same mistake I did. If you love her, tell her."

He looked at me, processing my words, and then nodded. "I will," he promised, his voice resolute.

Later that evening, I told my parents about my plan to take Linda to the U.S. I didn't leave out a single detail, remembering the promise I made to them after Titus's arrest—no more secrets. They supported me fully, knowing how much Linda meant to me. It felt good to have their backing for this next step in my life.

But before anything else, there was one more person I needed to inform. *Bliss.* I felt a pang in my heart, realizing I should have talked to her first. "Silly boy," I muttered under my breath.

The next morning, Julius and I headed to the orphanage. As soon as I saw Linda, her face lit up with that familiar joy. Without wasting time, I told her about the trip.

"You and me. To the U.S. Tomorrow," I said, keeping the deeper reason to myself for now. "It's a token of appreciation for everything you've done for me."

Her reaction was immediate. She threw her arms around me, her excitement contagious. "I can't believe this, Sam! The U.S.! You're the best!"

I patted her head, smiling down at her. *This will be your last time in the orphanage. Enjoy it while you can,* I thought to myself. She darted off to pack, and for the first time in months, I felt like I was finally doing something right.

As Julius and I left the orphanage, I noticed something different about him. He was practically glowing. "What's got you so happy?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

He laughed, looking almost sheepish. "I told Adaobi how I feel."

"And?" I asked, grinning like a proud older brother.

He mimicked her voice, "For how long have I waited for you, Julius? I love you too!"

I laughed, clapping him on the back. "Good for you, man. I'm happy for you."

As we headed home, though, a darker thought crept into my mind. *What about Madam Stella?* The last I saw of her, she had fainted from the shock of Bliss's death.

*What if she had done something drastic?* My stomach clenched at the thought. "No... she wouldn't," I muttered, pushing the fear aside. "Tomorrow, everything will be settled."

I hoped I was right.

---