Yemisi is staring through the restaurant's window and her mind is reeling with heavy thoughts. She's worried about Ebun. Ebun hasn't been home for nearly seven years.

A few years ago, Yemisi was the most skeptical when Ebun mentioned her desires of traveling to Russia to study and now her long absence has proved the essence of her anxious thoughts. Dentistry might be a course that demands a long number of years for study but asides that, Ebun didn't seem interested in coming home at all.

She never called anyone from home unless you called her. It was enough reason to wonder what was she up to.

Come home pls. Yemisi sends a text after staring for minutes. She's not sure Ebun will reply because her previous texts got no response. Still, she sent the text anyway. For the next five minutes, Yemisi stared into her phone religiously. Still, there was no reply or sign that Ebun had read her message.

She sips some coffee from her mug anxiously without even trying to blow the steam away. Thankfully, the coffee is not too hot. She's about to return her gaze to her phone when Barrister Peret walks into the restaurant and diverts her attention completely.

The conversation with Barrister Peret and Gaius left Yemisi feeling satisfied and achieved because it was super important for her at that moment to bring Chief Giakas down. As Yemisi is getting set to leave the restaurant, her phone vibrates.

Immediately, her heart jumps as she plants her butt on the seat. Quickly, she unlocks her phone. Ebun replied with a monosyllabic word

Why?

Yemisi couldn't believe the text. Ebun had grown fifty balls but now was not the time to focus on that. Ebun had replied and that was all that mattered. So hastily, Yemisi texts back.

Because we miss you a whole lot and are worried about what you've been up to. You are tempting me to come and pay you a visit.

Yemisi wondered if it was necessary for her to say that since none of her spies from Russia had given a negative report about Ebun ever since. Still, she couldn't help but be suspicious.

You are free to come. I've been busy with school though. My final exams are approaching soon. You know, here in Russia, you have to be twenty seven years old for you to qualify to be a dentist and I'm just twenty five so I have to take quite a number of exams to hasten the process.

Yemisi was almost convinced because it seemed like Ebun was truly consumed with academic activities. Maybe it was true and Yemisi didn't have to doubt her all the time. Still, she had an important question to ask.

I'm not sure that stops you from saying hi to at least one of your family members. We've been students once so we know how stressful it can get. Law was demanding for me while I studied the course in school. Law school was even worse but I still found time to text mum and dad 'hi' at least once in two weeks. You've not said 'hi' to any of us for seven years.

I text Cassandra occasionally though.

The last time I asked her about you, she said you didn't check on her. Yemisi argues.

Okay...see, the thing is, I'm not sure I want to stay in touch with a family that tries to control me all the time and preach to me day and night about the dangers of seeking vengeance.

But I haven't been doing that anytime I text you. Yemisi bites her lips very hard.

You've just been trying not to. So I don't block you or something but I can sense it nevertheless.

Why are you being so difficult though? Is it a crime that we miss you and would just love to have you around? You matter to us more than some silly vengeance mission.

I'm not coming home.

Yemisi inhales sharply. What the hell was going on with Ebun? Why was she being this difficult to convince?  A few minutes into Yemisi's internal display of frustration, an idea comes into the forewalls of her mind like a bright light.

I caught another rapist. Gaius. He was my daughter's boyfriend. Yemisi sends the text and waits for a reply.

For about ten minutes, there is no response. Yemisi knows that the news shook Ebun to the last details of her spine and she has to process the heaviness of the information. After a moment, dots start to appear on her phone screen, signifying that Ebun is now typing.

I'm not going to come home because of that because there's no point. You probably already have him in custody so if I come home, I wouldn't be able to do a thing. That was what you did when you caught two of the other rapists.

Do you know that if my plan was to make you come home so I can control you or stop you from carrying out vengeance, I won't be making it this obvious. You're an adult now, Ebun and I can't really stop you from doing what you want. I just wish you would come home. That's all.

But you have eyes monitoring me here in Russia or you think I don't know? You are such a control freak.

Yemisi breathed out heavily. Now she was starting to get angry but she tries to stay calm. If she doesn't get Ebun to come home now, she might not have the opportunity to do so anymore.

If you come home, you get the chance to do what you please with Gaius.

Yemisi meant what she said even though she didn't know how that was going to happen since Gaius was currently in prison but if Ebun could at least come home, Yemisi could get her to wait for a while and if possible, change her mindset of vengeance.

Yemisi waited for a reply. There was nothing. Minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months passed by like a river. No response from Ebunoluwa. Yemisi didn't know how else to try. She felt like a failure for pushing Ebun away with her overprotective attitude and she started to wonder if her sacrifices and efforts were really worth it.

Would the turbulence truly be over? Would a day come when the turbulence would permanently subside?