We were broken and destroyed with fates so tangled and twisted. We were a Shakespeare and Nicholas Sparks story. A never-ending tragedy.

Our love was over before it started. It was a story that didn't have a happy ending. But that didn't stop us, nothing did.

We were two sides of the coin. Opposite forces that were bound to fall apart. But that couldn't stop us, nothing could.

Our destinies were written from the beginning. An ill fated end written in tears and pains. But that wouldn't stop us, nothing would.

⚜

Two days later I was in the Imo State Airport. After taking our luggage we waited a few minutes before someone came to pick us. It was Uncle Acho, Aunty Nnenna's husband. He was a handsome man, the grey hair on his face and head looked very nice on him. As a very tall man, people usually called huge. His height and size intimidated a lot of people even my dad. But he was nice, he had a hearty laughter that echoed in the room whenever he laughed which was a lot since he was always joking around. His taste in loud music also made his character less intimidating.

We arrived at their house in less than an hour. The gate was opened revealing the lovely duplex owned by them. This wasn't the first time I had come to their house but I was always marveled by the beauty in such simplicity. The interlocked ground, the little but beautiful shrubs that add the homeliness to the compound. A place they called home. Something I didn't have.

I noticed the gate wasn't opened by their security man but by a young girl who I instantly remembered. Chinelo- that was her name. She was their first child who was a year older than Amanda making her eighteen. I always saw her in family gatherings and we never had a good conversation. Suddenly I felt myself slipping out once again. I realized I didn't even know them at all. I was always a snob in the gatherings I saw them and even though it wasn't because I felt better than them but because of my own insecurities, that didn't justify my actions either.

Auntie Nnenna turned to the back seat noticing my countenance. "Nwa m? Are you okay?" I managed a nod. "Don't worry you hear? Your cousins are very happy to have you here. Just be calm, okay?" She placed her hand on mine squeezing it in reassurance.

"Yes Auntie." My answer seemed to make her feel better as a smile lit up her face.

"Mummy welcome." Chinelo greeted while carrying our bags from the car. "Chrisè." She tried her best not to sound awkward as she immediately avoided eye contact. I didn't blame her. I've never had a decent conversation with her before and here I was, suddenly moving in with her.

"Mummy o yo yo! Mummy o yo yo!" A child's voice resonated in the compound. A small boy who was not more than five and a girl even smaller ran towards the car.

"My babies!" She opened her hands for them to hug her while trying her best to bend down as they jumped into her arms. "How have you been eh? Bobo I hope you didn't disturb anybody too much."

The boy whose name I now knew was Bobo smiled revealing his missing teeth. I was ashamed I didn't even know my cousin's name. "Yes mummy." His eyes them stared at the baby bump on his mother which I was sure was now more evident than when she left.

"Mummy, Bobo teeth fell down and... and Shista Chineyo said that she will cook it and give us to eat." The little girl who I remembered very well spoke narrating with her arms. Chisa. I couldn't believe she was this big already remembering how she was all over me last year. The fact that she didn't remember hurt more than I expected it to. I didn't want to accept the truth. That I was just... forgettable.

Uncle Acho laughed. "Okay that's enough. Your mom and cousin are tried from their journey. Let's go inside." He carried the two of them on his arms and walked inside the house while they giggled at whatever he was saying to them.

"Chinelo, where is Kamsi and Oluebube?" Kamsi and Oluebube where her two remaining children.

"Mummy they went to Doris house." She carried down my box from the car trunk. I murmured a thank you and rolled the box inside the house. "And De Charlie went for evening mass that's why he is not here."

Entered into the house not aware of my Auntie's reply and not interested since I didn't know who they were talking about.

It took less than two hours for we too get fully settled. After taking me into the house Auntie Nnnena showed me my room which I gathered was the former guest room. I remember us arguing for some time that I could share a room with any other of my cousins but my aunt being the stubborn woman she was didn't let me win. After what felt like forever, I decided to let her win. It wasn't like I didn't like the room, truth be told the idea of sharing a room with anyone freaked me out more than anything. I was very particular about my space and liked being alone. But I didn't want to be a burden and I didn't know how to feel about the fact that she saw through me. I didn't know how to feel about any of this. What was I to them now? Family? A responsibility? Or a burden?

How I wished it wasn't the latter.

⚜

By dinner time my two cousins who were not around when I came were back. Kamsi was the one who came to call me from my room. Opening the door, I was surprised by how far her looks changed. The last time I saw her she was a chubby looking girl with oversized glasses who refused to look at anyone in the eye. Now she was almost two inches taller than me making her about five feet ten and her thin waist and flat tummy was a surprise to me as her next action.

She hugged me. And when she released me she smiled. It wasn't just a my-mum-would-want-me-to-this-so-let's-pretend-we-like-each-other smile but rather a I'm-so-happy-to-see-you smile.

"I'm so happy you are here. Mummy has been saying you would come and stay with us but I had not believed her. Oh my god! I forgot to pick the bedsheets mummy bought from Mama Mattress. She said your best color is blue and you hate orange and I didn't see the perfect one so it took time for me to get it. Oh I hope you are not mad." She was talking so fast my brain wasn't able to connect the words anymore especially when I felt it was malfunctioning. Millions of questions burning and turning in my head.

Was she really happy to see me? How did Auntie know my best color was blue? And the question that troubled me most was why. Why did they care so much?

"Oh and forgive my manners for not asking how you flight was. Was it Airpeace or Arik you used. Perso-"

"Kamsiyochukwu!" Her mother shouted from the dining area. "I sent you to call her for dinner not to interrogate her."

She chuckled. "Let's go before mummy eats my ear." I followed her to the dining still dazed by actions.

The table was full already remaining just the two of us. I sat down feeling awkward especially since everyone was looking at me.

Someone coughed breaking the awkward silence. "Bobo pray for us." Uncle Acho said.

"In Jesus Name!"

"Amen!" We chorused.

"Thank you for giving us food to eat and thank you for allowing mummy to come back safe. Thank you for everything In Jesus Name!"

"Amen!"

"And thank you for bringing our cousin to us safe In Jesus Name we prayed."

"Amen!" I couldn't stop the smile that crept to my cheek as I opened my eyes.

We ate our dinner and I could help to feel envy towards them. The way they joked and laughed together. The way they carried everyone along. The way tried to pull me in their conversations.

I always knew my family had a problem. We were pretentious, hateful and bitter people bent on keeping the illusion of a perfect family. But we weren't perfect. We weren't even a family. We were just people forced to live together through the rules of society and circumstances. But seeing them at the table, laughing, joking and eating together. It made me finally voice what I always knew. We never loved each other. We didn't love each other. We may never love each other. We were strangers answering the same last name.

For the first time in forever, I felt what it meant to have a family. For the first time in forever, I wished I had a real family. For the first time in forever, I wanted to know what it felt like to be loved.

⚜
After dinner, I retreated to my room. I sat down on my bed reading a book when my aunt came into the room.

Looking up I noticed she had changed from the dress she wore earlier to a night gown and a wrapper wrapped around her chest.

"You are still awake." She walked towards my bed and sat down on the bed making me sit up. "How are you fitting in? Eh? I hope you like your room?"

"Yes Aunty. Thank you." I really didn't know why I was thanking her but I just felt I had to.

She smiled at me. "My dear, there is nothing to thank me for. It is I that's supposed to thank you." I looked at her confused and sensing my confusion she added. "Don't worry Nwa m. You won't understand. Maybe one day you will but as for now let us just thankful to God for journey mercies."

I nodded not sure of what to say. "I wanted to talk to you about something." That statement alone made my heart stop. I was anxious which wasn't a surprise. What did she want to tell me? What have I done? "It's about your stay here." If I felt like running few seconds ago then at that moment I felt like disappearing. I wasn't sure my heart could take any bad news at that moment.

I told you no one can love you. A tiny voice mocked me inside my head.

"Nwa m? Gini ki nsobu di kwa? What is the problem?" Her forehead creased with worry making me think if I was wrong to be scared.

"Nothing." I lied to myself. Forcing myself to look at her I asked. "You wanted to talk about something."

She looked at me for sometime deciding whether to believe me or not before she nodded. "Ok. I and your dad spoke before we came here. He said he would be sending you money every month. He even gave me a card for you. Here," she dropped a credit card on the bed I never knew she was holding. "-there is a hundred and fifty thousand Naira inside for now." I wondered why she was telling me this. What was she getting at? "I noticed how uncomfortable you were earlier and I know you feel like you don't belong here or that you now owe us. I'm telling you this to let you know you don't. I told your dad I wouldn't take his money but would keep it here for you. He would pay for your school fees next term because he was adamant about it but the rest I won't let him do it. You are my child. Maybe I didn't give birth to you but to me you are my child. And I love you. You are not a burden to me Chrisè but a blessing. I just want you to know. I won't let anyone get to you anymore. I promise-" A sob broke out and it took a moment for me to register it was mine and then another one joined. She hugged me as I cried on her shoulder and she on mine. After what felt like forever I release myself from her embrace as I wipe my tears with my hands.

"Thank you Auntie. Thank you." I was still crying although it was now just broken sobs.

She gave me her heart warming smile revealing her gap teeth that made her look even more pretty. "I told you not to thank me. And why we are at it I want you to do me a favor. Don't call me auntie." My brows shot up in confusion. "Since you are going to be staying with us for now I don't feel it's right for you to call me that. And I can't let you call me mum because I can't steal her place in your life." I wanted to tell her that she never had a place in my life even when I kept one for her but I was sure my idea would not be accepted so I kept my mouth shut. "You can call me Nene."

I didn't know how to answer to that especially since I knew how strict our culture was towards the elders. Even though I didn't live here for a very big portion of my short life, I knew that call an elder by their name or without a title was as abominable as slapping them in the face.

"But Auntie I ca-"

"No it's okay. It's a special name to me and I would be more than happy if you call me that. It's not my real name so don't worry about disrespecting me or anything. I'll really like it." She flashed me a smile again.

"Okay Aun- Nene."

She grinned at me like she had won the lottery. "Thank you Chrisè. Thank you."

Sitting on my bed with my now favorite person in the world I discovered something. Sometimes we just need someone to tell us that one thing. We use different ways as a cry for help from our own suffering and demons waiting for just one person to see it and stretch out a hand. We all smile and live in a world which we can't control not because we want to, but because there is no other way out. All we are waiting for is that one word, that one gesture, that one person to change that. To tell us what we need to hear. To show us that there is still hope.

I never knew how lucky I was that night. That I would meet a lot of people that would be that one person for me. That I would be that one person to some people. To someone.

And she was one of those people.

I really loved this chapter personally. It shows a lot about Chrisè as a person. It also tells us a lot about Aunty Nnenna and her family. I believe in not just writing a good story but writing something that will make an impact in anyone. Someone. And Chrisè was right. Sometimes we just need that one person to make us know we aren't losing it.

And I can be that one person.

Nwa m- My child
Gini ki nsobu di kwa- What is the problem?