Zaria's POV

"Are you ready?" Joel asked me and I nodded, staring ahead at the Iron gates of the Prison. I suggested that we came here. I needed my complete healing as Joel had said and by that, I need to face the greatest demon of them all.

I need to face Sam.

We both got down from the car and walked in through the gates. Joel motioned me along towards a man that was beckoning to us. His uncle was the commissioner of police so he helped me pull a few strings to make this happen.

I was very nervous to say the least. My heart was thumping and I was unsure of myself. I felt Joel pick up my hand and I watched him plant a kiss at the back of my palm repeatedly, a gesture that reassured me everything would be okay.

We got into the cell and I scrunched my nose as different smells hit me so I resulted to breathing with my mouth. The man took us to a room and asked us to sit before he went through another door. I looked at Joel and he was staring at me.

"Everything will be okay. Just face the demon." He whispered and I nodded.

The door opened and I looked up. A police man came in and opened the door wider. I inaudibly gulped when I saw Sam come to view. I felt Joel's hand on my thigh, reassuringly. Sam looked different. He had slimmed down and was looking malnourished, all in the space of a month. I almost pitied him.

Almost.

I gasped slightly when his eyes met mine. His lips spread in  sardonic smile.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. It's nice to see you again, pumpkin." He aid maliciously and I winced, gripping Joel's hand. "Oh, the boyfriend is here too. Isn't that nice? I can see we have the same taste in women." He winked at me. I saw Joel lock his jaw in anger but a smile spread across his face.

"Well, I'm not the one in blue jumpsuit and a handcuff." Joel stated simply, picking up my hand again and pressing a kiss to the back of my hand, his gaze locked on Sam's glare.

That got to him. Good.

"Are you here to gloat?" Sam asked, grimacing.

"No." I spoke up and Sam turned to me. "I'm here to let you know one thing." I added and he rose his brow in confusion. I exhaled.

"I forgive you, Sam." I declared, watching as surprise spread across Sam's face.

"What?"

"I forgive you, for the years of pain, sadness, neglect and sorrow. I forgive you for taking away my innocence." I tried my best not to cry.

"Just so you know, I'm not forgiving you for you. I'm forgiving you for me. To be free from your shackles and bondage once and for all." I chocked out, getting up from the chair. I leaned my hand on the table and moved close to Sam. He looked taken aback.

"Sam Adesola Coker. You have no power over me." I concluded sternly and walked out of the room, his priceless expression engraved in my mind.

I smiled as tears flowed from my eyes. Joel came to where I was standing and pulled me close to him. I began to sob on his chest, wrapping my hands around his torso. He sighed and stroke my hair.

"You did good, Love. You did good." He whispered soothingly.

I wasn't crying because I was sad. I was crying because I was happy...

...crying because I was finally free of that burden.

****

"So you are going to the embassy on Monday." Joel asked and I nodded. I didn't fail to notice the dejected tone in his voice. We were seated in his car, in front of my house.

"Dad said the earlier I get my ticket, the better." I replied and he nodded, not saying anything. I sighed, taking his hand in mine. "Joel, please say something." I pleaded and he chuckled.

"What do you want me to say, Zaria?" He asked, his eyes trained intently on me and I sighed. He licked his dry lips and continued. "You are leaving and I'm sad but I have to support you because your happiness matters to me." He said, a sad smile spread across his lips. It broke my heart.

"As much as I don't want you to go, I can't stop you because that would be selfish of me." He added and I looked down. He shifted in his seat and cupped my chin in his hand, tilting my head to look at him.

"I love you, Zaria and I want you to be happy. If this makes you happy then I support you all the way." He whispered and I felt my insides tingle. The first time he told me he loved me, I thought it was just in the spur of the moment but he's saying it again.

He Loves me.

"You said it again." I voiced my thoughts and he corked his head to the side in confusion.

"Said what again?" He asked and I looked at him through my lashes shyly.

"That you love me." I repeated and he chuckled, running his tongue through his lips, eyes on me.

"That's because I Love you, Zaria Omolara Coker." He moved closer to me and ran his knuckles through the skin of my face. I hummed softly in response, my eyes fluttering close. "You don't have to say it back just yet but I'll keep telling you." He moved closer again and I could feel his breath on my face.

"I Love You." He whispered in hushed tones, his gaze not leaving mine for a second.

I leaned in much closer and brushed my lips against his. I pulled back slightly to look at him before I leaned in again and pressed my lips to his. His fingers wove into my hair as he pulled closer, his lips moving in perfect sync with mine. My hand went ahead to cup his face as I kissed him with so much fervour.

It's going to be so hard letting him go.

****

Joel's POV

It was Monday and I wasn't concentrating in class. Today is the day Zaria goes to the embassy and I was sad. It was just a matter of time before she finally leaves. I was just staring ahead and I wasn't listening to anything my further maths teacher was saying and of course, almost it got me Into trouble.

"Joel, can you tell us what x equals to?" Miss Demilade asks and I shot my face her. I looked confuse as hell. I could feel everyone's eyes on me.

"What did you say ma?" I asked. I saw her roll her eyes but she repeated herself. I looked at the board, at the equation and did a quick calculation.

"X= 15." I replied.

"Correct. You can have your seat. See me after the class though." She looked at me and I groaned.

Kill me now! I told God, looking up but nothing happened. Charles looked at me and gave me a smile.

"Don't worry. Everything might work out well." He told me. I smiled back but I wasn't so sure if I should believe him or not.

Soon class ended and it was free period. I followed Miss Demilade to her office, carrying her stuff. We got there and she asked me to sit and I did. She looked at me intently.

"What is wrong, Joel? You haven't been yourself this past week and I have noticed it. You know you can always talk to me." She gave me a small reassuring smile. Miss Demilade was like my best female teacher. She was easy to approach and she gives the best advice.

"It's nothing ma. I'm okay." I tried to smile but it flattered. She sighed.

"It's about Zaria, right?" She asked. I widened my eyes.

"How did you know?" I asked immediately.

"Well for one, you just confirmed that it's about her." She laughed and I smiled. She played psychology on me. "Almost the entire school knows how much you care about her, you know." She added and I looked down at my hand.

"She already said she's travelling out to get away from all these and she doesn't know when she's coming back." I opened up to her.

"I'm scared she won't come back..." I trailed off.

"I'm scared... I might loose her." I looked at Miss Demilade and she smiled, urging me to go on. "I know, I sound selfish but I can't help it." My voice was raspy.

"No,It's highly understandable. It's obvious you really care about her." Miss Demilade said.

"I do...I really do." I nodded eagerly.

"Then stay strong for her, Joel and whatever happens, be happy for her. That's the least you can..." She was cut off when Taju ran into the office like a mad man was chasing him.

"Sorry ma I was just..." He trailed off, panting for breath.

"Taju what is it? Is a mad dog chasing you?" Miss Demilade asked.

"No. I just needed to get here real quick." He looked at me and smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"She's back." He beamed. My heart skipped.

"Who is back?" Miss Demilade asked.

"Zaria is back. She's in class right now." He replied.

"This had better not be a prank." I glared at Taju. He has always been the prankster and this was an expensive one.

"I swear on my life. She's in class right now." He touched the floor with his index, then his tongue and finally pointed up. The popular swearing gesture. I felt my heart leap for joy.

She's back. She's really back.

I looked at Miss Demilade and she smiled at me.

"Go." She said.

"Come on." Taju told me and together we raced to class. My heart was beating faster than normal.

****

We got to class and Taju entered first before I did. The class was rowdy as everyone from different classes were inside the class just because of Zaria. Everyone really missed her. My heart wanted to leap out of my chest from what I was feeling.

I saw Lyla hugging her, tears in their eyes. People sighted me and started to clear the way as I made my way towards her. Lyla saw me first so she pulled away from the hug and nodded her head towards me causing Zaria to look back at me. She was dressed in school uniform and that spoke volumes.

She's back for good.

Everyone watched as she made her way slowly towards me. She had a smile on her face as tears rolled from her eyes. Soon she was standing in front of me.

"Hey.." She began and I smiled.

"You are here..." I breathed out and she nodded.

"For good."She completed and I couldn't hold myself anymore.

I pulled her to myself, held her face in my palm and kissed her, in front of the whole class and much to her surprise. Screams of excitements rang through out the class as well as remarks like "OMG this is so romantic!", "They look so perfect together, I swear!", "Awww!", "And to think they used to dislike each other at first." But I shut my mind out to all the talks and focused on the angel in my arms.

My Omolara.

She got over the shock of me kissing her in front of the whole class and relaxed into my arms, fisting my shirt in her good hand, while the one with the cast rested limply on my bicep as she kissed me back. My hands moved on their own accord down to the small of her back, pulling her closer to my body.

I already assumed she would be gone. But now she's here, in my arms and I seriously didn't want to let her go. I heard a distant clicking sound and I realized the rebels like me that always brought their phones to school were taking pictures and videos.

Zaria pressed her palm on my chest and I pulled back, my forehead touched hers. Her lips were swollen and pinker and her breathing was ragged, just like mine. I brought my hands to her face and placed them of either side, making her look at me. Her eyes glistened with tears.

I leaned in and kissed both her eyes that had fluttered close, pulled her closer and crushed her body into mine in a tight hug. Her head rested on my chest as I nuzzled my head into her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent, registering it again in my mind.

"You didn't give up on me, you stayed with me..." She started, her voice breaking.

"Shhh... I'd never give up on you. You are here now and that's all that matters. I love you." I whispered back and held her tighter against me. I felt other bodies close to me and I saw Lyla and the other bringing in a group up, earning applause from the class. I smiled as I pulled Zaria in tighter.

"I love you too." I heard her say and my heart swelled for joy.

My Zaria is back.

The End!