The following morning, Amara woke up with her breath caught in her throat. She decided to go to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, and each minute felt like an eternity. Later on, Amara occupied herself with folding laundry, watering the plants, organizing the bookshelf, and other such dull activities but nothing could distract her from the looming confrontation that was planned for evening with her husband, Daniel.
Finally, as noon approached, fatigue took over. She collapsed on the sofa and grabbed a throw blanket to cover herself. Just when she was about to doze off, the sound of her phone vibrating woke her up.
It was a message, but the author of the message was neither Daniel nor Farida. She did not recognize the number .
"I know your secret. We need to talk. Meet me at The Blue Palm Café, 7 p.m. Come alone, or Daniel finds out everything."
She read the message again, her heart beating so fast she could swear he could hear it. Who was this? How did they know?
The remainder of the day was spent feeling anxious and pacing. Although she thought about getting in touch with Farida, she changed her mind. The very last thing she needed was to involve her more into this mess.
Later that night, Amara arrived at The Blue Palm Café ten minutes early after dropping a voicemail for Daniel saying that she needed to run some errands but would be back shortly. Her hands were clammy and her stomach churned with anxiety. She looked around the room for any sign of the sender.
Chioma. It wouldn't take long to spot her. The very sight of her sent a wave of fear crashing over Amara. Chioma was one of Farida's acquaintances, and although Amara had met her a few times at events, she had never spoken to her much. Chioma's face was inscrutable, but her piercing eyes were glued to Amara as she made her way toward the table.
"Amara," Chioma said smoothly, gesturing for her to sit.
Amara hesitated but finally took the seat across from her. "What do you want, Chioma?"
Chioma leaned back in her chair and smiled faintly. "Straight to the point. I like that."
"I don't have time for games," she said, her voice was trembling although she did her best to not let it show. "What purpose do I serve here?"
Chioma slid a folder across the table. "Because of this."
Amara's hands hovered over the folder as her mind raced with possibilities. Finally opening it, she confirmed her worst fears had been laid out before her. Photographs. Text messages. A detailed timeline. It was all there, organized like a case file against her.
"I didn't want to accept it at first," Chioma said, her voice almost sympathetic. "But the facts and figures don't lie."
Amara's throat tightened. "How did you..."
"It doesn't matter how," Chioma interrupted. "What matters is what I'm going to do with it."
Amara's heart sank. "Please, Chioma. You don't have to do this."
Chioma raised an eyebrow. "Don't have to do what? Expose you for the liar you are? Ruin your so-called perfect life?"
Amara swallowed hard. "What do you want?"
Chioma leaned forward, her expression hardening. "I want you to end things with Farida. Permanently. No explanations, no goodbyes. Just walk away and never look back."
Amara stared at her, trying to take in the disbelief and rage churning through her. "Why? What do you hope to gain from this?"
"That is not your business," Chioma said coolly. "Let's just say I have my reasons. You have until tonight to decide. If you don't cut ties with Farida, I will make sure Daniel gets every single piece of evidence in that folder."
The ground had been yanked out from under Amara. She couldn't breathe or think. "You don't understand..."
"No, Amara," Chioma retorted. "You don't get it. You've been playing with fire and now you've provoked the flames. Choose one."
With that, Chioma stood up and walked out of the café, leaving Amara with the damning evidence and an ultimatum that could ruin her life.
The drive home was a blur after all that. She got home to find the house still empty, and Daniel not being there only magnified her loneliness. Amara's mind was conflicted with Chioma's threat, the pictures, and the impossible choice she had to make. Farida came to her mind; her warmth, her laughter, the first feeling of being noticed that Farida had given Amara in years. Could she really give that up?
But there was still Daniel. He was not the best husband, but he was not worth this betrayal. And if the truth is to be revealed, then its consequences will be catastrophic.
The quiet in the house was suffocating. She let the folder fall on the kitchen counter and sat on a chair, hiding her faces in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized how her problems were really pressing on her.
She recalled Ada's hauntingly prophetic words: "No matter what you choose, someone will get hurt."
The clock's hands moved around the dial, but it was all fog to her. Amara felt as if she was in a dark maze, caught between two worlds and there was no way to get out.
She picked up her phone and hovered her fingers over Farida's number. But just before she could call, the front door opening rang out and jolted her. She froze with her heart racing as Daniel walked into the room.
He looked tired, drawn to the face and heavy in the movement. He dropped his bag and connected with her eyes. "We need to talk," he said, serious yet peaceful in his tone.
Amara nodded, her throat dry. "Okay."
They sat across from each other at the dining table, those unspoken words weighting heavily on them.
"Amara," Daniel said, his voice calm. "I think we both have been too distant of late. I too have been distant as well. We are just like strangers sharing a roof."
Raising his hand, she opened her mouth to speak but he spoke up again "Let me finish. I have no idea what has gotten into you, but it's clear that this is not what you need. Whatever the case may be we still can fix it together"
For Amara, those words were both lifeline and nightmare, touching her heart so deeply that they would make it bleed. It was not like he totally knew the truth since he still came back encouraging her to get their relationship back on track.
She was on the verge of tears when she whispered "I am sorry Daniel, I have almost got it"
The man leaned forward and held her hand across the table. "We'll find a way back there. But you will have to promise me one thing only. You are not ready to tell me what concerns you, are you?"
Amara hesitated, the burden of her secrets almost crushing her. Before she could answer, her phone buzzed on the table.
The message was from Chioma: "Time's up, Amara. What's it going to be?"
Her breath caught in her throat as Daniel's gaze flicked to the screen. "Who is that?" he asked, his tone curious but tinged with suspicion.
Amara's heart raced as she snatched the phone back. "Just a friend," she said quickly.
Daniel's furrowed brow didn't imply a question. "Amara, I want us to work but I need your honesty. If there's something you're not telling me..."
"I need time," she blurted out, her voice shaky.
Daniel stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. But don't take too long. I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
Later that night, after Daniel had gone to bed, Amara sat in the living room alone staring at the folder Chioma had left for her. It was so hard to breathe under the weight of her decisions.
With the minute hand just past midnight, another message came in. This time it was a photo, one of the damning images from the folder, and a chilling caption: "Decide or I will."
Amara felt the walls closing in around her. She was running out of time, and the edge of exposure was closer than ever had been.