The days after their lunch meeting felt like a blur to Adanna, each day blending into the next in a swirl of anticipation and uncertainty. The conversation with Damilola had left her both hopeful and wary. It was clear that they had a long way to go before they could navigate the complexities of their past. But there was something different now—something genuine in the way Damilola looked at her, as though he were no longer burdened by the weight of his own fears and regrets.
Adanna had never been one to dwell on what-ifs, but she couldn't help herself. What if this was the beginning of something new? What if they could rebuild their relationship, piece by piece, until it became something stronger than it had ever been before?
She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside. Time would tell.
It had been a week since that lunch, and life had continued on its steady course. Adanna focused on her work at the pharmacy, the volunteer projects she had immersed herself in, and her growing network of friends. She was no longer consumed by the thoughts of Damilola, but there were moments—quiet moments, late at night—when her mind would drift back to him, and she would wonder about the future.
Her connection with him had become a delicate thread, one that neither of them dared to tug too forcefully. They had agreed to take things slow, to allow the relationship to unfold naturally, without rushing toward a destination they weren't sure of.
One evening, as she was finishing her shift at the pharmacy, Adanna's phone buzzed with a new message. She paused, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Damilola's name on the screen.
"I've been thinking a lot lately," the message began. "There's something I need to tell you."
Her fingers hovered over the screen, a sense of unease creeping over her. What could this be about? Was this another of those conversations that left her feeling emotionally drained, or was it something different this time?
Taking a deep breath, she replied. "What is it?"
A few minutes passed before his response came through.
"It's about why I pushed you away all those months ago. I've been holding onto something for a long time, and I think it's time I let it go."
Adanna's heart clenched. She had always known that there was something beneath the surface, something that Damilola had kept hidden from her. There were too many unanswered questions, too many moments when she had felt the distance between them, not just physically but emotionally. She had tried to ignore it, to give him the space he needed, but the uncertainty had always lingered in the back of her mind.
She felt a surge of both curiosity and fear. "What is it, Damilola?" she typed. "What are you holding onto?"
He didn't respond immediately. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Adanna sat back, her thoughts racing as she tried to imagine what he could be referring to. Could it be that he had been hiding something more than just his feelings? Had there been something so significant in his life that he couldn't share it with her?
Finally, the message came through. "I've been dealing with some personal issues. Things that I didn't know how to explain to you. I was afraid it would push you away, but I think you deserve to know."
Adanna stared at the screen, her heart thudding in her chest. What could it be?
"Can we meet?" Damilola's message continued. "I don't want to do this over text. It's important."
Adanna stared at her phone, her mind racing. Should she meet him? Part of her wanted to push him away, to guard her heart from the hurt she had endured before. But another part of her—one that was still rooted in the hope that things could improve—wanted to hear him out, to understand what had been eating away at him for so long.
With a sigh, she typed a response. "Okay. Where and when?"
They agreed to meet at a quiet café near her apartment the following evening. As she walked to the café the next day, Adanna tried to calm her nerves. She wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting, but she had a feeling it would change things—maybe even set them on a new path. She just wasn't sure which direction that path would lead.
When she arrived at the café, Damilola was already there, sitting at a corner table. He looked the same—dark eyes filled with a quiet intensity, his body language betraying a nervous energy. He looked up as she approached, offering her a faint smile. It was the same smile, but it wasn't the one she remembered. There was something different in it now—something more vulnerable, more open.
"Adanna," he greeted her softly as she sat down across from him.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound calm, but her voice betrayed the knot in her stomach.
There was a long pause between them, the air heavy with anticipation. Damilola shifted uncomfortably in his seat before he finally spoke.
"I've been carrying this burden for a while now," he began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "And I need to tell you the truth about something. Something that has affected everything between us."
Adanna felt her pulse quicken. This was it—the moment when the truth would finally be laid bare. She braced herself, unsure of what to expect.
"I wasn't honest with you before," Damilola continued, his eyes meeting hers. "Not in the way that really matters. I told you that I was afraid of commitment, that I didn't know if I could give you what you wanted. But the truth is, there's more to it than that."
Adanna's heart pounded in her chest. "What do you mean?"
Damilola took a deep breath, his gaze flickering toward the window for a moment before returning to her. "I've been struggling with depression for a long time," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's something I've been dealing with privately, and I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want to burden you with it. So, I pushed you away instead, because I didn't think I could be the person you needed me to be."
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Adanna didn't know how to respond. She had suspected there was more to Damilola's behavior than just distance, but hearing him speak so openly about his struggles left her speechless.
"You don't have to say anything right now," Damilola continued, his voice tinged with guilt. "I just needed you to know. I should have told you sooner."
Adanna sat back, her mind racing. The revelation hit her harder than she expected. She had always known that Damilola was a complex person, but this—this was something she hadn't anticipated. It made sense, in a way, why he had pulled away. It explained so much of his behavior, the moments of silence, the absence when she had needed him most. But hearing the truth was also a relief.
She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for telling me."
Damilola nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I don't expect anything from you, Adanna. I just wanted you to understand why I did what I did."
Adanna reached across the table, her hand hovering just above his. "I appreciate your honesty," she said softly. "But you don't have to carry this alone anymore. I'm here for you, Damilola. If you want to work through this, I'm willing to try."
For the first time in a long while, Damilola looked at her with something more than just regret. There was hope in his eyes, and for the first time, Adanna realized that they might have a chance to build something real—together.