PART 1

“Of course! Let’s go,” he said, ruffling her hair and flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. I followed them outside, the vibrant colors of the evening sky wrapping around us like a comforting embrace.

“Can we play outside?” she asked, her excitement infectious and oblivious to the undercurrents between us.It had been five long days since I last saw him. Each day dragged on, leaving an aching void in my chest that only his presence could fill. I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness, a longing that gnawed at me relentlessly. I missed him—his laughter, the way his face lit up with that familiar grin whenever he spotted me, the warmth that enveloped me when he wrapped his arms around me.

In my mind, I replayed the last time we were together, the sweet moment when we had shared our dreams under the stars. I had laid my head on his shoulder, feeling safe and cherished as we talked about our hopes for the future. But that felt like a lifetime ago, and the days without him felt like a slow torture.

When the moment finally arrived for us to see each other again, I felt a rush of excitement mixed with anxiety. I feigned ignorance, pretending not to see him waiting for me outside. My heart raced as I approached, and my legs trembled slightly. There was something electric in the air—was it love? My mind raced, filled with thoughts of how I would greet him, what I would say. Would he notice the butterflies in my stomach?

As I walked closer, I found myself lost in the depths of my yearning for him. I stole glances at my phone, hoping to distract myself, but all I could see was the blank screen staring back at me, mirroring the emptiness I felt inside.

Then, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug that felt like coming home. The familiar scent of his cologne filled my senses, and I inhaled deeply, savoring the moment. “You’re here!” he exclaimed, his voice a melody that soothed my restless heart.

In the background, Zainab played in the compound, her laughter ringing like music in the air. She always loved it when I came around, and the sight of her bouncing with joy brought a smile to my face. The innocence of her laughter reminded me of the simple joys of life, grounding me as I felt the world fade away.

As we stood there, facing each other, I felt a rush of warmth flood through me. The doors were locked behind us, our hearts pounding in unison. He gently threaded his fingers through my braids, sending a warm shiver down my spine. It was a gesture that felt intimate, a silent promise that we were connected in a way that transcended words.

His gaze locked onto mine, intense and searching. “I missed you,” he said, his voice softening as he leaned closer. I could see the emotions swirling in his eyes—desire, affection, and something deeper. He pushed me closer, guiding the back of my head down so I could rest against his chest. The comfort of his heartbeat resonated within me, drowning out everything else. And then, in a whisper that sent butterflies dancing in my stomach, he said, “I love you.”

Those three words hung in the air, electric and heavy with promise. My heart soared at his confession, a rush of emotions flooding through me—joy, fear, and a deep-seated longing. I felt alive in a way I had never experienced before, the world around us fading into oblivion. But just as the moment reached its peak, we were interrupted.

“Uncle, you left your phone outside!” Zainab called, her innocent voice cutting through the intimacy we had just shared. I jerked back, reality crashing over me like a cold wave, dragging me away from the warmth of our moment.

He quickly sat up, his demeanor shifting as he tried to regain composure. “Zainab, come here for a second,” he said, attempting to mask the surprise in his voice. I fumbled with my shirt, feeling a mix of embarrassment and longing…