er, trying to wrap his head around what she'd said -- "Not read

re at her iPad as thoug

ow, where the morning light stretched across their living room.

with a sad voice --"What do

still not looking at him. "This is not in the

something tight and unfamiliar. "We talked a

said calmly, "

the one who sa

be ready by now,

p in controlled language. She was calm, too calm. Meanwhile, Nathan'

to fight, not this early

walked into the bedroom, s

-

o test results. He comes home late, sometimes so tired he could barely take off his shoes. Adaeze, too, buried herself deeper in h

ut it felt like they were becoming polite str

r the covers, but she would gently turn away, pretending to be aslee

uple with matching smiles and a well-furnished home. No one saw the

-

ready sitting in the living room, her legs crossed, her laptop

d, her express

ey

r, It's alrea

, "You ma

es

ff the bowl of jollof rice and grilled chic

ank

a discussion ", she said,

n, "Talk a

ut us, about this w

nodded,

" she began. "I get it, but I

all e

nal Manager, It's a huge deal, I've worked for this since my th

I'm super-p

a child changes everything. I can'

ink a child is

responsibility,which I'm

food slowly, try

said. "What if I'm rea

affects my body, My career, My

You set the timeline, I honored it, and now... you've

"I didn't mean

you

e air between the bo

ce. That night, they both lay

-

ought maybe she'd come around in a few weeks, maybe i

months, ber stan

w she stiffened at the sight of pregnant women; How she never commented when friends

of surgeons rounded up a meeting, Nath

ly from your wife even when you bot

out humor. "That's

ser

am

weakly, but

t. "We agreed to wait five years. Now it's

from his sandwic

en talk about

involving h

et. Her mum and I are co

times women open up to t

nodded,

-

eir apartment, his phone in his hand; A fe

" he said when

! How a

okay,

n't sou

Can I come see

she asked, "Is everyth

t reason why I w

-

The sitting room smelled of lavender and warm fabric. Family pictures covered the wa

er mother listened without interruption, whe

t feeling,

u d

ch sometimes; Even when she was younger, she wanted to do

"She listens to you, Ma

d, standing, "I'l

nk y

ke you," the older woman said gentl

t, I pr

-

r showed up the next day. She forced a smi

t try to hear, but he stood at the corridor, straining for tone

lked past him angrily without saying a

adjusting her scarf, quietly whisp

linked,

must be patien

, i w

te, hugged her gently, a

was all curled up on the bed w

the edge,

dn't r

back lightly, "

he said

egan to wonder if love alone was