The price we paid, left a mark that stayed and I don't think I'll ever be the same.

•••• •••• •••• ••••
Muhammad helped the driver load their boxes into the car's boot, they'd just arrived Kano and Amirah was a little groggy, she'd slept all through the flight. As they drove off leaving the airport behind them, Muhammad leaned his head on the seat and closed his eyes.

He was looking forward to seeing his parents, it's been almost eight months now and he missed them especially his mother.

"I feel bad." Amirah said interrupting his thoughts, he turned to her,

"If it's about Khadijah, I've told you to stop beating yourself up about it. How long do you want to do that?"

She shook her head, "you don't understand Muhammad, she's my bestfriend, how could I have not known?"

Muhammad understood it perfectly, it was when someone was on the verge of death, you'd realized how uncaring you'd been about the person, it was only when they'd die you'd begin to remember the times you've treated them wrongly and you'd start wishing you could go back and change things but that would then be impossible.

His hand found hers and he squeezed it reassuringly. "It will be fine In Sha Allah, don't worry."

She nodded and pulled away her hand. Muhammad knew Amirah wasn't just worried about Khadijah and her stepmother, it seemed there was something else bothering her, from the corner of his eyes, he watched her uneasy movements as she played with her fingers.

"Is there something else wrong?" He asked and she turned to him with a smile.

"Nothing else."

"Are you sure?" Muhammad asked, he knew Amirah and whatever was making her this way was serious because he was aware that she was someone whom if she has something against you, she'd tell you and then forget about it.

"Ugh! Here we go again." She groaned as she rested her head on his shoulder, "yes Doctor Muhammad, I'm sure."

"Don't mock me." He said lightly hitting her, her laughter made him smile a little.

The car drove into his family's compound and he sighted his mom in front of the house with a smile brightening her face. Beside her was his sister who smiled a little.

He and Amirah got out of the car and greeted his mom who was all smiles as she embraced Amirah and then him.

"You look so beautiful Amirah, MashAllah." His mother praised looking at Amirah who in turn gave her an awkward smile. Muhammad smiled knowing she was feeling uncomfortable again, he put his arms around her and gently pulled her away from his mother.

"Umma where's Baba?" He asked as they moved inside.

"You know your father, he was here with us few minutes ago until they called from the farm and he has run off to them again."

"How's Ruqayya?" Amirah asked Zulaihat.

"She's fine, when I told her you were coming to Kano, she sent her regards."

"Oh she's not in Kano?" Muhammad found himself asking, Ruqayya was just as much as a sister to him.

"Ruqayya and her activism, she went on a girl child campaign in Calabar." Zulaihat replied as she walked away towards the kitchen. He and Amirah settled down on the couch.

"I told her to be careful, you know this igbo people don't like us at all." His mother said with a shrug.

"Calabar isn't Igbo." Amirah said.

"They one and the same, Calabar and Igbo"

Muhammad noticed Amirah open her mouth to reply his mother and he quickly intercepted. "We're so tired and hungry."

His mother frowned at him. "Didn't you people eat before leaving Lagos?"

"Toast and egg with tea." Muhammad said yawning for effect, even though he wasn't that hungry.

She turned to Amirah. "Aah that one isn't food o, why aren't you cooking good food?"

"He's the one who cooked it." Amirah replied in a passive voice.

His mother turned to look at him in shock and he simply shrugged at her, she shook her head. Zulaihat entered the sitting room with Mairo by her side, each holding a tray.

"Umma made waina specially for you." Zulaihat said dropping the tray on a stool in front of him.

"Of course, I know how he loves my waina." His mother said in a proud voice.

Amirah slowly began to eat from the food, her thoughts far away. She wondered how soon she should leave here and go to her family's house, would Muhammad's mother be offended? She knew the woman didn't like her and she didn't want to aggravate it, although she wished she could speak her mind. She wasn't stupid, it's just been few minutes and she'd recognize the subtle way Muhammad had steered brewing arguments.

As soon as they were done eating, Muhammad announced that they'd be leaving for Amirah's family house and she wanted to hug him for it but instead, she gave him a grateful smile and he tried giving her a wink in response.

"Am I chasing you? Go to your room and rest, you just got here." His mother said in a chiding tone.

"No Umma, you see Amirah's step mother is ill and we're both very worried about her." Muhammad replied standing up.

"Ill? How come I didn't hear about it? Is it that serious?" His mother asked looking genuinely worried.

Amirah spoke up, "we really have no idea, that's why we need to go and see for ourselves."

"Okay, take care and send my regards to your family."

"Can I come along?" Zulaihat asked with hopeful eyes.

Muhammad turned to Amirah and she nodded, "of course."

The three of them headed out and got into the car with Muhammad at the driver's seat. Once Amirah caught sight of the familiar red gate of her home looming ahead, her heart rate increased.

"Stop being silly, he's probably not there." She muttered to herself.

"What did you say?" Muhammad asked turning to look at her.

"Uh nothing." She replied turning away.

Why was she so scared of him? He couldn't hurt her now, he'd stopped hurting her a long time ago.

That was because he got married, and now he's not.

The small voice in her head reminded her and she shuddered lightly as she recalled his large hands all over her body, groping and grabbing.

"Amirah, what's wrong?" Muhammad asked again as he slowed down the car.

"I'm just worried about Aunty Amarya." Amirah said cleaning her eyes, she hadn't even realized a tear had fallen down.

"Are you sure?" Muhammad's tone was that of worry, she nodded.

"She'll be fine Amirah, it's okay." Zulaihat pacified from behind.

"Thank you." Amirah said.

She needed to stop freaking out but that was almost impossible seeing as Muhammad just drove into the compound. As soon as Muhammad stopped the car, Amirah jumped down from it and headed immediately to Aunty Amarya's wing.

The sitting room was empty so she went into the bedroom and there lying on the bed was Aunty Amarya, beside her was Khadijah and Lawal.

"Amirah." Khadijah exclaimed before rushing to hug her.

Aunty Amarya raised her head gently and smiled at her. "You have gotten fatter." She said in a quiet voice.

Amirah knelt down beside her. "I'm so sorry, would you forgive me please?" She asked holding clinging to her hands that were now bony, she tried not to express shock at how skeletal her stepmother looked.

"There's nothing to forgive Amirah, welcome home." Aunty Amarya said with a little difficulty.

"Where's Muhammad?" Khadijah asked.

"Oh," Amirah said as she remembered him. "I left him outside." She continued with a sheepish look.

"Typical Amirah to forget about her husband." Lawal said speaking up for the first time.

"Ya Lawal." She said covering her face as they all laughed. Amirah got up and headed outside, once she saw the scene in the compound, she halted her steps.

Adnan was talking and laughing with Muhammad and Zulaihat, he said something that made Zulaihat laugh shyly as she turned away from him.
Her brother was undoubtedly handsome, he was also a charmer when he wanted to be as had his way with words but that didn't take away the fact that he was the most horrible person Amirah had ever met.

She walked up to them slowly and as soon as Muhammad saw her, he smiled and pulled her close.

"We just met your infamous brother." He said to her.

Adnan turned to look at her with an amused expression.
"You surprisingly caught yourself a good man."

She stared at him like the trash she thought he was. "I did."

"He was just telling us about how close the two of you were when you were younger." Zulaihat chipped in.

Amirah wished she could have the quiet Zulaihat back because she honestly didn't like this seemingly chirpy one.

"He was?" She asked with a tight lipped smile.

"Give your Yaya a hug Amirah, it's been three years." Adnan said as he suddenly pulled her away from Muhammad to give her a tight hug that froze her.

His arms wrapped around tightly on her and she felt his fingers caress her back, Amirah was repulsed.

"He seems so in love with you, what would he say if he finds about Anisa?"

Adnan's low voice whispered in her ear.

A/N:

Hello, nice to have you all here again. Thank you so much for reading, a lot of the readers have given up on me so thank you for coming back.

Anyways, we've met Adnan, hardly though because I have a lot planned concerning him so let's get our sticks and stones prepared.

There's been a Nationwide protest in Nigeria against police brutality and SARS, if you had no idea, you can check it out on Twitter.

#SARSMUSTEND
#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria

Anyways, do vote and comment. Be nice to me please by sharing this book ♥️