A young man in a sky-blue shirt with folded sleeves and a black pair of trousers pushed the door open. He hurried his steps down the two staircases in front of him and his shoes made a sound against the whitish and well-polished tiles. He continued towards the woman in her early sixties seated on the sofa with her hands on her head. Her hairstyle was a low cut with gray that could be seen because of her age. The moment she caught sight of him approaching, she removed her hands from her head and leaned forward in expectation of what he had to say.

He took his seat on the same sofa she sat on.

"Any news?" Her question was close to a plea. Her eyes welling up with tears, pleading to hear the word yes instead of no.

He shook his head. "Nothing. They still can't find her."

"My God!" The woman exclaimed as she rested her elbows on her knees and buried her head in her palms. "Adesuwa, where are you?"

She lifted her head to the man. "Where could she be? Why won't she come home? I—I don't understand. If she was kidnapped, why haven't the kidnappers asked for ransom? What is all this?"

He leaned forward into a similar state as she was and covered his mouth with his hand. That way, he fell into deep thoughts. For the past three weeks, they've been searching for Adesuwa and have nothing new to show. Some things didn't even add up.

"Kenny, are you sure you left her at the airport? Are you sure?"

He shifted his gaze to the older woman. The look in her eyes was a shell of who she was. He sat up. "Mum... I don't think Adesuwa was kidnapped. I think something happened and maybe... maybe she is unable to find her way back to us."

A frown appeared between her brows while she stared at him. Her lips parted but nothing came through. She was confused. In fact, confusion was an understatement. Her daughter was missing and she had not even the slightest clue on her whereabouts.

She leaned back and folded her arms below her chest. In her heart she prayed. Adesuwa, wherever you are, please be safe.

Adedayo looked at Joy whose head rested on his shoulder and eyes were shut. She'd fallen asleep barely a few minutes after they boarded the bus heading back home. He'd let her sit by the window again. He looked at her hand still entangled with his. As a soft sigh left his lips he was thrust back into the memory of their last discussion. He'd just told her he didn't think he would love to have children of his own and she'd looked at him like she had just met a stranger. He didn't like that very much and thought it would be better if he told her the true reason which was, he never thought he would ever marry and he had his reason. Her words which followed next, threw him off guard.

"And now? Now that... now that we're getting married. Do you still think the same?"

Adedayo hadn't given it a thought. Not even after proposing to her or speaking with Sarki. But while he stared into her eyes, somehow... he knew he had the answer.

"No." He replied and lightly shook his head. The smile that appeared on her face and the sparkle in her eyes was everything to him. Adedayo smiled back. It was funny how about forty-eight days ago, he was sure his thoughts were in the right direction and now with her, he knew he wanted more. All the fairytale endings he'd denied himself from obsessing over, more than anything, he wanted them and he wanted them with her.

Adedayo softly squeezed her hand in his, grateful that she was in his life. That night, he let her have the bed and instead, he slept on the couch. He locked his hands into each other, kept it on his chest and stared at the ceiling. For a while, his mind was without thoughts, like a clean slate until the memory of them in the restaurant popped up. Adedayo didn't want to think of that scene or the thought of it ever happening again. Can she really be happy with me? The unwanted question was thrown at him like a dagger. Immediately, he looked away from the ceiling. His gaze steadied on the television and his thoughts wandered to the various times Joy had mentioned how it would be lovely if they could watch it together. He shut his eyes and left an unconscious timer on the back of his mind.

The young man with a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes stepped down from his black Mercedes. While another man walked towards him, he took off his suit jacket and carefully left it on the passenger's seat before closing the door.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Odiase." The hunkier man said as he reached out to Kenny who leaned on his car.

He accepted the handshake. "Good afternoon. Please, Mr. Lucky, tell me that you do have something new to tell me."

The man's smile was brief as he lowered his head. "I have something new." He said and lifted his head.

Kenny leaned away from his car and took off his sunglasses. "I'm listening."

The investigator began. "I discovered a few miles from the airport, there'd been an accident and the victims were rushed to the nearest hospital."

Kenny furrowed his brows. "Are you saying Adesuwa was in an accident?"

"I'm saying there's a likely possibility she was the victim..."

"Well, she's not." Kenny said, a little firm and stern than usual.

Mr. Lucky sighed. "I'm not saying anything bad has happened to her. Neither of the victims passed away nor did they acquire any serious injury."

Kenny lowered his eyes and began to mutter to himself. "Why did she leave the airport in the first place? What could she have been after?"

"Mr. Odiase."

Kenny's eyes were back on him. He folded his arms below his chest. "So, did you find out where she is?"

Mr. Lucky's expression was that of disappointment. "Neither the nurses nor the doctors could say how or when she left. But, there's no assurance Miss Adesuwa Irabor was the precise victim they treated."

Kenny ran a hand over his face. "Regardless, that's something. I think it's best to search anywhere about a hundred miles from the hospital. She couldn't have gone far, alone and by herself."

Mr. Lucky nodded. "I'll be sure to do that." They shook hands and he was on his way. Kenny got back into his car. He held the steering wheel. "Adesuwa... where are you?"

"Ah!" Joy withdrew her hand right away as the pain shoots right up her body from her fingers. Adedayo hurried into the kitchen and to where she stood.

"What happened?" He asked as he held her hand in his and looked from her fingers to the pot on the stove. "Did it burn you?"

Joy nodded then withdrew her hand. "It's nothing much. I'm fine." She told him and showed him her hands in a flash. Adedayo didn't look very convinced. If anything, he worried even more. "Are you sure?" He asked and again, she nodded.

"I'm sorry, I should've told you the pot hasn't cooled down yet."

Joy waved her hand in front of him, disapproving of his words. "Stop apologizing. I'm fine. I'm not a Chinese doll. I won't break." Then, she smiled at him before walking out of the kitchen. Adedayo noticed she took another look at her finger.

Joy stopped and stared at the television in front of her. A smile crept up her face. She turned to him. "The channels are showing." She mentioned to him in excitement like he didn't have his eyes and couldn't see it. As she took her seat on the couch, he came and took his seat beside her. She closed the gap between them and wrapped her arm around his. "Thank you." Joy appreciated as she stared at him. He stared back into her eyes. She knew he'd done this for her and each time he did something special for her, it made her love him even more. Here was a man who knew absolutely nothing about who she was and still, he was ready to turn his world upside down on her behalf.

Joy leaned her head against his arm while her eyes glued to the television. Her sigh was soft. She was scared. A deeper part of her was scared of what the future might hold. How different will it all be when her memories rush back to her? Will they still be able to keep what they have together? Will she be indifferent towards him? Will he still be this persuasive with his love for her? She wrapped her arms around his arm a bit tighter and snuggled closer. Joy would hate to lose him. In her heart, she prayed that whatever the case might be in the future, let his happiness prevail over hers. That's the only way she'll feel better.

"Dayo, I have a question for you." She leaned her head away from his arm so she could see his face. "Do you promise to give me a genuine answer?"

He nodded.

"Why did you assume you would never get married?"

At first, his eyes were shaky until he lowered them from her. Sure, he had a reason but he didn't like saying it. He was rather embarrassed by it and didn't want the obvious pity on him.

"I don't have a family and you know, marriage in this country heavily involves both families... No parent would accept to give their daughter to a man whose roots are unknown." He commented and only brushed his gaze with hers after he was done speaking. She stared at him without much of a decipherable expression. When he didn't expect, she drew closer and kissed him on the cheek. He looked at her in surprise. She held his face in her hands.

"You have me and nothing is ever going to change that." Joy smiled at him. The comforting type. Best of all, he was grateful she didn't look at him with pitiful eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him in a warm embrace. Adedayo held her well and the thought of her words being true, gladdened his heart.