There are times where we put ourselves in situations. Difficult situations. And then we try as hard as possible to avoid the consequences but then, we have to understand that running away from a problem never completely solves it.

Ebuka used his teeth to gently nibble on Eva's lips, the sensation caused her to shiver. She opened her mouth and allowed Ebuka to deepen the kiss. Enjoying the feel of his lips on hers.

Eva's arms encircled Ebuka's neck, silently tugging him to her and he obliged, pressing his body to hers as if wanting to mold himself to her. His lips momentarily left hers to trail kisses down her neck. Eva's head fell backwards, caught up in the moment. Wanting more, desiring more.

Ebuka kissed his way down to her chest and then back up to her cheeks before settling on her lips. Eva's eyes were closed, her senses lost to everything but the person whose hands and lips were on hers. Sensing this, Ebuka leaned into Eva's ear, his soft breath against her ear threw her senses into overdrive.

'I can't wait to finally have you in my bed.'

It was a whisper of promise. Surety. Confidence about what is to come. And that's when it happened, a strong pain at the back of Eva's head. She pushed Ebuka away unconsciously with one hand while touching the back of her head with the other.

'Eva? Eva what's wrong?'

But Eva couldn't hear him as flashes of a life forgotten quickly blinked through her mind as well as a face. A face that wasn't Ebuka's.

'Are you okay? Should I call Doctor Audu?'

Eva rested her head on her pillow and looked up at the ceiling. She closed her eyes, trying to process the memories crashing around in her mind.

'Eva.'

Ebuka's hand on her arm brought her out of her thoughts and she stared at him.

'Eva talk to me. Do I need to call Doctor Audu? Is everything fine? Are you ok?'

'I'm... fine. I'm perfectly alright.'

Ebuka looked at Eva a bit sceptical.

'I should call him just in case.'

He got up from the seat beside Eva's bed and started heading towards the door.

'Why did you lie to me?'

'What?'

Ebuka stopped. He was already halfway to the door. He quickly walked back to the seat he just left.

'I am asking why you lied to me.'

Ebuka was taken aback. He furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at Eva. Confusion etched on his face.

'Eva what are you saying? You're not making any sen...'

'Don't. Just don't.'

'Eva...'

Ebuka began, as he reached out to grab Eva's hand but she jerked away from his. Disgust written all over her face.

'Don't you dare! Don't you dare touch me!'

'Eva. You're not making any sense.' Ebuka said, trying to grab her hands. 'You're not feeling well. I'm sure Doctor Audu will... '

Eva snatched her hand away from Ebuka's grasp.

'You fucking liar! I remember! I remember everything!'

Ebuka shrunk back from Eva, his expression unreadable.

'Why? Ebuka, why did you try so hard to break up my marriage with Kosi? Do you hate me that much? Is that how desperately you want to see me hurt?'

Tears ran uncontrollably down Eva's face.

'Eva, mi amor please. I don't want to see you like this. I can't bear to see you this hurt.' His palm coming to cradle Eva's cheek.

'Then why. Why did you hurt me so deeply? Why did you continue provoking Kosi?'

Eva closed her eyes in pain, unaware that Ebuka's palm rested against her cheeks.

                                                                             ***

Kosi was just at the door of Eva's room when he noticed Hope wasn't with him. He turned back to see her standing a few feet away.

'Hope?' Kosi said rushing to meet her. 'Why are you just standing there? Come on, Eva's room is just ahead.'

But Hope stood there, refusing to move. Kosi went meet her.

'Is something wrong?'

Kosi asked, dropping the photo album on the closest seat.

'I... after what we did, I feel like a pretender going in to see Eva as if nothing happened between us.' She says this while motioning between her and Kosi.

Kosi's mouth formed an 'Oh' understanding what Hope meant and was quiet for a moment.

'Hey.... hey, look at me.' He starts, slowly lifting Hope's face to meet his. 'What we did was wrong and I know I'll... we'll still have to face the consequences of our actions with Eva but for now, that doesn't matter. Right now, all I want is for my wife to remember me.'

Hope's face brightened up a little at his words.

'And I want to do that with the very one who has been pushing me to do something about Ebuka from the very beginning. The best friend anyone could ask for.'

Hope's smile faltered at the words 'best friend' but Kosi didn't notice.

'Now come on. Let's go in.'

She gave Kosi a tight lipped smile as she watched him pick up the photo album from the seat he had left it.

'Are you really ready to do this?'

Hope asked, her arm on the door handle of Eva's hospital room. She looked up at Kosi wondering if he was in fact ready to confront Eva. Kosi released a deep breath he didn't realise he was holding.

'If you're asking if I'm ready to confront Eva with proof of our marriage which will most likely make her hate me, then no. I'm completely unprepared.'

Hope gave Kosi a reassuring smile, released her hand from the handle and casually placed it on Kosi's shoulder.

'It'll be fine.' Then she touched his cheek. 'I believe in the bond you and Eva share. Just tell her the truth. Everything will work out.'

Kosi smiled back at Hope, comforted by her words. Hope removed her hand from Kosi's cheek and turned to knock at the door but stopped.

'Do you want to or should I?'

'You do it.'

Hope nodded in understanding before she knocked once and pushed the door open.

'Oh! Ebu...!'

Hope stopped herself from calling his name, silently hoping Kosi didn't hear her almost slip. Eva, shocked by Hope's sudden outburst, pulled away from Ebuka's palm on her cheek. Ebuka on the other hand maintained a cool and calm expression. His eyebrows raised a bit in question at Hope before Kosi followed in after her.

'What happened? Why aren't you going in?'

Kosi asked pushing the door wider to see Ebuka sitting on Eva's bed.

'You piece of shit!' Kosi started as he stormed into the room, pushing Hope aside. 'After everything you've put us through you can't just leave us alone can you? You're obsessed with my wife!'

'Kosi calm down. You're screaming.'

'I... should calm down? Me? This man has literally made it his goal to eject me from my life with my wife and I'm the one that should calm down?!'

The room was silent.

'Kosi please, you're scaring Eva. She doesn't remember you so none of this makes sense to her.'

Kosi looked at Eva and saw the confusion in hers and then at Ebuka's calm smug and was filled with rage once more.

'Fuck that! Eva, I'm...' he said pointing at himself, '... your fucking husband! Look, look at this...' He marched towards Eva's hospital bed and dropped the photo album at the foot of her bed.

'See, look at this picture! That's you and me.'

'There's no need to be forceful...'

'Shut up asshole! Shut the fuck up! You can't fool me. I know exactly what you are.' Kosi sneered at Ebuka.

For the first time since Hope and Kosi walked into Eva's hospital room, Ebuka showed emotion.

'Oh... you know exactly what I am? What am I hmm? Enlighten me.'

Kosi's mouth opened and then closed like a fish.

'What? You're all bark and no bite? You can talk the talk but you can't walk the walk?'

Ebuka got up from the chair he was sitting on beside Eva's bed and moved towards Kosi. Kosi stood his ground but moved back when Ebuka got very close.

'Or have you finally realised how heavily hypocritical your words are?'

Kosi looked down, his eyes and expression were riddled with guilt.

'I know what I am. I am a man who's in love and would do anything for the person he loves. But Kosi, what are you? Hmm? Can you explain to me?'

With every step he took towards Kosi, he took a step back until he was backed into Hope's arms. Hope's hands held him in place.

'Exactly. Run back into her arms, that's where you belong after all. That's where you've always felt safe hasn't it, Kosi dearie. Into the arms of your best friend or should I say...'

'Stop! Just stop Ebuka.'

Kosi screamed.

'No no, I thought we were all saying how or what we are. It wouldn't be fair to leave out the parts you and Hope played in all this would it?'

He looked from Kosi to Hope, clearly amused.

'Kosi the jealous and weak husband, unable to bear the fact that his wife probably is in love with another man, a man he knows is far better than him. Instead of talking to his wife, he literally kicks her out of his house and jumps into the arms of his so called best friend.'

He punctuated the last words with an air quote.

'From the very beginning Kosi, my intentions and my feelings towards Eva have been very clear. I love her and I want to be with her but you, you disgust me. You weren't man enough to stand by and trust your wife and you still aren't! Leaving the hard part to Hope to do. Grow some damn balls!'

'Enough!'

Shocked by the outburst, everyone turned to look at Eva. She was standing beside her bed, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with pain and confusion as she stared at them.

'Eva, you should...'

'No. Don't tell me what I should or should not do Ebuka.' Eva began, shaking her head side to side. 'I already told you I'm tired of listening to your lies.'

Kosi and Hope's eyes lit up at this revelation. They were both thinking the same thing.

She remembers?

As if knowing what they were thinking, Eva replies, 'Yes Kosi. I remember.'

Her eyes move from Ebuka to Hope before settling on Kosi.

'I remember everything.'