NARRATOR'S POV

"This is very hilarious. In those seven years that you were imprisoned, my life was completely perfect but just your shadow is about to ruin my life. You didn't only steal my house or my profession. You stole my woman." James yelled, as he grabbed a fistful of John's collar.

"Which woman? You broke up with Eniola a few months ago, why are you claiming possession on someone that's not yours?" John asked, folding his arms.

"And you still have the guts to be replying my words, don't you have a shimmer of shame in your life? Eniola was never yours to begin with and she would never be yours." James replied, holding tightly to John's collar.

"You are only bitter because Eniola thought I was you and she fell in love unfortunately." John chuckled as he tried to wriggle free off James's grip.

"Bitter? The only thing that looks bitter is you. What do you think would have happened if you didn't lie to her from the very onset and you told her you were an ex-convict? Would she have liked you for a moment?" James replied, pulling away from John.

"You are trying to rationalize emotions. My past doesn't define who I will be in the future. If truly she's your woman. How come it was so hard for her to realize I wasn't you?" John blurted, chuckling violently.

"That's because you are a cunning brat. Give me my car keys and I don't want to see your face in my house." James retorted, searching John's pockets.

"You are only a jealous child in a man's body." John muttered as James stepped out of the office.

"If not for humanity and the law, I would have slit your throat just to avoid seeing those talkative lips of yours." James replied, bolting the door harshly behind him.

John flopped on the seat and thought intently on what had transpired in the last thirty minutes. He hit his head with his palm and groaned. The door clicked open to receive a smiling Kemi.

"What happened here? This place is a mess." Kemi exclaimed, as she knelt down to pick up a couple of papers scattered on the ground.

"Just clean it up and get back to your desk." John replied as he twirled in the seat.

"Sir, we need to report this to the authorities. Who would create such a catastrophe? We need to tell the security..." Kemi trailed off as she steeped in the bits of glass from the vase.

"I said you should clean it up.Why do you deliberately behave daft? Just stop talking and do as I said." John yelled angrily, banging the table.

"Ok sir. Yes Sir." Kemi stuttered as she set off to look for a broom.

******

The night wasn't young as James knocked violently on Eniola's door.

"Eniola, open up this door now, we need to talk." James yelled, as he shifted closer to the door.

There was no response but James knew she was home as the lights in the house were still on. James continued knocking in an irritating manner till Eniola opened the door angrily and dragged him inside.

"What took you so long to open the door Eni..." James started, but was interrupted by a slap on his cheek.

"What are you doing in my house at this hour? I was trying to sleep." Eniola lied, wearing a frown.

"You and I both know that you can't sleep after everything you witnessed this afternoon." James retorted flopping on a couch.

"And why did you slap me?" James asked, rubbing his cheek in circles.

"Just felt like." Eniola retorted, as she sat, facing James.

"I know that you are really angry and I want you to just forget everything that happened. It was just a fake moment in your life that is worth regretting." James said, waving his hands.

"Angry is just an understatement. I am furious. But I don't regret it, I mean he wasn't you but he was a better person compared to you." Eniola replied, folding her arms.

"How can you compare me to him? He's an ex-convict. John is definitely not a good person at all,and don't tell me you actually like him after he lied to you and deceived you." James retorted, placing a leg on the centred table.

"It doesn't matter who he was or whatever he used to be. He was never corrupt, he did the right thing in court. I know I was foolish but I told him things about me that I never told you about." Eniola whispered, sighing deeply.

"That's because everything he did was just a facade. Eniola, what you felt was just pure curiosity on exploring who he was. It was just a stupid crush that could leave your mind." James said, holding Eniola's hand.

"I can't believe that you are saying that. I am completely amazed at everything that happened today." Eniola replied, shifting her body on the couch.

"Then marry me, Eniola" James screamed, holding Eniola's hand tightly.

"Are you alright? How can you ask me that in the middle of everything? What kind of statement is that?" Eniola yelled, gripping the ends of the couch tightly.

"I am not alright,you know that. But I can't handle competition from anyone and I can't loose you to him. I won't take that." James retorted, sitting on the centred table.

"But is that really what you should do now? And we don't even know whether we are meant for each other. We just broke up a month ago." Eniola replied, squeezing her face.

"Eniola, please you have to understand. I want you to marry me so I can become a better person. In the last few days, I have realized how bad I have lived my life so far. I am ready to turn a new leaf but I can't do it without you. You are the only person that can trigger my life. I will change everything about me if you just say yes." James pleaded, looking into Eniola's eyes.

"You will change everything? Including your nasty attitude and bossy character?" Eniola asked, raising a brow.

"Of course, I will do that gladly." James laughed, lightheartedly.

"Then yes. Of course I'll marry you." Eniola concluded as James stood up to give Eniola a warm hug.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." James said,smiling into the crook of Eniola's neck.

"Where's the ring? You can't propose to me without a ring." Eniola asked, as the duo separated from the hug.

"A ring isn't necessary to finalize a proposal. I don't have a ring to be honest." James replied, chuckling.

"Don't worry, I have my mother's ring here." Eniola said as she fiddled with the ring on her right finger.

"Then it's settled. We are getting married." James screamed, as his deep voice echoed round the room.

"Yes we are." Eniola replied joyfully, as James reached to hug Eniola once more.

"They say that the heart beat for each person is different. Listen it's just the same as yours. So I am saying it's destiny, you and I." James said, smiling sheepishly at Eniola.

"You have succeeded in stealing my heart once more, James Okafor." Eniola said, displaying her milky white set of teeth.

"I know." James said, pinching Eniola's nose.

But they were disturbed by the ringtone of Eniola's phone that kept ringing mindlessly. Eniola picked her phone up and scoffed at her screen.

"It's your brother." Eniola said, rolling her eyes.

"Give me that." James replied, taking Eniola's phone forcefully from her grip.

"John, in your miserable life, Don't ever call this number again or I will chop your head off." James screamed in the phone.

"I hope you can hear me because I know you can act dumb sometimes and..."James yelled once more, but stopped at John's voice.

"What are you saying? Which hospital?" James screamed in agitation, gripping the phone tightly to his ear.

James dropped the phone into Eniola's outstretched hands hastily and picked up his eyes on the couch and stared round the house desperately and confused.

"What's going on?" Eniola asked with concern written all over her face.

"My mother is in the hospital. Let's talk some other time." James replied hurriedly as he ran towards the door.

"Drive carefully." Eniola screamed but James was already out of hearing shot.

**********************

James ran into the hospital panting heavily as a dog as the sweat on his face could be compared to an athlete. He sighted John seated on a chair stamping his right foot aggressively. John looked up on seeing James and scoffed.

"Took you long enough. How many hours does it take you to drive?" John said, hissing aloud.

James ignored his brother's remark and walked towards the receptionist desk nervously.

"My name is James Okafor. My mother, Mary Okafor was admitted here few minutes ago. Can you tell me where she is." James asked, panting heavily.

"She's in the fifth room just around that corner." The receptionist said, gesturing with her fingers.

"Thank you very much." James replied, giving her a brief smile.

James ran like a mad dog and John followed, ignoring the receptionist wail for him to stop. James caught the sight of a doctor hovering over a patient who was attached to numerous tubes who unfortunately turned out to be his mother.

"What's wrong with her?" James exclaimed, gripping the ends of the bed.

"Excuse me, young man. What are you doing here?" The doctor asked, shooting a quizzing look at James.

"I am her son." James replied, taking huge breaths.

"And I am also her son." John muttered, entering the room.

"Well your mother's blood engulfed her lungs and she couldn't breath so she fell into a coma when we tried to removed the blood covering her lungs." The doctor stated, wearing a straight look on his face.

"And when is she going to wake up?" James asked, shifting his head.

"To be honest, I can't say because it was drastic." The doctor replied, pointing to a unconscious Mary.

"Then you didn't do your work properly,If you did,I am sure she wouldn't be in this position." John yelled, folding his arms meticulously.

"John, can you just shut up.If you don't have anything reasonable to say in this moment, then get out." James screamed.

"Please, both of you have to be quiet. This is not a place to be arguing. It's an hospital and there are other patients here." The doctor said, throwing out his hands.

"Don't mind my immature brother. He's always dramatic." John replied, casting a judgemental look at James.

James ignored him and kneeled before his mother's bed.

"Mother, please you have to wake up. I know that I wasn't the best son to you but I need you to stay alive." James said, as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Stop being a baby. Don't you know you might trigger something and she could die from your terrible voice." John muttered, rolling his eyes.

"This is a very difficult situation and you are here talking nonsense. What did I expect from a disowned son? Get out of here." James replied angrily, shooting out a hand towards the door.

"Young man,stop shouting. This is my second warning." The doctor said, adjusting his stethoscope.

"You are calling me a disowned son. What exactly is wrong with you?" John screamed, banging his palm.

"You are the problem. Everything started turning bad when you got out of prison. Everything is your fault." James yelled, bobbling his head like a lizard.

"How is everything my fault? You aren't even thinking straight." John replied, placing a hand on his head.

"Everything began from when you were born." James screamed in anger.

"For Christ sake,we are twins." John thundered, before the doctor clasped a hand on John's lips.