“I hope you work this out. Jordan is upset with me because I called you.”
I nod. He’s not hiding his anger at me, so I can imagine his reaction to Andrea calling me.
We are back to being silent again. A few minutes later, Jordan returns and turns to Andrea, “The nurses say she will be asleep all night and will call us once she wakes up,” he says to Andrea.
She nods and gets to her feet, turning to me. “Please, call me when she wakes up,” she says, just as Jordan scoffs. When they leave, I lean in and kiss Anu’s forehead.
Holding her hand, I sit back in the chair.
Chapter 54
Anu-Ms K
I briefly open my eyes and see Nkem’s shadow. My lids are heavy; I can barely keep them open. I close them again. When next I wake, I won’t be here anymore. The next time I wake, I feel a hand in mine. I try to remove it, but the person holds on tight. When I fully open my eyes, Daniel moves closer to me. My head feels heavy, and my mind feels foggy, and my body feels drained and weak. All of that I can handle, but not him here. I cannot handle him, as my mind free falls,Why is he here? I can’t look at him. I turn my head away from him and he turns it back to face him.
“Hello, Princess,” he says in a gentle tone.
Why is he here? He yelled at me; the last time I saw him was all anger in his eyes. I fell hard for him, and he destroyed me.
My heart flutters when he tells me he came back. But he didn’t believe me when I told him I didn’t know how the pictures happened. I can’t let him in again.
“You said we were done, Daniel,” I remind him, and he tries to look hurt.
“I didn’t mean that. I was just upset and feeling betrayed.”
How do you think I felt, seeing those pictures? My mind goes to the envelope, and I shudder inside. Fear builds inside, but right now, I need him to go away and let me live with my shame.
"You hurt me, Daniel," I say, knowing it’s best we go our separate ways before my life is fully upended.
“I agree and I’m sorry. Please give me a chance to make it up to you,” he pleads but my pain reminds me of the hurt he inflicted, and the fact he didn’t believe or trust me not to get in bed with Teni, I can’t be with him the threat of the note in the envelope is still there.
“You can go. I’ll call Jordan and Andrea. They’ll stay with me.”
“Princess, I’m not leaving you.” He takes my hand, kissing my palm. “It’s you and me, Princess.” I close my eyes “Anu, please. Can we return home and talk about this?”
He can’t mean that. Besides, the choice is already made for us.
“There’s nothing to talk about. After you left, I received more photos in an envelope with a note to break up with you, or the pictures will be sent to my dad, my brother and parents of my students.” I turn away as the thought and pain thumps through my chest. “I know we are over, I just want you to know that I didn’t sleep with Teni. I would never do that.” My voice shakes.
He turns my face back to him and gently wipes the tears that are falling.
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you and didn’t protect you, but I won’t make that mistake ever again.” I just stare at him. “I love you, Anu Kuti, and no one besides us get to decide our relationship. Please, give me another chance.”
Ican’t afford to do that again. My world and my heart shattered when you left.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to continue. It’s best we part ways. Our agreement is almost over anyway,” I manage to say, even as my heart shatters all over again.
“It’s not over yet. We both have to abide by the agreement,” he states and my brow rises. I didn’t really read the contract. Am I missing something?
“Are you trying to hold me to our fake roommate agreement?” I question.
“If that’s what it takes to bring you home to me.”
“If I refuse?” My heart pounds against my rib cage. Just how can I live with you again, when you have cracked open the fantasy world I lived in with you? When you ripped my heart out of my chest and trampled on it in anger.
“I’ll just have to enforce a breach of contract,” he says.
“Fine, I’ll come home and leave for Jordan’s afterwards.” Guess I’m destined to suffer. I’ll just stay locked indoors and leave once our agreement is over.
