Prequel
He opened the book. This poem always had a way of drawing him in ways he couldn't explain. It belonged to her...
We claim to love,
But our actions speak otherwise.
We put on smiles to the world,
But we're hurt deep inside.
We want to look real,
We end up been fake.
Lies to our neighbours,
Lies to our family,
Lies to our nation.
Strangely, this lie started in us.
He exhaled deeply, wiping the tears from his eyes. It all started from
the very beginning...
LONDON
"Mum, can we at least go out now?" he asked. He kept seeing children running here and there towards the beach. He didn't see why they had to keep been inside the house.
"I'm not so sure about that. Remember we have to be security conscious," his mother replied.
"Oh, come on! This is summer, mum. And we're not in Nigeria. Can't we just be free without having guards all around? Please mum," he pleaded.
"Please mum,” his siblings added.
"Fine. But you have to talk to your dad about it and..." They ran off before she completed what she was saying.
They saw their father discussing with his old friend and business partner, Mr. Stone. "Dad, can we go out to swim? Mum said we can go if you permit us."
"That's rude of you, Harry. Can't you see I'm in the middle of a conversation?"
"I'm so sorry, dad," he apologized. "Good afternoon, Mr. Stone."
"Good afternoon, boy," Mr. Stone replied.
"And about your request, I'm not so sure that... "
"Oh, come on, Jude! Let the kids have fun. Enough of the stuffing. This is not Nigeria, and you know their safety is guaranteed. Let them do as they please until they go back home," Mr. Stone pleaded on the children's behalf.
"Fine, you many go. But make sure you take care of your siblings. And take your mobile with you so I can know where you are."
"Yes dad. Thank you, Mr. Stone," Harry said gleefully, running off with his siblings behind him.
Harry (17 years old) was so happy to be out. "Benita (10), come back here. You heard dad, stick together. Same goes for you, Andrew (15)."
"But I want to meet Percy," Andrew protested.
"Me too. I want to play with Sasha," Benita added.
"We have to do as dad says. Okay, let's agree on this. We'll go where I want to go. After that, we'll go over to Percy's and later, to Sasha's. Agreed?" Harry asked.
Andrew and Benita nodded slowly. They didn't like the idea, but they had no choice. It was better than been indoors.
FALUSA TOWN, NIGERIA
Fifteen Years Later...
"You won't believe who just called me," Benita said excitedly.
"Who?" Andrew asked.
"It's Sasha. She's getting married next two weeks, and she's invited me. I'm so going. I'm so happy for her."
"Wow! Congrats to her, but you're going nowhere," he said, fiddling with his phone. It was like a bombshell was dropped.
"What!? Why?"
"Hello ma'am, you're a princess. You can't just travel anywhere just because you want to. Besides, you're everybody's sweetheart. Mum and dad won't let you go."
"But I have to go. She is my friend. This 'royalty thing' is way annoying. We've had no freedom since we were kids. It's sickening," she said angrily, pacing up and down.
He stopped chatting and walked to where she was. "Come on, little sister, remember dad's health is not still stable. You and I have to be here to assist mum, okay?" He hugged her.
She exhaled. She saw what he was saying. Family was more important.
She'd call Sasha later to cancel. Too bad she'd miss the wedding.
"Andrew, Nita, please come. I don't understand your father anymore.
And place a call to the doctor. Tell him it's an emergency," their mother said and rushed back upstairs.