Her laughter was soft, wrapped in night’s silence like silk. He ran his fingers down her thighs, slowly, teasing. “You’ve been tempting me since 7 p.m.,” he whispered. She giggled, leaning closer. “I wasn’t tempting you. I was just being fine.” “Then your existence is a sin.” He whispered. Their lips met—soft at first, like they were testing the weight of memory. Then deeper, mouths hungry, hands speaking fluently in the language of need. He pulled her shirt off. She pulled him back. The room spun into heat and sweat. “You like this, don’t you?” he murmured between kisses. “I like the way you pretend like you’re the one in control.” He smiled. “I’m the man.” “And I’m the woman that let you think so.” They laughed against each other’s skin. Touch became tension. Clothes disappeared like morals in Lagos traffic. But just as his lips reached her navel, her body tensed. He paused. “What is it?” She looked at the ceiling, breath shaky. “I just feel… lost.” “Lost?” She sat up. “Do you know I begged my younger sister for transport money yesterday? Charles, I had to lie about having malaria just to borrow 2k.” His heart stilled, still catching its breath from before. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Let me—” “You don’t get it,” she cut him off. “You think sorry is a bandage, but I’m bleeding from inside out.” He reached for her hand. “I don’t want you going through all that.” “Then why am I?” Her eyes burned. “Every day you wake up and go out there chasing dreams like they’re not killing you. You’re always tired. Always broke. Always hoping.” “I’m working hard—” “And I’m dying quietly!” she snapped. “I’m tired of playing strong woman beside a struggling man. Tired of looking rich in group chats and poor in real life. Tired of turning down guys that can give me more… for a man who gives me almost nothing!” He flinched like her words slapped him. “You know I’m doing my best.” “Then maybe your best isn’t enough!” The room cracked. Not from thunder. From silence. He stood, naked in body and ego. “So you want me to what? Start fraud? Sleep with politicians? Be like the rest of them?” “At least they win! You keep fighting clean and losing dirty.” His voice broke. “You think I want to fail?” “No. I think you want to matter so bad, you’re willing to lose me chasing it.” Her voice trembled now, but her eyes were glass. “I’m tired of playing light to your darkness. I’m exhausted from waiting for your sunrise. Maybe the sun already came and went… and we just missed it.” He stepped forward. “You’re ungrateful. I gave you my all.” “And maybe your ‘all’ was never enough.” She pulled the covers around her like armor. “I’ll leave… when the sun rises.” She didn’t cry. That scared him more. ---- 7:12 a.m. She actually left, He kept thinking, He couldn't believe it. He walked like a man split in half. Eyes red. Shirt untucked. Bag in hand, on his way to work in the boutique. Three officers stepped into his path. “Hey you! Come here.” He sighed. “Officer, I’m late for work.” “Phone. Now!” He hesitated. “You no get warrant. That’s against my rights….” The slap came like lightning. No warning. No mercy. Another punch. Kicks. Elbows. “You dey teach us law? You go sabi law for cell!” Someone was filming across the street. He saw it. Held onto it like a breath underwater. Later that night… He posted the video, lips still bleeding. Caption: “In Nigeria, knowing your rights is a death sentence.” An hour later, his phone rang. Unknown Number: “Take that video down… or we’ll take you.” He didn’t sleep. The next morning, the video had 72 views. He almost deleted it out of fear and failure. Then Day 3 came. And the whole country watched — 4,082,005 views. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL9js5kg71fKDY3C1U > #1 - Theebardman