Chapter 33: Chapter 33

of their lives to be over.

It was late evening when they arrived home and the couple quickly tucked in both kids to bed.

Chris sat at the dining table drinking late night hot chocolate he made himself when Pamela walked up to him.

He kept quiet waiting for her to initiate conversation between them.

"I want to go home to Ibadan for a bit" she asked quietly.

"Why" Chris answered pensively. Fear coiling and uncoiling in the pit of his belly.

"Frankly I miss home, but majorly because I don't know what will happen when Nina put to bed and instead of thinking or worrying ill rather run away"

"I did not peg you a coward Temitope"

"Maybe I am, maybe I am not, it doesn't really matter does it?" Refusing to take his bait and be angry.

"Do you plan to take the kids?" He asked more slowly this time raking his hands over and over his bushy crown of hair.

"Yes."

"Have you made up your mind? Or does it matter if I don't want you to go?" He asked again. This time his eyes said in volumes what his mouth didn't, he was begging!

Begging her to stay!

Begging her to fight!

Temitope didn't know how to hurt him willingly try as she might. It did not matter what they said, or all that happened, or all tgis man had done. Hurting him willingly was hard so she kept quiet and fiddled with her fingers.

"Do you even plan to come back?"

Silence again followed his question.

"Do you even plan to fight for me Temitope" the usual silence followed.

He got up picked his car keys and walked out. Anywhere but here!

Anywhere but here!

He felt like he was being gutted open!