By Dr Ivan Edwards
(Standing outside Amara’s house, at the front door)
I stood at her door,
my hand trembling
afraid to knock on it.
But still did,
anyway.
I should not be here.
I know that.
But love has made me
reckless,
and bold.
And a little foolish.
But I don’t care
Not anymore.
I knock once.
Twice.
Three times.
“Amara…”
Her name escaping my lips
sounds hollow
like a nightdancer’s plea.
I hear movement inside.
A pause.
Some hesitation?
Then her voice—
soft, and fragile,
“Daniel…?”
And in that moment,
I know.
Something has broken.
Shifted.
Something
that neither of us
has control of.
The world is about to change.
For us.
I sense it.
But whatever comes next…
I will face it.
Even if it destroys me.
Don’t play with
Daniel Asaba!
I kept reciting to myself.
needing that self-injection
of krypton
to stand.
Chapter 3
The Forbidden Meeting
( Amara inside her home, Daniel at the door, standing outside)
What?
Daniel Asaba is outside.
Doesn’t he realize it is late?
What is wrong with him?
I reach for the door handle,
my hands shaking,
like Waragi has possessed them.
I open the door slowly,
carefully.
The door gives way,
and there he stands—
Daniel Asaba…
quiet, unsure,
his eyes filled with sorrow
I have never seen before.
For a brief moment,
we simply look at each other.
No words.
No movement.
Just the truth
we have both been running from.
“Amara…”
His voice is soft,
breaking with emotion.
I step aside.
He enters.
I close the door
quietly.
We look at each other,
“Why are you here?”
I whisper. “It is late.”
“I had to see you,” he says.
“I had to know you were safe.”
Safe?
The word sinks,
into my stomach
like an ulcer.
“Daniel… what is happening?”
He hesitates.
His eyes shift toward the window.
He clenches his jaw.
I feel his pain and confusion.
“I think your family is coming
after me,” he says.
“Against us.”
My heart races….
I already knew…
this was happening.
“What do you mean?”
“The black car with hyenas
that follows me.
The calls.
The threats.
The boda-bodas that circle
in my front yard.
Someone wants me gone.”
I walk to the couch
and crash into it.
Annoyed.
He follows me
and kneels before me,
holding my hands.
“I cannot imagine losing you,”
he whispers.
“I won’t walk away.
Never”
“Daniel Asaba…
they will destroy you.”
My plea settles
no where.
He shakes his head
“Let them try.”
Before I can speak again,
a sound breaks the silence
outside the front door…
a heavy footstep
We freeze.
Another step.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then a deep baritone voice,
breaks out:
“Amara.”
It is Koru.
The door handle moves,
and the door swings opens.
And everything changes.
