THE PRICE OF STAYING

CHAPTER ONE: BEFORE EVERYTHING CHANGED Amara never imagined that someone she met during NYSC would become the person who taught her the hardest lesson about love. She met Daniel at the orientation camp. At first, there was nothing extraordinary about him. He wasn’t the richest man in the room, the loudest, or the one who attracted everyone’s attention. But there was something about the way he spoke to her that made her comfortable. Their conversations were easy. They laughed about ordinary things, shared stories about their families, and talked about the kind of future they hoped to have. After camp, they continued talking. What began as friendship gradually became something deeper. They started calling every day, sometimes talking until one of them fell asleep with the phone still beside their ear. Before long, they were in a relationship. Daniel didn’t have much at the time. His life was uncertain, and he was still trying to figure out what would happen after NYSC. But Amara wasn’t interested in how much money he had in his account. She was interested in the man she believed he could become. She wanted to build something with him. When she received her posting to Port Harcourt, Daniel was still trying to secure his own posting. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as planned, and he had to remain in Ondo State. Suddenly, the relationship became a test of distance, patience and trust. They promised to make it work. Neither of them knew how much that promise would eventually cost. CHAPTER TWO: THE JOURNEY TO ONDO Three months into their relationship, Amara decided to visit Daniel. She travelled overnight by bus, arriving tired but excited. She hadn’t come empty-handed. She had bought provisions and foodstuff for Daniel and his friends because she knew he was staying in the corps members’ quarters. She wasn’t wealthy herself. She was also a corps member, trying to manage her own expenses and make the little she had last. But she wanted to do something for the man she loved. When Daniel saw her, his face lit up. He helped her with her bags, laughing when she complained about how heavy everything was. “You brought a whole market with you?” he teased. Amara laughed. “You people should thank God I came at all.” His friends greeted her warmly. Someone joked that Daniel had better marry her before another man discovered her. Everyone laughed, and Daniel pulled her closer. For a little while, the world felt simple. They spent time together, prepared food, talked about their childhoods and imagined what life might look like after service. They didn’t have much, but they had plans. And at that stage of their lives, their plans felt almost as valuable as money. That evening, when they finally had a moment alone, Daniel held her hand. “Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough,” he admitted. “Enough for what?” Amara asked. “For you. You deserve better than this.” She looked at him. “I’m not asking you to give me a perfect life, Daniel. I’m asking you to build one with me.” He smiled and kissed her forehead. She believed him when he said he would never forget what she was doing for him. And perhaps, at that moment, he believed it too.