Distance and Pain
980 Words
The street felt empty.
Even though people were moving, talking, buying, shouting—
To Daniel…
Everything had gone silent.
⸻
He stood in the same spot long after the car disappeared.
Hoping.
Waiting.
As if somehow—
She would come back.
⸻
“Daniel…”
Emeka’s voice was soft this time.
Different.
But Daniel didn’t respond.
He just kept staring at the road.
“I’m going to get her back,” he said finally.
Emeka sighed.
“You don even know where she dey.”
Daniel looked down.
That was true.
He didn’t know her house.
He didn’t know her world.
He didn’t know anything—
Except her name.
⸻
Later that night…
Daniel sat outside his small house, his sister asleep inside.
The moonlight was faint.
The air quiet.
But his mind—
Restless.
“I should have done more,” he muttered.
“I should have stopped them.”
His hands tightened into fists.
“I just stood there…”
Guilt crept in.
Heavy.
Painful.
⸻
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Big brother?”
He turned.
His little sister stood at the door, rubbing her eyes.
“Why are you still outside?”
He forced a smile.
“I’m coming in soon.”
She walked closer.
“Are you okay?”
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
“I’m fine.”
She looked at him carefully.
“You’re lying.”
He chuckled softly.
“Since when did you become so smart?”
She smiled a little.
“Since you started looking sad.”
That hit him.
He looked away.
“I just… lost something important.”
She tilted her head.
“Will you find it again?”
He looked at her.
And for a moment—
Hope flickered.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
She held his hand.
“Don’t give up.”
He smiled faintly.
“Okay.”
⸻
Across town…
Inside a large, quiet room—
Isabella sat by the window.
The curtains were drawn.
The door locked.
Her freedom—
Gone.
⸻
“Ada!” she called.
No response.
She tried again.
“Ada!”
Finally, the door opened slightly.
Ada stepped in quickly, closing it behind her.
“They’re watching you,” Ada whispered.
“I don’t care,” Isabella replied. “I need to get out of here.”
Ada shook her head.
“You can’t. Your father has made it clear—no leaving, no phone, no visitors.”
Isabella’s chest tightened.
“This is a prison.”
Ada moved closer.
“Tell me… is he really worth all this?”
Isabella didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Ada studied her face.
And saw no doubt.
Only truth.
⸻
“I miss him,” Isabella said quietly.
Ada sighed.
“You’ve known him for how long?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does.”
“No,” Isabella insisted. “Because what I feel is real.”
She stood up, pacing.
“When I’m with him, I’m not pretending. I’m not performing. I’m just… me.”
Ada softened.
“That’s rare.”
“I know,” Isabella said. “And I won’t lose that.”
⸻
Meanwhile…
Daniel couldn’t sleep.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Every memory replayed in his mind.
Her smile.
Her voice.
The way she said his name.
⸻
Suddenly, he sat up.
“I can’t just sit here.”
He stood, pacing.
“I have to find her.”
But how?
Where do you even begin when someone lives in a world far above yours?
⸻
The next morning…
Daniel went back to the street.
But this time—
He wasn’t there to sell.
He was there to ask questions.
⸻
“Abeg, you don see one fine girl wey dey enter black car?” he asked a passerby.
The man shook his head.
“No.”
He tried another.
Nothing.
Another.
Still nothing.
⸻
Hours passed.
No clue.
No direction.
No hope.
⸻
Emeka found him later.
“You still dey find her?”
Daniel nodded.
“I won’t stop.”
Emeka shook his head slowly.
“This thing don turn obsession.”
Daniel looked at him.
“No… it’s love.”
⸻
Back at the mansion…
Isabella sat quietly.
But her mind was working.
Planning.
Thinking.
Searching for any way out.
⸻
Then—
An idea.
She stood up quickly.
“Ada!”
Ada rushed in again.
“What now?”
“I need your help.”
Ada sighed.
“This sounds dangerous already.”
“It is,” Isabella admitted. “But I have no choice.”
“What do you want to do?”
Isabella looked straight at her.
“I need to send a message to Daniel.”
Ada’s eyes widened.
“Are you serious? If your father finds out—”
“I don’t care.”
Ada hesitated.
“This could make things worse.”
Isabella’s voice dropped.
“I’m already losing him.”
Silence.
Then Ada asked softly—
“What do you want to tell him?”
Isabella took a deep breath.
Her voice trembling—
“Tell him… I’m not giving up.”
⸻
That same evening…
Daniel sat alone again.
Tired.
Frustrated.
Broken.
⸻
Then suddenly—
“Daniel!”
He looked up.
A girl stood in front of him.
Well-dressed.
Nervous.
“I… I was told to find you.”
Daniel stood up immediately.
“Who sent you?”
She hesitated.
Then said—
“Isabella.”
His heart stopped.
“What? Where is she?!”
“She can’t come,” the girl said quickly. “But she asked me to tell you something.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did she say?”
The girl looked him in the eye.
“She said… she’s not giving up on you.”
Silence.
Deep.
Powerful.
Daniel’s chest rose slowly.
Hope—
Returned.
- Writer
