SAMUEL’S RETURN
1947 Words
Blessing could hardly breathe. Rakeem’s eyes were fixed on her like two sharp knives. The tablet in his hand felt heavier than a mountain, though it was just a piece of glass.
The picture on the screen of her with Samuel glared at her like a ghost refusing to rest. It wasn’t even what people thought it was. She had not done anything wrong. But who would believe her? The world loved scandal more than truth.
Rakeem dropped the tablet on the glass table with a loud clack. The sound made Blessing flinch.
“Blessing,” his voice was low, dangerous. “This is how you pay me back? I warned you. I told you this marriage must not bring shame to my name. Yet here we are.”
Blessing shook her head quickly, her hands trembling. “No… it’s not what you think. I didn’t plan it. Samuel only”
She stopped herself too late.
Rakeem’s eyes sharpened. “Samuel,” he repeated slowly, like a lion tasting blood. “So you even know his name?”
Blessing’s throat went dry. She looked away, her heart beating fast.
The silence stretched until Rakeem finally exhaled and leaned back in his chair. He waved his hand as if dismissing her words. “Enough. I don’t want to hear any excuses. But hear me clearly, Blessing” his eyes locked on hers again “if you ever embarrass me like this again, I will make you regret the day you were born.”
The words landed like heavy blows. Blessing felt a sting in her chest, but she stood still. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down.
That night, Blessing could not sleep. She lay awake in the big, cold bed, staring at the ceiling. Every shadow in the room looked like a chain tying her down.
Her phone buzzed once, softly, from the drawer where she had hidden it. Blessing frowned. Nobody ever texted her anymore. Not since the marriage.
Carefully, she slipped out of bed, opened the drawer, and checked the phone.
One unread message.
Her breath caught when she saw the name.
Samuel.
Her fingers trembled as she opened the message.
Blessing, it’s me. Please don’t be angry. I had to find a way to reach you. I’ve heard things… I can’t sleep. I need to see you. Please. Just once. I beg you.
Blessing’s eyes widened. Her heart jumped like a drum inside her chest. Samuel. After all these weeks, after the forced wedding, after all the silence he had come back.
She pressed her hand against her lips, her mind racing. It was dangerous. If Rakeem ever found out, it could destroy her. Yet her heart burned with longing.
She typed a quick reply before fear could stop her: How did you get this number?
His response came immediately, as if he had been waiting: That’s not important. What matters is you. Blessing, I can’t watch you suffer like this. Run away with me. We can leave all this behind.
Her whole body went cold.
Run away?
The words were sweet poison. They carried promises of freedom, love, and escape. But they also carried risks huge risks.
Blessing dropped the phone on the bed and covered her face with both hands.
“What do I do?” she whispered.
The next morning, Blessing carried herself like a shadow. She avoided Rakeem’s eyes at breakfast, speaking only when necessary. He didn’t press her. He was lost in his newspaper, sipping his black coffee as if nothing had happened the night before.
But inside Blessing’s mind, Samuel’s words kept replaying,Run away with me.
At noon, when the house was quiet and Rakeem had gone for meetings, she checked her phone again. Another message from Samuel.
Please. I’ll wait for you near the old market road by 4 p.m. Just come. Even if it’s only for ten minutes. Let me see you. Let me hear your voice. Please, Blessing.
Her heart pounded. She knew it was madness. But something stronger than fear pulled her.
By 3:30, she had changed into a simple gown and covered her hair with a scarf. She told one of the maids she was going for a short walk in the compound, then quietly slipped out through the side gate where the security wasn’t paying attention.
Her legs carried her faster than her thoughts.
At the corner of the dusty old market road, she saw him.
Samuel.
He was standing by a tree, looking around nervously. The moment his eyes caught hers, his face lit up. He rushed forward and held her hands tightly.
“Blessing,” he breathed, his voice breaking. “I thought I would never see you again.”
Blessing felt tears sting her eyes. She wanted to scold him for risking this. She wanted to run back before anyone saw. But when he touched her, when he said her name, all her hidden emotions came pouring out.
“Samuel,” she whispered, shaking her head. “You shouldn’t have come. It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t care,” he said quickly, his grip firm on her hands. “I don’t care about danger, about him, about anything. I only care about you. You don’t belong in that house, Blessing. You don’t belong with that man. Come with me. Let’s leave. Tonight if possible. I’ll take you far away, where no one will ever control you again.”
Blessing’s heart raced. She looked at his eyes, full of desperation and love. A part of her wanted to scream yes and run into his arms. Another part reminded her of the reality the power of Rakeem, the watchful eyes of the world, the consequences if she was caught.
Tears slid down her cheeks. “Samuel… it’s not that simple.”
“Why not?” he pleaded, almost shaking. “What is keeping you there? Is it money? Is it fear? Blessing, don’t you remember what we shared? Don’t you still feel it? Tell me you don’t love me, and I will walk away now.”
Blessing opened her mouth, but no words came. Her chest was heavy with truth she couldn’t speak.
Before she could answer, a sharp sound broke the air car tires screeching on the road behind them.
A black SUV stopped suddenly, its tinted window rolling down.
Blessing froze.
Her blood turned to ice when she saw who was inside.
Blessing’s whole body turned cold the moment her eyes met Rakeem’s through the SUV window.
His face was stone, but his eyes… ah, those eyes burned like fire. Not the fire of love, no. The fire of a man who had just caught betrayal with his own eyes.
Her knees weakened. Her heart pounded so loud she thought Samuel could hear it.
“Blessing…” Samuel whispered, his hand still gripping hers. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t let him control you. We can still go”
“Leave my hand!” she snapped, panic shooting through her veins.
It wasn’t anger at Samuel it was fear. Fear of what Rakeem might do if Samuel didn’t let go immediately.
The SUV door opened with a heavy thud. Rakeem stepped out, tall and commanding in his dark senator’s agbada, the fabric flowing as if even the air respected him. Two bodyguards came out behind him, their faces hard and unreadable.
The whole road went silent. Even the hawkers who had been shouting “Gala! Pure water!” suddenly disappeared, as if danger itself had chased them away.
Blessing’s lips trembled. “Rakeem…”
He didn’t answer her. His gaze shifted from her to Samuel, slow and steady, like a lion sizing up prey.
“And who,” Rakeem’s voice was low, but it carried like thunder, “is this man holding my wife’s hand in public?”
Samuel stood taller, squaring his shoulders, though his fingers trembled where they held Blessing’s. “I’m not afraid of you, Senator. Blessing was mine before she became your prisoner. And I won’t let you destroy her life.”
The bodyguards moved immediately, but Rakeem lifted one hand. “Don’t touch him,” he ordered, his voice calm but deadly.
Blessing’s heart almost stopped. She looked from Rakeem to Samuel, caught in the middle of two worlds one of power and fear, the other of love and danger.
“Samuel, please…” she whispered, her tears falling freely now. “Don’t make this worse.”
But Samuel shook his head stubbornly. “No, Blessing. This is the moment. You have to choose. Do you want to stay in that golden cage forever, or do you want freedom with me?”
The question cut her like a knife. Her whole chest ached.
Rakeem took one slow step forward, his eyes never leaving Samuel’s. His presence alone made the air heavy.
“Freedom?” Rakeem’s voice dripped with mockery. “Boy, you have no idea what that word means. Do you think running with her will save her? Do you think my enemies won’t find you? Do you think the world will just… forget?”
Samuel’s fists clenched. “I don’t care what the world thinks. All I care about is her.”
Blessing covered her face with both hands, shaking. This was too much. Two men, one with love, one with power, are ready to fight over her in the middle of the road.
Then she felt Rakeem’s eyes on her again.
“Blessing,” he said, his voice sharp, commanding. “Come here. Now.”
Her whole body froze.
Samuel grabbed her hand tighter. “Don’t go,” he begged, his voice cracking. “Please. Choose me. Just this once, choose me.”
The world went still. The hot sun pressed on their skin. Even the air seemed to stop moving.
Blessing looked at Samuel, his eyes filled with love and desperation. Then she looked at Rakeem, his face unreadable, but his power undeniable.
Her heart screamed one thing. Her head screamed.
“Blessing,” Rakeem’s voice dropped lower, colder. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Her breath hitched. Her hands trembled.
Slowly, painfully, Blessing pulled her hand out of Samuel’s grip.
Samuel’s face broke, his eyes widening in shock. “Blessing…?”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. Tears blurred her vision as she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
She walked toward Rakeem, each step feeling like walking into fire.
Rakeem’s gaze followed her, but he didn’t smile. He didn’t even look pleased. He simply turned, opened the car door, and gestured for her to enter.
Blessing climbed into the SUV silently, her tears soaking into her scarf.
Before following her in, Rakeem turned to Samuel one last time. His words were quiet, but they carried the weight of a threat.
“Stay away from her,” he said. “Next time, I won’t be so merciful.”
Then he entered the SUV, and the door slammed shut.
The engine roared. The SUV pulled away, leaving Samuel standing in the dust, his face broken, his fists clenched, his world collapsing.
Inside the SUV, silence filled the space like a heavy blanket. Blessing sat stiff, her hands shaking in her lap. She wanted to explain. She wanted to beg. But no words came out.
Rakeem didn’t look at her. He simply stared out the window, his jaw tight, his hands clasped together.
Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke without turning his head.
“You disappointed me today, Blessing.”
Her chest cracked open. Tears spilled down her face silently.
But his next words made her heart freeze.
“I will not forgive this.”
- Writer
