THE COLLISION COURSE
Chapter 1: Collision Course
The rain-soaked streets of downtown Lagos mirrored Nneoma's mood – gloomy and hopeless. Her faded yellow dress clung to her frail frame, weighed down by the relentless downpour. She hastened her pace, dodging puddles and pedestrians.
Just as she turned onto Ojora Road, a sleek black sedan splashed through a puddle, soaking her from head to toe. Nneoma groaned, frustration boiling over.
"Seriously?" she muttered, shaking her fists.
The sedan's door swung open, and a tall, impeccably dressed man stepped out. His piercing gaze locked onto hers.
"I'm so sorry," he said, voice laced with genuine concern. "Let me help."
Nneoma's instincts screamed caution, but his kindness disarmed her. He gently took her elbow, guiding her to the sedan's dry interior.
"Get in. I'll take you wherever you need to go," he offered.
Wariness wrestled with gratitude, but the warmth of the sedan won out. As they drove, the gentleman's gentle queries chipped away at her defenses.
"I'm Obinna," he said, smiling.
"Nneoma," she replied softly.
Their eyes met, and for an instant, the world outside receded. The divide between their worlds seemed to narrow.
"Where can I take you, Nneoma?" Obinna asked.
She hesitated, unsure if this stranger's kindness was genuine or a trap.