Forged in fire

Fractures in the frame

The front door creaked softly as Athena slipped inside the cottage, the late evening breeze following her in. She toed off her shoes quietly, careful not to wake her mother.

But the soft kiss she placed on her mother’s forehead was enough to stir her.

“Mmm… You're back,” her mother murmured, her eyes fluttering open.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Athena whispered with a smile, brushing a loose strand of hair from her mother’s face.

Her mother chuckled weakly. “Your kisses have always been louder than your footsteps.”

Athena set her small bag down and sat beside the bed. “Today was long,” she exhaled. “Mama, I washed dishes for two hours straight. My hands feel like wrinkled old yam peels.”

Her mother laughed, her thin shoulders shaking slightly. “Hard work never killed anybody, my sweet girl. Did you eat something?”

“I had a bit of puff-puff before closing,” Athena said. “But I brought home some beans. I’ll heat them soon.”

Her mother’s smile softened. “You work too hard.”

Athena took her mother’s frail hand and held it gently. “So we can both dream a little harder.”

They sat there in silence for a moment, the quiet hum of nighttime filling the room. Crickets chirped.

“You’ve always been a light, Athena,” her mother whispered. “Even when things were dark.”

Athena’s heart squeezed. She leaned down and kissed her mother’s hand. “And you’ve always been my strength.”

Across town, Cynthia pushed open the door to their small but neatly kept apartment tossing her bag on the console.

“I’m home!” she called, not too loudly.

Her mother’s quiet humming came from the kitchen. And on the couch laid Keren her junior sister with headphones on.

Cynthia didn’t stop to engage. She walked straight to her room, closed the door, and exhaled like she’d been holding her breath all day.

Her back leaned against the door for a moment, her eyes scanning the familiar four walls safe, silent, and suffocating all at once.

She stripped off her jeans, pulled on a large hoodie and soft shorts, then collapsed face-first onto the bed.

Just as her body began to relax, her phone buzzed sharply from the nightstand.

Cynthia jumped.

Her heart raced as she reached for it, staring at the screen for a beat before answering. Her voice was low, urgent.

“The advanced payment I demanded at work hasn’t been approved yet. Once it gets approved, I will pay up i promise .”

Her voice cracked a little at the end.

A pause.

Cynthia swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the sheets. “Please. Just understand.”

The rooster crowed faintly in the distance. Morning light streamed through the thin curtains, painting golden streaks on the cottage walls.

Athena stood in her school uniform, tightening the knot on her scarf while her mother, Mrs. Caroline, carefully packed a small paper bag for her lunch.

“Mama,” Athena said, arms crossed with a playful pout, “that’s too much. It’s school, not a picnic.”

“You’re growing,” her mother replied, slipping the package into Athena’s bag. “Besides, brains need food to function.”

Athena rolled her eyes, smiling. “And hearts need peace. Which is what you give me, Mama.”

Just then, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it, expecting a message from Cynthia—but froze.

20,000 XAF has been credited to your account from Café Mocha.

Her breath caught. “Mama… it came through. The advance!”

Mrs. Caroline turned sharply, concern quickly replaced by relief as Athena burst into a grin. “I can finally get your medications. No more waiting, no more half doses.”

Tears welled up in her mother’s eyes. “Ah, God will bless you, my child. The day I carried you was the happiest day of my life. You’re my strength, Athena.”

Athena gently hugged her. “It’s nothing, Mama. We’re a team.”

Mrs. Caroline pulled back, wiping her face. “And don’t you worry. This asthma of mine is just misbehaving small. Nothing serious.”

Athena frowned. “You say that every time, but you’re wheezing in your sleep.”

“I’m wheezing with joy,” her mother teased.

They both laughed softly, but the warmth in their eyes held more than humor. It held love, worry, and hope.

“I'll get the medications on my way back from school ” Athena said, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

“Go and shine, my daughter,” Mrs. Caroline said, standing by the doorway.

As Athena walked out into the bright Monday morning, her heart felt lighter than it had in days.

The campus was alive with noises, shoes clacking, students chatting, and birds singing like it was just another perfect day. And to Athena, it truly felt like one. She walked with a bounce in her step, the good news about her mom’s medication still warming her chest.

As she turned the corner toward the lecture hall, her eyes landed on Cynthia.

But she wasn’t alone.

Two girls stood beside her, Mira and Livia the self-proclaimed “baddies” of campus. Their loud laughter and sharp fashion always turned heads… for all the wrong reasons.

Athena slowed her pace.

Just as she approached, the girls tossed their braids dramatically and walked off in sync, giving Athena a side-eye as they passed.

Athena raised a brow. “You’re making new friends, huh?”

Cynthia shrugged casually. “Oh, Mira and Livia? Our parents know each other. They’re not that bad.”

Athena narrowed her eyes. “That’s not an excuse, Cynthy. Those two have more drama than a telenovela.”

Cynthia smirked, nudging her with an elbow. “Aww… are you jealous?”

Athena gasped, playing along. “Of them? Please. I’m the OG bestie.”

Cynthia laughed. “And the only one that matters."

As they walked to class, Cynthia glanced at Athena curiously.

“You seem extra glowy this morning.”

Athena beamed. “I got the advance payment from the café!”

Cynthia blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

“Yeah!” Athena nodded. “I can finally get Mama’s medication. No more cutting doses or rationing inhalers.”

Cynthia tilted her head. “But… are you sure? I haven’t received mine.

“They sent me two months’ salary in advance,” Athena said, her eyes shining. “I thought they’d delay it, but it came through this morning.”

Cynthia froze for a second—just long enough. Then smiled. “Wow… that’s… amazing, Athie. You really deserve it.”

Athena beamed. “Thank you! What about you, though? Did yours finally land?”

Cynthia shook her head, too casually. “Nah. Still waiting.”

Athena sighed. “You know, you never told me what the loan is really for. I’ve asked you, like, a hundred times.”

Cynthia chuckled, flicking invisible dust off her skirt. “Let’s just say it’s… complicated. But nothing I can’t handle.”

Athena tilted her head, unconvinced but too kind to push further.

“Fine,” she said with a small smile. “But when you’re ready to spill, I’m here.”

“You always are,” Cynthia replied softly, her smile warm.

While they waited for the lecturer, the class hummed with light chatter. Athena sat directly behind Cynthia, the two whispering and giggling.

Then he walked in.

The room shifted.

A tall, effortlessly confident guy strolled through the classroom door, his blazer slung lazily over one shoulder, headphones dangling from his neck. His smile-crooked, dimpled, dangerous-was the kind that made girls sit up straighter and guys instinctively frown.

Jake.

No one even had to say his name. It passed through the room like a breeze carrying perfume. Heads turned, whispers fluttered. Even the most composed girls fidgeted as he passed.

Athena’s breath caught.

She quickly looked down at her lap, but it was too late—her heart had already skipped a beat.

Cynthia turned halfway in her chair and raised an eyebrow at her, smirking. Athena pretended not to notice.

The lecturer entered a few minutes later, putting an end to the growing buzz. As the class settled, Athena tried to focus, but her mind wandered-Jake’s lazy grin burned in her thoughts like sunlight through glass.

By the time the lecture ended, students rushed to pack up, already halfway out the door before the lecturer had left. Athena and Cynthia joined the crowd, their bags swinging, heads close as they joked about the test scheduled for the next day.

That’s when it happened.

As they exited into the courtyard, three boys lounging near the staircase called out, their tone teasing.

“Athena! Walking like you’re late for a royal wedding!”

Athena ignored them.

But Cynthia rolled her eyes. “Don’t start.”

One of the boys laughed and stepped closer. “We’re just saying hi. No need to act like you’re better than us.”

Athena tightened her grip on her bag. “Let’s just go.”

But the boy shoved Cynthia lightly on the shoulder. “Relax. We’re playing.”

Cynthia stepped forward, jaw clenched. “Back off.”

Athena moved between them quickly, placing a hand on Cynthia’s arm. “It’s not worth it.”

Another boy circled behind Athena, reaching toward her bag as though about to grab something or maybe just checking. His fingers hovered near the zip...

Just then, a shrill voice echoed down the corridor.

“Mr. Douglas is heading this way!”

The boys panicked.

“Nope, not today,” one said, and within seconds they scattered, laughing as they disappeared down the opposite hall.

Athena shook her head, still holding Cynthia’s arm. “Idiots.”

“They’re always doing too much,” Cynthia muttered, brushing herself off.

They walked in silence for a bit, the awkwardness fading slowly as they neared the school gate.

Then Athena stopped cold.

“My phone.”

She searched her pockets. Her bag.

It was gone.

“Wait, what?” Cynthia asked.

“I just… I swear it was in here.”

Her voice trembled with rising panic as she dug deeper.

“Maybe it fell,” Cynthia said. “Let’s go back.”

They retraced their steps to the staircase, scanning the ground, checking corners-but the phone was nowhere.

Athena's brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. I never let it out of my sight.”

Cynthia placed a calming hand on her back. “It’s okay. We’ll everyone

tomorrow. Maybe someone saw it.”

Athena started to tear up. With Cynthia trying to console her to no avail. "It's not just about the phone, there's money in it" Athena cried louder.

How was she going to explain this to her mom.

It was an advance wage for crying out loud. She has to buy medicines for her mom. But nobody was coming to save her.