EPISODE 6

THE WRITER’S BLOCK

 

Meanwhile, Max’s life with Sophia and the unborn baby unfolded. Max struggled to navigate co-parenting responsibilities, Sophia’s emotional manipulation and longing for Emily

He realized rather too late that co-parenting doesn’t mean rekindling romance. He had to do the needful to survive.

Max decided to set boundaries, he started with separate living arrangements and even emotional distance, but Sophia’s grip remained tight.

Max wavered under Sophia’s pressure. Rekindling old feelings, questioning his love for Emily, feeling trapped.

Max’s resolve started to crumble gradually. He began to doubt himself on some days.

As Max succumbed to Sophia’s manipulation, he realized “Emily was my true love.”

Months had gone, no one heard from Emily. She changed her lines and her old lines weren’t reachable, regrets consumed Max,”Did I lose Emily forever?”

Max’s awakening came too late,

Nevertheless, he was determined to win Emily back but on the other hand. He wanted to be part of his child’s life, he didn’t want to loose on both ends. But where would he find Emily? No one has heard from her.

“I never loved you Sophia, why did you come back onto my life now my life is beginning to make meaning. We agreed to part ways after the first year of marriage ” Max had realized he had made a mess of his life on one fine afternoon. He was so frustrated that he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Don’t you dare play that blame game with me. I left you didn’t I? I traveled to the states for my masters, began my writing career and even got married in the states. I lost my husband 6months after our wedding. I was depressed Max, I was depressed… my world came crumbling. I lost my writing jobs because everyone thought I was going crazy. I lost everything. I was loosing my mind, I had nothing left for me in the States so I had to come back home.

Don’t turn the table here Max, don’t do that, she was already fuming in anger with tears flowing uncontrollably from her eyes.

” Ok, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. Calm down” Max said trying to hold her to calm her down because she was about exhibiting the one character Max dreaded so much in her which was hot temperedness but she hit his hands off her.

She continued ” I met you a week after I came back from the states at the mall and you insisted we hung out. I refused initially, didn’t I Max?” She said to Max with her red eyes demanding answers from Max.

“Yes you did but I’m………”

” I refused but you insisted” she continued ” I had no choice, because we both know you don’t take NO for an answer. We went on the dinner date that landed us in this mess. You said dinner, just dinner but then you can’t let your sleeping dog lie and of course we did it without protection”

“But you seduced me” trying to defend himself.

” As a baby that you are right? You forgot you got me my outfit for the date. I refused at first because it was too skimpy but what did you say? ” I love it that way”” she said mimicking him with her face squeezed to fit the reaction”

I met Emily a week after… a friend I never knew I would find in Nigeria. When she told me about you as her man, I doubted it was you because how she described you was too good to be true. Until I saw your picture. I couldn’t discourage her, because I saw how happy she was with you. And now, just two hours of our fun has landed us in this mess. Your just a disaster Max! To hell with you! I never loved you Max!! I never did!!

This arranged marriage has cost me literally everything and here I am still trying to make things work but no! You are choosing another woman over us, over your own child!

Sophia poured out her heart to Max leaving him dumbfounded.

Of course he couldn’t loose at both ends, he can’t loose Emily and Sophia too. He tries chasing Sophia to beg but she ran upstairs and locked the door behind her.”Sophia I said I’m sorry, please,I ………”

“Get lost Max! get lost! ” she yelled from inside.

“Ok,it’s fine… I will”. He said, leaving her but knowing deep down that he can’t walk away from his child.

 

_Emily’s New Chapter_

 

Emily, stepped off the train in Abuja. Excitement coursed through her veins. New city, new life.

Leaving Lagos behind. Emily sought a fresh start but her past with Max still lingered with heartache and regret.

Abuja’s vibrant energy welcomed Emily with open arms. She settled into her new apartmentt in the bustling Wuse district.

She began job haunting, met new people and tried doing things to get her mind off what she had been through the last few years of her life.

Finally she got a new job and new friends. Emily’s life began to unfold.

She fell in love with art and decided to go into art not only because she loved it but also because it gave her the inspiration to write. She decided to open her own art gallery after one of her colleagues invited her to join him and his friends to an Art gallery opening.

Emily met Amara at the Art gallery opening, a free-spirited artist and Rahma, a sharp-witted journalist.

Their conversations flowed; Art, music, politics. Emily felt at home.

But Abuja held secrets, hidden dangers, corruption and lots more…

 

Emily’s nights were filled with haunting memories of Max, their tumultuous relationship.

The pain still lingered, a constant reminder of what she had and felt only to discover they were all lies and deciet.

One evening, Emily decided to confront her past. She opened her journal and began to write. The words poured out… Emotions, thoughts, regrets.

As she wrote, Emily felt the weight lifting off her shoulders. The next morning Emily felt renewed and determined to move on.

She reached out to Amara,”Let’s explore Abuja’s art scene.” Amara agreed.”I know just the place.”

At the National Gallery.

Emily discovered inspirational art pieces, local artists’ stories. Emily’s creative spark Ignited.

The bond between Emily and Amara grew stronger, though she was finding it hard to trust people but Amara gave her reasons to trust her, even though she still didn’t give in fully.

_Emily’s Artistic Journey Begins_

Emily started creating art again. Inspired by Abuja’s vibrant culture, collaborating with Amara and of course their styles merged beautifully.

Amara introduced Emily to her cousin, Ibrahim, a charming art enthusiast. Ibrahim was captivated by Emily’s talent.

Emily caught feelings for him at the hearing of his voice.

“No be man go kii me for this small life wey I get oo God” she said as she and Amara laughed out loud.” Omooo, na just voice wey I hear oo babe, your cousin’s voice is catchyyy”

Amara feeling disgusted because of course he’s her cousin and he never noticed any of that in him” Aunty rest biko, you never see am yet oo calm down, you go soon loose interest by the time you see him face to face” and they both laughed.

Their conversation flowed over the phone for over 3 months because Ibrahim wasn’t in town but it seemed like they’ve known themselves for over a year.

Emily and Amara finally opened an art gallery and decided to organize a grand opening party. They sent out invites and entrance was strictly based on invite.

” Hey boo” she called Ibrahim.

“Hey Em. How you doing? How are the preparations going?” he said.

“Ohhh it’s going really really great, thank you so much for your support. I really wish you could come around, I’d have really loved to have you around” she said sounding babyish.

“Ohk,is someone longing to see me? Just say you miss me” he said, laughing.

” Of course you know I won’t, you have excess pride” she said, still on her laptop sending invites” I just sent you an online invite. I have a feeling you’ll show up” feeling almost convinced.

“Oh wow, I love that spirit. Babe please I’ll call you back in a jiffy, something just came up and it’s urgent ” Ibrahim said.

” Ohk boo, it’s tomorrow ooo. Don’t forget, bye ” she ends the call smiling.” Do you think he’ll show up?” she asked Amara.

“Aunty, you would have just asked him ni” she said, almost looking like she’s hiding something.

“Tomorrow is a big day for you you know? You need to at least rest a bit”

“See this one o, it’s a big day for uuuusssss you mean? Let’s go rest together but I’m too excited to rest you know?” Emily said feeling overjoyed.

“Yea I know right, oya oo I’m going to bed, though it’s just 4pm.. see you later” Amara goes up to Emily’s room to sleep.

It was such a long night for the both of them, especially for Emily.

It’s finally morning after she had waited all night long which seemed like over a year. The party was going to be an evening event and they left the rest of the planning to the event planner as they both started getting ready very early. They both had their makeup, hair and outfit done and then headed for the party.

It was a big party all thanks to their sponsors and especially Ibrahim.

“OMG, Emily look who’s here” Amara said, acting like she knows nothing about it

” Ibrahim,OMG.. you tricked me to believe you won’t come” Emily said hugging him and almost crying.

“Why would I miss your grand opening for anything in the world” Ibrahim said still hugging her.

” Big brooo, I’m here” Amara said trying to distract them because she was feeling left out

“My sistuuuuur” he said hugging Amara.” This is a big one you guys have here, congratulations to you both”

“It’s all thanks to you boo” Emily said hugging him again.

Emily gave an open speech, welcoming everyone and specially welcoming Ibrahim who kept staring at her on the podium.

They both walk around the gallery looking at the art and entertaining their guests, answering all the questions they had and inquiries on how to purchase. It was a very busy night as Emily and Amara had a lot of sales to process.

“These paintings are beautiful and the books too, I noticed a unique quote on each painting. what does it mean?” he asked Emily curiously.

“Emmm,ohk. You’re really smart to have noticed. Each painting gave me an inspiration to write a book so I inscribed the title of each book on each of the art that inspired me” she said feeling shy.

“Oh wow, that’s beautiful. This is what I call beauty with brains” and they both chuckled.

As they talked, Emily felt a spark of attraction.

But then, unexpectedly…

Max appeared at the gallery opening.

Their eyes locked, tension filling the air. Emily’s past and present collided.

Like