Seventeen years later......
Annabella came out of a black car with her guitar hanging on her shoulder. She smile and wave at the driver in the car. Then the car drove away.
She smile and unlock the gate walking into the small compound and into the house.
The house was smelling nice. Her grandmother was cooking.
"Welcome dear." She heard someone said behind her. She hold her chest and she heard her grandmother laugh.
"Grandma, you scared me." She said walking to meet her. "I thought you were in the kitchen, the house smell nice."
"Sorry, i didn't mean to scare you." She apologized. "Who brought you home?"
"A friend."
"A friend?" She asked.
She roll her eyes at her grandmother. "Common grandma, I'm not a baby. I'm a graduate. I am about to have my master degree."
"It does not matter, you are still the baby of the house."
"I'm not a baby grandma." She disagree.
"Tell that to your dad." She smile and move her chair in the direction of the kitchen.
"Where is my dad?" She asked on top of her voice. And she move down the hall without waiting for reply from her.
She knock on the door of her father office. She walk in.
"Hey princess, how was practice?" He asked. He was watching a movie in his office - something that was very rare.
Her father is always busy.
"Fine dad" She replied and she sat beside him. She gave a kiss on the cheek. "I'm invited to play for the mayor wedding anniversary."
"That's great princess. I believe you can do it. The mayor is about to have the most memorable wedding anniversary." He said proudly.
Annabella has win alot of competition with her girl band and singly over the years. She recorded a few music which she upload on her Instagram and had make her have thousands of followers.
" Thanks dad. " She appreciated and she lean her head on his shoulder.
" Are you sure you don't want to go into music? " He asked.
" I love music but I'm not doing it to have fans or recognition. I'm doing it because i love it and i enjoy doing it. "
" That's great." He commented." I'm okay with anything you do. "
" Thank you. And dad have you spoken with your friend in the PI office. "
" Yes. He will get back to me. " He said.
" Alright." She close her eyes still leaning on him.
Nathaniel look at her cute face. And he smile. She has always put a smile on him. She makes him forget about all his problems. She has make him proud in every aspect and he count himself lucky to have such a daughter.
Its has been fifteen years since Toun was kidnapped and disappeared. He had move on but he never forget her. He dated a few women but never get married to any of them. And he didn't date any of them for long.
His work was miracle. He got transferred to the United States and months later, he moved his mother and daughter too.
He had been living in the state with his family for fourteen years. And he hadn't gone back to Nigeria since then.
His country hold a lot of memories he don't want remember. He is not ready to bring old memories alive or open old wounds because even till date, there still hurt.
*******
"Grandma, dad see you later." Annabella said to her family standing from the dining chair.
She pick up her back bag and hang it on her shoulder.
"Be careful." Her grandmother warned.
"I will. Bye dad. Take care." She said as she leave the house.
She came out inhaling the cold air. It reminds her about Hawaii but it can't be compare to the breeze and cold air in Hawaii.
"Anna" Someone called. She turn around to see her best friend Mia in her boyfriend car.
"Hi."
"Hi, are you taking your car?" She asked.
She shake her head. "No."
"That's good. Come." She said and she did as she was told. She open the back door and climb inside the car.
"Hi Rick" She greeted her boyfriend.
"Hi Anna. How are your night?"
"Great. So where are you guys going because i have class in an hour time." She said to them.
"Somewhere cold. Rick is taking me on a date." Mia said smiling at Rick.
"Good."
"We will drop you at the school. Is that okay?" Rick asked.
"Of course thank you." Annabella replied.
"Anna, there is this place that Julia took me to, you are going to love that place." Mia said excited. "I will pick you up later in the day and i will take you there. I swear you will love it."
"Are you sure?" Anna asked.
"Of course i am." She said a little hurt.
Anna laughed. "I was just joking. And okay i will keep that in mind. What am i going to wear?"
Mia look at her like she was examining her.
"You can add a little makeup and you are good." She said and she replied with a nod.
Later in the day, Annabella sat in the park watching couples and kids. The park was not full as it use to be.
She waited patiently for her friend.
"Oh dear sorry for keeping you waiting." Mia said from behind her.
She smile. "I haven't been waiting long."
"Okay. Let's go."
They walk to the train station and went to take a train. They came down and Mia take them down different street.
She has never been to that part of town before. It was quite rural to where they had both live. They were people at every angle and corners of the street.
"Mia where are we going? This place is a little scary." Annabella whispered to her friend.
She gave a mocking smile.
"Don't worry, it safe. I promise you will love it." She assured her.
"Alright." She rolled her eyes at her. "If anything happens to me, you will have to answer to my dad."
"Daddy's girl." She mocked laughing.
"I am."
They came to a narrow street. A lot of people were walking in group to a building at the end of the street.
"Here we are." Mia said pulling her hands.
She said hi to the guys standing at the entrance. And they allow them in. They enter the building and it was indeed very different from what she expected.
The club has people drinking, smoking, and talking. There was light with different colours. They was an upper floor where couples sat and look at the event going on the first floor.
The bar was magnificent. A D. J was in the front of the club playing a loud music from his speakers. And the crowd dance along.
It was very crowded that she wonder how this people got to know the place. It was in a rural area. So no one could have expect to see so much crowd in such an area.
"This place is wow! How do you know this place."
"Someone invited me and i love it that is why i brought you here." Mia said.
They sat and Mia asked the bar attendant for a shot.
"How could they be so much crowd. This place looks like nowhere." Annabella asked still amaze at the crowd.
Mia look at her wrist watch and sbe beam at her. Then someone said behind them.
"They are almost here."
"She is right." Mia said still smiling making her feel a little confuse. "That's my favorite part. There is this group and you are going to love them."
"Whatever." Annabella retort and asked for a drink.
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XOXO.