Episode 3: Resurfacing Shadows

Femi sat at his desk, engrossed in his work. It had been a long day, and he was looking forward to spending some quality time with his family. Just as he was about to pack up and head home, a notification popped up on his phone. It was a message from an old contact he hadn't heard from in years – Angela, his ex-girlfriend.

His heart skipped a beat as memories flooded back. Angela was the epitome of elegance, style, and sophistication. She’s always exuded an air of ambition and had pursued her goals relentlessly. She also knew how to have a good time and actually thought Femi a thing or two. Femi couldn't deny that Angela had left a lasting impression on him, but there was a dark side to his ex that he just couldn’t spend the rest of his life with. He had moved on and built a beautiful life with Kamsi and their children. He knew he had made the right choice, and his loyalty to his family was unwavering.

Femi opened the message cautiously, unsure of what to expect. Angela expressed her desire to reconnect, mentioning that she had heard about his marriage and children. She apologized for how things ended between them and hoped they could be friends again. For less than a fraction of a second, Femi felt a flood of fear and nostalgia running down his spine, mixed with a curiosity and excitement that made his heart skip. He knew it was important to discuss this with Kamsi, as their bond was built on trust and open communication.

That evening, after dinner, Femi found a quiet moment to talk with Kamsi. He explained the situation, assuring her that Angela was just a friend reaching out, but he wanted to be transparent about it. Kamsi appreciated Femi's honesty and understood that old connections could resurface unexpectedly.

"Sweetheart," Kamsi began, her voice calm but concerned, "I trust you, and I know our love is strong. But I can't deny that the thought of Angela re-entering your life brings up insecurities. Can we promise to navigate this together, as we've always done?"

Femi nodded, reaching out to hold Kamsi's hand. "Of course, my love. Our commitment to each other and our family is unbreakable. I will do everything in my power to ensure our bond remains strong. Angela was a part of my past, but you are my present and future."

With their love as their foundation, Femi and Kamsi decided to move forward cautiously. They agreed that open communication was crucial, and any interaction with Angela would be transparent and shared. Femi messaged Angela, expressing his gratitude for her message but also explaining that he was happily married with a family. He wished her well but made it clear that their relationship would remain platonic.

As the weeks went by, Femi and Kamsi continued to support each other through the challenges of everyday life. Their commitment to financial planning grew stronger, and they made significant progress in securing their family's future with the right life insurance policy. Femi's insurance advisor, now a confidant and close friend, stood by his side, offering guidance and ensuring they had the coverage that suited their needs.

One evening, as Femi and Kamsi were enjoying a quiet moment together, Femi's phone buzzed. It was a message from Angela, a picture, that almost made him choke on the grapes he was snacking on for dessert. “What is it honey?” “Are you okay?” She stood up to rub his back gently, patting it lightly a few times. She was about to ask about the message that Femi had seen and closed so quickly when her husband opened up the image again.

It was a picture of a girl, smiling gleefully. About 8 years old, by Femi’s guestimate. A splitting image of himself. At that moment, the silence in the room was deafening. The air, so thick, Kamsi gasped. It was one of those moments when the facial resemblance was enough for society to cast judgments, make assumptions and even demand accountability and responsibility for a child born outside of wedlock. The caption of the photo read: “Your daughter needs a heart transplant. I’m at the point where I didn’t know who else to turn to. Sorry you had to find out like this. But money is running out. And so is time.”

Femi's hand trembled as he held the phone, his mind racing to comprehend the gravity of the situation. But through the whirl wind of emotions, he could feel Kamsi's heartbeat banging against his back, as she'd wrapped her arms around him so tightly that he had to shift in his chair to soften her grip. For a few minutes which seemed like hours, they both just stared at the image of the young girl, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Femi.

Femi, his voice trembling with a mix of emotions, spoke softly, "We have to find a way to help her, Kamsi. She's my daughter, and we can't turn our backs on her. Kamsi

Tears welled up in Kamsi's eyes as she realized the magnitude of the plea for help. But she was not ready to spend a dime of their family's savings attending to this request that jumped out of the blue. "What? Help who? How?" her voice buzzing with a tension that could slice a fly in two perfectly equal halves.

To be continued...