Chapter 18

It was a bright Saturday morning. Adobea woke up feeling dull and numb in her joints.

"What's happening to me?" she said. "Is it because I have stopped exercising? I miss hiking."

"We can do that here too, can't we?" asked Baafour.

"It will remind me of better days. The weather was friendly. Over here, it's so harsh that I can hardly go out during the day." Another word was just about coming forth when they heard a knock on the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?" asked Baafour.

"Who do I know around here? My friends have all traveled and I'm alone, stuck here in this new place. Even the ones who live very far don't know where to find me."

"Let's see who's at the door first," said Baafour. Baafour opened the door circumspectly, filled with mixed emotions both of relief and uncertainty. There stood before him someone he least expected but how somehow appeared at the right time. His sister needed company badly.

"Oh! It's you!" he said, dully." "Welcome." His words seemed to be in direct contrast with his feelings.

"Thank you," replied Aboagye, letting himself in.

Welcome? Is that all he could say? Could he not give him an excuse or two to send him fleeing for his life? Who led him here anyway? All these thoughts were running through Adobea's mind as she tried to process everything that was happening at once.

"Won't you even ask me to come in?" he said, smiling. Do you even have the nerves to be calm about this? What if my father finds you? What are you going to do? You have disobeyed his orders and broken bounds. she thought. Aboagye had already let himself in. Love had a way of breaking bounds. Hostility suddenly gave way to love

"A hug will do," he said, drawing close. Adobea stepped back a few inches and heaved a sigh of relief for her foresight as her father entered. As soon as he saw Aboagye, he was furious, yet, life had taught him a bitter lesson. Everyone had been affected in one way or the other due to his obstinacy. Adobea had also begun to suffer some withdrawal symptoms ever since they moved back to Accra. Was he right or wrong in being overprotective of her?