"I'm following my parents home," Sarah said quietly, not looking at anyone.
She was lying on the hospital bed, her frail body turned to the wall, refusing to meet their eyes. Her voice was firm, yet laced with the pain of everything she had just gone through.
They were in Ogun State, not far from her parents' home. Around her stood Bolaji, his parents, and her own. Everyone had been waiting for what she would decide, but Sarah's words hung heavy in the room, slicing through the silence like a blade.
Bolaji wasn't surprised—he had imagined she would say something like this. Still, his heart ached. He swallowed hard and nodded just as the doctor who had been treating Sarah walked in.
The next day, Sarah was discharged. Bolaji offered to drive her home. The journey was quiet, each minute dragging like an hour. Sarah stared out of the window, her face expressionless, her heart racing with unspoken thoughts.
When they finally reached her parents' house, Sarah froze for a moment as she stepped down. The compound looked so different from when she last saw it. Since her marriage, she had never returned physically—everything had been through phone calls. Her mother now had a big shop in front of the house, well-stocked with goods, and her younger sister was busy attending to customers. Life seemed to have moved on without her.
For the first week Sarah stayed with her parents, Bolaji came every single day to check on her. His parents also visited, advising him to be patient and treat Sarah well. He listened quietly, nodding, and promised to change. He thought surely, after two weeks, she would follow him back to Lagos.
But Sarah had made up her mind.
"I'm not following him back to Lagos again," she announced one afternoon.
Her parents were shocked. Though Sarah had told them before about some of the reasons she left home—before the terrible kidnapping—they hadn't expected her to be this firm.
"Hah… why, my daughter?" her mother asked, her face full of worry. "He has promised to buy you the JAMB form now. He even said you can do anything you want before that time. Or… don't you want this marriage again?"
Her father frowned, his voice rising. "What kind of question is that? She doesn't want what again? Sarah, listen—if you want to spend more time with us, fine. But your husband has admitted his wrongs. We've all sat down, both families. He has realized his mistakes. So please, my daughter, follow him back. By God's grace, things will be fine with you both."
Sarah turned to face them, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You're getting me wrong. I didn't say I don't want the marriage. But remember—when all this started, it was supposed to be only an engagement until I was ready for marriage or after schooling. You both turned that engagement into a wedding for me."
I know he is already my husband and that he has a right over me since he paid my dowry, but we never agreed that I would leave with him and follow him home that very day.
Her voice cracked, but she continued. "I should have been in school now. But he refused. If I hadn't married, at least by now I would have learned a skill—tailoring, hairdressing—something. But he wasted my time. Now he's promising again. No. I won't build my future on promises anymore. I will live on my own terms. I don't even need him to send me to school again. I will find work, save, and learn something myself. If I can manage to push myself into school, I will try. But I am not going anywhere with him again."
Her parents sighed deeply.
"Do you even know what you're saying?" her father asked, almost in disbelief. "Do you know how many years it will take you to achieve all that by yourself? And you think he will wait that long?"
"That was the agreement," Sarah replied firmly. "I can still visit him during those times, but I will not live in his house permanently again. In fact, I'm not setting foot in that house this year. If he can wait for me, fine. If he can't, then we should end the engagement."
Her father was shocked. "That is impossible. You can't stay here for that long. Maybe when he comes tomorrow, both of you should sit and talk."
They left her and went inside, troubled.
Her mother spoke first. "I think we should allow her to do what she wants."
Her father shook his head. "It's not in our position to decide that. Besides, Bolaji promised her in front of us and his parents. This time, we must make sure he doesn't go back on his word."
Her mother lowered her voice. "But he has really tried for us. we can help now. Things are better for us—we can pay for her education ourselves. She should not leave him, so people won't say we are ungrateful."
Her father thought for a moment and nodded. "That's true. Let's tell her."
They went back to Sarah and explained gently. "Even if Bolaji refuses, we will send you to school ourselves. Don't worry. But please, don't throw this marriage away."
Sarah only shook her head. "I'm not going back to that house until I gain admission. That is final."