The message on my phone screen stared back at me like a ghost in the night:> “Amara, open your eyes. Your best friend and your boyfriend are not who you think they are.”I sat frozen on my bed, my hands trembling. The words seemed to echo in my ears. Who sent this message? And why? My first instinct was denial. No, it couldn’t be true. Chioma was my sister in everything but blood, and Tunde… Tunde loved me, didn’t he?I tried to calm myself, convincing my heart that it was just a prank. Lagos was full of people who liked to stir trouble. Maybe it was a wrong number, or someone trying to destroy what I had. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t random.I didn’t sleep a wink that night.

—The Distance Between Us

The next morning, I dragged myself to work at the radio station where I was an intern. My head throbbed, but I forced a smile for everyone. In between writing scripts and helping the presenters, my mind kept wandering back to the message.Should I confront Tunde? Or ask Chioma directly? No, that would make me look insecure. I told myself I’d gather proof first.But proof came sooner than I expected.

That weekend, Chioma and I were supposed to go shopping at Balogun Market. She cancelled at the last minute, claiming she wasn’t feeling well. Later that evening, I decided to surprise Tunde at his place. But when I got there, I saw a pair of ladies’ sandals outside his door. My heart pounded. When I knocked, it was Chioma who opened the door.She looked just as shocked as I was. “Amara! What are you doing here?”I forced a smile. “I came to see Tunde. And you?”“Oh, I… I was just leaving,” she stammered, avoiding my eyes. She brushed past me and hurried off without another word.Inside, Tunde acted as though nothing was wrong. But I couldn’t ignore the image of Chioma’s sandals at his doorstep.

—Suspicion Grows

From that day, the bond between Chioma and me began to weaken. We still spoke, but it wasn’t the same. I noticed how she avoided certain topics, how she no longer told me everything the way she used to. Tunde, on the other hand, became more secretive. He picked calls in hushed tones, stepped outside to chat, and sometimes claimed to be busy when I wanted to visit. I felt trapped in a web of doubt. Every time I looked at Chioma, I remembered the sandals. Every time I held Tunde’s hand, I wondered if those same hands had held hers.

—A Friend’s Warning

One evening, while leaving the station, I ran into Ngozi, a colleague who lived in the same area as Tunde. We got talking, and she casually mentioned something that shook me.“Amara, you and your boyfriend are really serious o. I always see that your friend with him around the estate.”I frowned. “Which friend?”“That your slim, fair one… Chioma, abi? She’s always at his place. Sometimes I even see them walking together.”My chest tightened. I forced a laugh and changed the topic, but inside, anger boiled. Ngozi had no reason to lie.

—The Breaking Point

That Friday, I decided enough was enough. I went to Tunde’s apartment unannounced, my heart pounding as I climbed the stairs. I paused at his door when I heard voices inside. It was Chioma’s voice.“Are you sure she won’t find out?” she asked. Tunde replied, his voice low but firm. “Relax, Chi. Amara trusts us too much. As long as we’re careful, she’ll never suspect a thing.”My world shattered.I staggered back, tears filling my eyes. My hands shook as I tried to hold myself steady. The two people I loved most had betrayed me.Without thinking, I banged on the door. The voices inside went silent. Moments later, Tunde opened, his face pale.“Amara… you’re here?” he stammered. I pushed past him and saw Chioma standing there, her eyes wide with guilt.“So it’s true,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “My best friend and my boyfriend… behind my back?”Chioma reached for me. “Amara, please, let me explain—”But I stepped back, shaking my head. “Don’t. Just don’t.”The tears came hot and fast. My chest felt like it was about to burst. I turned and ran out of the apartment, my whole body trembling.