EPISODE: 2

• but Linda often watched Ada with hidden envy despite having less Ada radiated peace an inner calm that came from love and selfworth linda on the other hand was a storm of approval seeking and insecurity though she masked it with confidence still they supported each other they studied together late into the night prepared for WEC side by side and promised they’d never grow apart linda’s rebellion emerged during these years she started dating boys and skipping prep ada ever loyal always covered for her she would stay behind
• forge notes for their teachers or even lie to Linda’s strict father to protect her their classmates called them twins even though they shared no blood only a bond that seemed unbreakable but it wasn’t all sacrifice on one side linda also gave generously sharing clothes food and at times standing up for Ada when students mocked her for her worn sandals or late tuition payments they were a team even if the dynamics were uneven then came the heartbreak that began to shape their fates scholarship applications linda’s father ran into a messy business crisis and couldn’t pay
• her university fees the prestigious scholarship she had been eyeing needed urgent processing fees and strong recommendations she was on the verge of losing everything ada despite her family’s poverty couldn’t bear to see her friend in pain one night when her parents were asleep she took the N4500 they had been saving in an old metal box meant for her own university registration and handed it to Linda linda wept with gratitude she promised that no matter what happened she’d never forget but promises are easily forgotten
• when comfort replaces desperation if sacrifice had a name Ada had worn it like a second skin throughout her school years linda with her beauty and boldness attracted male attention like bees to honey ada more reserved and modest was content in the shadows yet not immune to feelings there was Teao the senior boy who played football like a star and smiled with a dimple cheek ada had liked him silently she once caught him staring at her during assembly and spent days holding on to that moment like treasure but before she could gather the courage
• to talk to him Linda declared one day that she liked him “i think he’s into me,” she’d said confidently and that was enough ada buried her feelings helped Linda write notes and even lied to cover for their secret dates she watched them grow close while pretending she was happy that scene repeated itself more than once whether it was Teao F or even Uch Ada was always the one hiding in the background dimming her light so Linda’s could shine but it wasn’t just about boys linda partied skip classes lied to
• her parents and sometimes cheated in exams ada was her constant shield always there to defend cover and clean up she would forge notes for Linda beg teachers for mercy and even let her copy assignments many warned her including her mother but Ada would always respond “She’s my friend my sister.
• ” Yet even in those moments Linda’s jealousy simmered she couldn’t understand how someone like Ada without money fancy clothes or powerful parents could be so full of joy ada’s strength was her contentment her ability to love and give without asking for anything in return linda envied that peace still they remained close almost like two halves of a broken mirror adah’s life revolved around keeping Linda out of trouble and each time she sacrificed something a boy an opportunity even her peace of mind she told herself it was worth it for friendship the night before Linda left for her scholarship abroad they sat under the
• mango tree in Ada’s compound “i’ll never forget this,” Linda had whispered clutching Ada’s hands i’ll come back richer and stronger i’ll help you too aida had smiled through her tears believing every word her parents still hadn’t discovered the stolen money but the guilt nodded at her yet the pride in Linda’s eyes made her feel like the sacrifice had a purpose they hugged tightly “promise me,” Aa said softly “promise me you’ll never forget me.

EPISODE: 3

• ” Linda had nodded placing her hand over her heart “never,” she swore and then she left that was the last time Adais saw her until the roadside laughter years later the silence in the house that evening was louder than a scream ada sat by the rusted metal box beneath her parents’ bed her hands trembling as she stared at the bundle of Naira notes she had just taken it wasn’t a large amount by wealthy standards just N4500 but to her family it was everything that money was supposed to secure her own future pay her admission fees into the
• university and by some necessities her father had been saving it for months skipping meals and walking long distances to work just to contribute but as she counted the money a small voice in her heart whispered that what she was doing was right linda needed this more linda had no other way she will never forget this Ada murmured to herself sealing the envelope that night she snuck out of the house and met Linda near the abandoned post office where they used to hang out the moment she handed over the envelope Linda wept into Ada’s arms “i don’t deserve you,” she
• whispered ada only smiled but something inside her cracked the following week Linda traveled out of the country after successfully securing her scholarship ada waved her off at the airport gate not knowing she had just buried her own future to resurrect someone else’s her parents discovered the missing money 2 days later the shock sent her mother into a spiral of weeping and her father into deep terrifying silence ada couldn’t tell them the truth she only cried and apologized never revealing Linda’s name her mother accused her of being foolish her father of being irresponsible you’ve destroyed your only
• chance,” he had muttered and indeed she had without the money her own university admission slipped away there was no help coming no relatives willing to support her while her classmates moved on to new lives she remained stuck a dropout haunted by shame poverty and silence the people she once helped now avoided her and even church friends began to whisper behind her back the worst part wasn’t the suffering it was the silence from Linda days turned into weeks weeks into months then years and not a single call