THE GENERAL’S WIFE
Episode 1
The sun burned brightly in the Lagos sky as General Kola Adeyemi stood in front of his house, adjusting the buttons on his military uniform. His heart was heavy, but his face remained unreadable. A soldier never showed weakness. His wife, Teni, stood by the door, her hands trembling as she held his duffel bag.
“Kola, must you go?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kola sighed, placing a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. “You know I have no choice, Teni. This is my duty.”
Teni’s eyes filled with unshed tears. She had been through this before, but it never got easier. Each time he left for the battlefield, she feared it would be the last time she saw him alive.
Kola lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his dark, determined eyes. “I will come back to you, my love,” he promised.
She nodded, but deep inside, doubt gnawed at her.
A black SUV pulled up in front of their house. The car door swung open, and a tall, well-built man stepped out. It was Richard, Kola’s best friend. Dressed in a fitted kaftan, his presence was commanding but warm. He had been a close friend to both Kola and Teni for years, always standing by them through difficult times.
“General Adeyemi!” Richard called with a teasing grin. “Are you ready to go and show those enemies why they should fear Nigeria?”
Kola chuckled, shaking Richard’s hand firmly. “You know me, Richard. I was born for this.”
Richard turned to Teni and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll check on you while Kola is away,” he assured her. “If you need anything, just call me.”
Teni forced a small smile. “Thank you, Richard.”
Richard had always been there in Kola’s absence. He was the one who took her to the hospital when she fell sick last year. The one who fixed their generator when it broke down. The one who made her laugh when loneliness became too much. He was Kola’s best friend, but in a way, he was also hers.
Kola embraced his wife tightly, inhaling the scent of her coconut-scented hair. “I love you, Teni. Stay strong for me.”
Teni clung to him for a moment longer before letting go. As Kola entered the SUV, she felt a strange sense of unease. Something about this farewell felt different.
The car drove off, leaving a cloud of dust behind. Teni stood there, staring after her husband, unaware that this mission would change their lives forever.
Teni tried to keep herself busy, but the loneliness was suffocating. She spent her days cooking, reading, and watching TV, but the silence in the house was unbearable.
One evening, while struggling to fix a leaking pipe in the kitchen, she sighed in frustration. Without thinking, she picked up her phone and dialed Richard’s number.
“Hello, Richard? Are you busy?”
“Never too busy for you, Teni,” he replied smoothly. “What’s wrong?”
She hesitated, then sighed. “It’s just this stupid kitchen pipe. I don’t know what to do.”
Richard laughed. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
True to his word, Richard arrived shortly after, his sleeves rolled up, ready to help. As he worked, Teni sat on the kitchen counter, watching him.
“You’re always saving the day,” she joked.
Richard looked up, his eyes twinkling. “Well, someone has to take care of you while Kola is away.”
There was a warmth in his voice that made her heart flutter. She quickly looked away, scolding herself for the strange feeling that was creeping in. This was Richard. Her husband’s best friend. She had no right to feel anything.
When the pipe was fixed, Richard wiped his hands and leaned against the counter. “So, how have you been holding up?”
Teni sighed. “I try to be strong, but it’s hard.”
Richard nodded in understanding. “I know it is. But you’re not alone, Teni. I’m here.”
She looked into his eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. She quickly shook off the feeling and forced a smile. “Thank you, Richard. I appreciate you.”
But as the days went by, Richard’s presence became more frequent. He would drop by with food, take her out for drives, and call her every night just to check on her. And slowly, something dangerous began to grow between them.
Something neither of them expected.
And it was only the beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED…