There was an urgency in his steps. From his eyes, you could tell that he was in a hurry. His ability to control his breath was commendable. He tried to do that effortlessly, knowing that he had to walk into the room with some sort of confidence and charisma.

He took one deep breath, let it out with a quiet sigh, and as he tried to knock on the door, she opened it. In that moment, there was a pause. He looked at her big, beautiful eyes, puffy Afro, gold earrings, and her caramel skin that was glowing as a result of her body lotion. She looked upset, but behind her angry face was a worried look.

Chidi reached in for a hug, but Ada took a step back, crossed her arms like a child refusing candy from a stranger. You could tell she wanted it, but did not want to have it. He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and brought out a Snickers bar. Then he said, “I brought a peace offering.” A little smile escaped from her lips. She rolled her eyes, looked away, and stretched out her left hand with a gesture that signalled she wanted to have it.

“You know I can never say no to chocolate, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re late.”

He stepped in, gently kissed her cheek, and as the door closed behind him, he said with a boyish charm, “Better late than never.”

Ada’s eyes followed every move he made; Chidi knew she wanted answers.

“Ada, I promise to tell you why I’m late, but first there’s a rumble in my tummy that needs urgent attention. I fear I may not make it if there’s no solution to my impending doom.” He fell to the ground, holding onto his stomach like a protagonist who was shot.

Ada giggled, “I would have saved you, but in an attempt to cook, I burnt the food. But don’t worry, Plan B’s on the way, and I am sure you’ll like it.”

Before he could even ask, “What is Plan B?” her phone rang. She picked it up and then smiled at him, saying, “Hold that thought.”

Ada stepped outside, and after a couple of minutes, she came back in with a bag whose contents looked like a pack of soup.

Chidi could already guess that it was a soup he had not tasted in a while. He could see the oil from the soup pack and the aroma already filling the room. He said with excitement, “Is that ewedu I smell?”

“I told you, you’ll like Plan B,” Ada said, laughing. “You are the only Igbo man I have met that is obsessed with amala.”

He set the table as she dished the food, and when they sat to eat, she noticed he only took one wrap. T

“Today you are eating just one? I hope you don’t expect me to finish all six.”

Chidi struggled within himself. He was about to ruin dinner by telling Ada why he was late, by explaining that his lateness was also the reason why he could no longer eat as much as he used to. He lowered his gaze into the bowl of ewedu. As he looked at his reflection dancing in the layer of oil, the doctor’s words found him again.

“I’m sorry, Chidi…”

The room around him slowly faded.

He flashed back to the hospital, seated across from the doctor. The doctor reached for a brown envelope, gently placed it on the table, and slid it towards him.

Chidi looked at it. His fingers twitched ever so slightly. He didn’t reach for it. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the doctor, hoping the words he had just heard would somehow change.

“I’m sorry, Chidi…”

The doctor’s lips continued to move, but his ears had gone silent. The only thing louder than the ticking clock on the wall was the beating of his own heart. His eyes searched the doctor’s face, hoping, hoping there was another explanation. Hoping the conversation would end differently. Soon, Chidi found himself walking through the hospital corridor with the brown envelope tucked beneath his arm. Patients filled the waiting area. Nurses hurried from one ward to another. Life was moving on already regardless.

Outside the hospital, there was a small shop by the gate. Rows of chocolates, biscuits, and soft drinks were neatly arranged behind the counter. His eyes settled on a Snickers bar. A little smile escaped from his lips.

“Ada can never say no to chocolate.”

As he reached into his pocket to pay for it, he glanced at his wristwatch. He was late for their monthly anniversary date. For a brief moment he looked down at the brown envelope in his hand, then back at the Snickers bar resting on the counter.

Chidi paid and slipped the chocolate into the breast pocket of his jacket, folded the envelope under his arm, and quickly hurried towards his car.

In the car, the doctor’s voice finally became clear.

“Three months left.”

The words followed him through the traffic.

“Three months left.”

They echoed as he stood outside their apartment, trying to steady his breathing before knocking.

“Three months left.”

They lingered through the pause between them after she opened the door.

“Three months left.”

Even the pain that bent him over in their living room was never hunger. Every smile, every joke, and every exaggerated complaint were simply his way of protecting one evening that was never meant to be about his health.

“Chidi…”

Ada’s voice sounded distant.

“Chidi…”

The echo slowly gave way to the sound of her calling his name.

“Chidi.”

He blinked.

“Chidi.”

The fourth time brought him back to the room.

He lifted his head.

His eyes were filled with tears.

For the first time since they met, Ada saw him cry.

Ada didn’t ask him what was wrong. She didn’t ask why he was late. She simply got up from her chair, walked over to his side of the table, and wrapped her arms around him.

He buried his face in her shoulder and trembled as he held her.

Then, for the first time that evening, he whispered the words he had been trying so hard to outrun.

“The doctor says I have three months left.”

The room fell silent.

Not because there was nothing left to say, but because there were no words big enough to carry the weight of what had just been said.

Two Years Later

Ada stood in front of the same apartment door.

A little smile escaped from her lips as the memories came rushing back.

She could still picture him standing there… breathing a little harder than usual, trying to hide it behind a smile.

She could hear his voice say, “I brought a peace offering.”

Back then, she thought it was just another Snickers bar from a man trying to make up for being late.

Now, she knew it was much more than that.

It was the first thing he bought after learning that time was no longer on his side.

She gently rested her hand on the door.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Then she turned and walked away.