Epilogue

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall. Sewa's life started with laughter, contentment and fulfilment and in a blink of an eye, everything vanquished.

The bitter reality dawned on her and then she realised life on the other side wasn't as rosy as it was with her father.

She carried the responsibility of being the first child to her family and did everything in her power to make sure they were living a stable and comforted life even at the risk of her own life.

If someone had told her five years ago, she would finally find happiness away from prostitution, she'd laugh it off as she thought she was too deep to be save. It was already a part of her and she had come to love the life of a prostitute

As she looked at the ceiling in her room with her back laying on the bed, she recalled her life from as a child to now. From happiness to sadness then back to happiness.

When she told her mother she was bringing home a man, her mother was delighted, although she was astonished at first. The meeting with her mother and Lanre went well, better than she expected.

Before she went with Lanre to visit her mother, she told her mother he was the father of Pearl and the questions that followed thereafter gave Sewa migraine.

Hope he is not marrying you because of your child? Hope nothing happened? Why does he have to marry you? Are you sure about this? Will you be happy? Is he the right one for you?

As Sewa listened to her mother's little rant, she said nothing at all. An unexpected visitor came yesterday and his approach was unexpected by Sewa.

Tunji had come to visit and when he did, Sewa lost her composure. Her heart beat in trepidation, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, her palms became sweaty.

"Good... afternoon," she choked on her word.

Tunji took in a deep breath and exhaled. He looked at her and she did the same before he shrugged off the ill feeling he had for her in the pit of his belly.

"Good afternoon." He replied curtly.

"Uhm...your brother is not around," she said to him, her voice lower than she anticipated.

"I'm not here for my brother. I am here to speak with you." His words were firm.

"Me? Is there a problem?" She asked him, inquisitive to know what he had to say yet worried that he might be here to warn her off his brother.

"Yes there is."

"And that is?" She asked, preparing herself to hear ill words about her and her past life from his mouth.

She held onto Lanre's sweater she was wearing that stopped on her mid thigh. She gulped a painful lump in her throat.

"My brother tells me he loves you. I believe he loves you but I do not know for you. What are your honest feelings for my brother?"

Sewa was shocked. She never expected such questions from him. She didn't believe Lanre when he said Tunji was over their matter and in support of them.

"I love your brother."

Lanre brows raised, "Really?" His reply laced with doubt in his tone.

"How sure am I that you are not flirting around with other men after all, you are good at being two people at a time."

His words hurt Sewa, she felt her heart clench from his words but shrugged them off. "I won't blame you for your doubts because all I can do is prove you wrong."

She exhaled, "I have always loved your brother. I always and will always do. He is the first man I ever loved and I never expected it. I know he is too good of a man for me..." Tunji interjected.

"Of course he is too good for you!" He said, emphasizing on his words.

"I love him. I would appreciate it if you gave our relationship a try. I've changed, I made changes for the past three years. I left the life of a prostitute behind me before Lanre found out and although he found out at the wrong time..." She sniffed a little. Her eyes welled in tears. She used her thumb to wipe the tears before they streamed down.

"I won't blame you for your hate but allow me to show you the other side of me."

"Mofadesewa Akanni you mean right?" He asked with questioning brows. "Because I have already seen Jasmine James."

Sewa said nothing. She looked at her toes, avoiding eye contact with Tunji because she knew it would only make her cry.

Tunji sighed, "I do not hate you. I did but no more. For my brother I'm ready to compromise, and I hope I am not making the wrong decision by allowing this."

Sewa felt a huge relief wash all over her.

"Please do right by Lanre. He loves too much and it's rare to find someone like him. I wish you both happiness but if you ever break my brother's heart, I promise to ruin you."

"Thanks so much!" Sewa exclaimed. She was just so happy that if he was anyone, she would have hugged him.

"I just want my brother's happiness. He is the only brother I have, no other one. It's him and I."

"Mummy," Pearl's little voice caught the attention of Tunji. He looked behind Sewa and saw little Pearl walking towards them.

She was the spitting image of her mother but when he looked in her eyes, he saw his younger brother's eyes. He smiled, he opened his arms and walked towards Pearl to hold her.

"How's my cute little niece?" He asked as soon as he carried her in his arms. Pearl looked at Tunji with confusion.

"Mummy, who is he?" She asked her mother. Pearl was quite sharp with words for her age. Although she couldn't pronounce words very well, you would understand her whenever she spoke.

Sewa smiled, "He is your uncle Pearl," she replied.

"She's beautiful," he said, pinching her cheek lightly.

Lanre opened his eyes to see Sewa's eyes open. "Is something wrong?" He asked in a whisper.

She turned to look at him and smiled, "Nothing is wrong. Happy and worried."

"Do not worry. Everything will be just fine." He assured her, squeezing her naked waist.

"Lanre, what if we had never met after our separation, would you...would you look for me? I mean would you move on?" She asked him.

Lanre was taken aback by her question. He stayed quiet for some minutes before replying, "Fate wanted us together which was why it brought us back to one another. If we weren't destined to be, we wouldn't be here, right now in each other's arms."

"That's right, Fate. Fate led me to you and even after everything we are still together."

"Yes. I love you." He said.

"I love you," Sewa replied. She leaned in and claimed his lips.

"Thank God Pearl is at your mom's because she would have been a problem now," he chuckled.

"Of course. That's why she's our baby and you have to stop telling her daddy will only sleep with mommy," Sewa chastised.

Lanre chuckled, "I'm telling her the truth. She can only sleep beside you, nothing else," he defended

"What if she goes and says that outside. You know kids say whatever they see and hear without thinking about it?"

He chuckled, "Stop this and let's get down to adult business. Can I please adore your body?" He pleaded, his eyes roaming her body.

"Thank you so much Lanre. You are my redemption."

Her life had light in them once again after darkness clouded her world. She married Lanre after the approval of his mother and father with Tunji interference.

She lost hope in herself but hope found her. Everything happened just as God wanted even though she walked off his path.