Lilisticlili:
talius dike is a cheat,he owns that ijelenwa account,I suspected he used it to promote his works and his original name. He is ijelenwa...........igbo ppl with yeye sense

I didn't want to reply you, up until I read your last sentence. If you believe there's nothing wrong with your tribalistic bias, fine. I do pray you find the resolution your heart needs so you never make a statement like that again, so you don't raise innocent children with such hatred in their hearts. Cheers!

Special thank you to Azeequeen and Divepen1 for
promoting the fight against plagiarism. I appreciate the effort. The charlatan IjeleNwa isn't affiliated to me in anyway and most definitely isn't me. God bless you both.

IjeleNwa, I must confess, it was weird reading you claim to be me and defending your cheap actions, but I guess that's how it works to better make sense of the path you'd chosen. I recommend you seek out help. You claim to love some writers: I can tell you they didn't become the brands they are today by being plagiarists. I hope this advice meets you well.

PS: A good thing did come out of reading this though, I've decided to finish up the last book of Cracked Sources ASAP. �. CC: @OyinPrince

Cc: Obinnau and Lalasticlala

Cc: Obinnau, Lalasticlala

Cc: Divepen1, Obinnau, lalasticlala... kindly check out this short story and push to front page for the holidays.

C10

Andrew spent the next five days at Huey's trying to piece back his life together. Huey, as a friend, tried his best to return him to the same quality of person he was known to be –the indispensable warrior who’d give everything for a cause he cared for, the man who'd murder orcs before he'd let harm come to the ones he loved. But the truth was, that man was gone for good and, for good, he was never coming back. The best anyone could do was to remodel him into something recognizable – a shadow of his former self.

During the course of their discussion, Andrew had name-dropped Patrick, which caused Huey to momentarily believe his friend was somewhere inside, fighting to be let out, but he knew better now, it was all Andrew’s head trying to remember Anna. Anna was beginning to seem like Andrew's one true love –that kind one can never be fulfilled being apart from– he knew thence reconnecting Anna with Andrew would do the latter so much good, all he had to do was find Anna. That would come after they had finished visiting Patrick.

Helen didn't know what to do to both men standing at her door; these two were supposed to be her husband's friends, or at the very least his professional colleagues; but they were a disappointment, they broke the bro code when they left him his disability, unattended. Patrick had always been the odd one at Lewis Chamber, that was the reason she wanted him to leave; it was time he took charge of his life and put the firm and its occupants behind him. Seeing Huey and Andrew reopened old wounds for him, which she didn’t like; she feared he might reconsider his decision to join Tiffany-Janes, because of his ever-considerate nature.

“He's not in,” she lied to them.

They sighed in disappointment, and turned their backs to leave, but stopped, at Patrick’s timely intervention. He had seen them through the window.

Patrick was happy to see both men. He exhibited a calm too surprising. If there was anything he’d learnt over the last few days it was that, “no one likes a liability” a fact he reechoed to their hearing. He spent the first few weeks whimpering, “why hadn’t anyone come to see me?” He’d ask. But as the days passed and no one showed, the question turned to, “how best can I help myself?” That was his driving force accepting the offer from Barrister James.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Andrew isn’t really himself,” Huey whispered to Patrick, as he helped wheel the chair out, leaving Andrew alone in the sitting room.

“I heard rumors, but I wasn’t sure.”

“It was the blast. It caused him his memories.” Huey handed Patrick a can of water he procured from the fridge.
Patrick took a gulp and said, “I see,” he took a pause and continued, “but he looks normal to me.”

“I’ve been helping him remember people. He’s been getting better at the pretense.”

“I see,” Patrick said again. “It’s alright. I understand better.”

“I’m sorry once again,” Huey apologized; he meant it. “Isn’t there anything I can say to make you stay?”
He shook his head and said, “It’s for the best.”

Anna sauntered into the reception at the ground floor, she removed her sunshade and relaxed the bulb of her weave-on simply by vigorously moving her shoulders. The receptionist greeted her well enough for anyone who cared to know she was a familiar face. Anna had on, a blonde weave, sharp red lipstick, a cream-colored hybrid jacket, and matching red pumps.
Taking another look at her, the receptionist asked, “Are you alright, Anna?”

“I’m fine.” Anna flashed her a smile, and walked away. She got to the office she used to know as Patricia's on the 10th floor. It turned out Patricia had moved up, walked up the ladder to the position of PA to the new CEO – Ms. Abigail Akin. By the time Anna finally found Patricia, the latter's effort to get rid of her in time was futile: the Abigail had already walked in on them.

On realizing that the person before her was the infamous Anna, the girl whose named had plagued the entire firm since she took over, Abigail was furious, she could hardly contain her disgust for ‘the opportunistic bitch who joined her father’s bastard to destroy her family’. As long as she was concerned, Anna wasn’t welcomed in the firm – not while she was CEO!

C9

Andrew greeted Huey with his fist, which threw both men off balance. Huey responded almost immediately, with three punches of his own. With Andrew disoriented, it became easier for Huey to pin him to the floor, while Lewis and the others watched helplessly. She begged Huey to stop, but he wouldn’t, because Andrew fought relentlessly to be free of his clasp. This heated exchange continued until Akin appeared. He’d been outside, waiting, for Huey’s return with Andrew behind – as though it was going to be that easy – but since the exercise was taking far longer than anticipated, he wanted to know the reason.

For reasons inexplicable, Akin’s presence caused Andrew to somehow become tranquil. Sensing his new state of calmness, Huey arose from him, bruised, dirty, and unwilling to say a word. Lewis ran to him, regardless of her husband’s command that she go inside, all she wanted was to see Andrew’s pain come to an end. Elias and Glory, with other members of the church’s prayer warriors were the chief spectators of the brawl; they watched with rapt attention, and wondered what would happen next.

“What do you want from him?” Lewis screamed, at Huey. She wanted to know why he would want to hurt a defenseless man who he called his friend.

As Huey walked towards Andrew, he could tell Lewis truly cared for his friend; it was naturally that she’d think him a monster because of his assault on Andrew. He wished things didn’t go the way they did. But, they were necessary if they were to make headway with getting Andrew back to his true family.

“I did not wish to hurt his,” Huey apologized.

“Liar!” She screamed.

“Stop shouting, woman,” Huey interrupted her, “Believe it or not, we’re his family, and we’ve come to take him home,” he said. He was trying hard to convince her they were the good guys.

“That’s another lie. Andrew has no family,” Lewis lambasted.

Prophet interrupted before they’d begin another round of warfare. He said, “You people are desecrating the House of God. You’re committing a grievous sin.”

“What is going on here?” Huey asked, looking around, to no one in particular. It was as though he was in the midst of people who didn’t know the truth about life, the harsh reality of existence. As far as he was concerned, everyone here was a joker. “I wonder who all of you are? Clearly, none of you know the man you’ve been living with these past months.” He fired.

“I hope your God knows the value of money,” Akin cut in. He threw a bulk of cash Prophet’s way, “That’s two hundred thousand naira,” he said.
Prophet’s frown instantly bowed into a smile: one so wide, it nearly tore his face. He beckoned Lewis, his wife, to let go, “Andrew belongs with his family,” he said. He called them ‘the true sons of God.’

Huey stretched his hands towards Andrew, he wanted him to take it, he really wanted his friend back. The person lying on the floor wasn’t Andrew. The person might have his face and voice, but it wasn’t him. ‘There’s more to a person than just the physical body,’ Huey said to himself; he was trying too hard to remain positive over the situation. He wanted to say something to make Andrew happy, something he knew the usual Andrew couldn’t resist, “Anna would be very happy to see you,” he said.

“Anna,” Andrew echoed. The name struck a chord within him. He wondered, saying aloud, why the name sounded so familiar yet distant. Akin and Huey were glad to have finally struck a familiar chord; for unknown reasons, Anna was Andrew’s anchor back, just as the doctor had suggested.
Huey was glad to help answer, to clear Andrew’s doubt. “She was the love of your life,” he said to him.

Lewis heard it, and smiled. “You wasted no time proving me wrong,” She said. Her hands were firmly clenched to his. “Make sure you get it right this time,” Lewis pleaded; after planting a kiss on his forehead, she rose to take her leave.

“What about you?” Andrew asked.

Lewis took a natural pause before she responded, “My fate is sealed in marriage to him,” she said, throwing her sight towards her husband. “I’m happy one of us gets a happy ending,” she added, looking back to Andrew.

“Goodbye, Andrew.”

Andrew drew her back, and warmed her in the comfort of his embrace. He slipped something into her breast-pocket, and calmly said, “This should solve all your problems.”

The drive back to the firm was mostly done in silence. Andrew took the time to better reflect on himself, and what meaning his life held. Drenched in his thoughts without any tangible answer, he started to throw a tantrum. ‘Why does his return to an office hold so much meaning?’ He asked. No one answered him. He'd give anything to remember something from his past; anything at all, no matter how minute.

“We’re here,” Akin announced, as he pulled over at the garage.

Huey turned to Andrew, and said, “It’d be better if you wear this.” He threw him a jacket with a hoodie on: it was best to avoid anyone recognizing Andrew before he gains access to the main building.

Slowly they walked, and soon, they successfully made it into the building. Andrew took off the hoodie and every activity around him instantly froze. Murmurs began to resonate, and soon, a crowd gathered, people wanted to see the man who had died and come back to life. Andrew continued to walk, amidst shaky steps, with the guidance of his father and friend, he successfully arrived the safe haven of his former office, now Abigail’s, his half-sister.

The couple who visited the firm two weeks ago in search of him were present.

“What is this?” Abigail asked her father, willfully avoiding speaking to Andrew. Akin took her outside to pacify her.

“Where have you been?” The man asked Andrew, breaking his fixation on the door Abigail and Akin had walked through.

“I'm sorry,” Andrew apologized, impulsively,

“Where were you?” The wife asked, accompanying her questions were tears heavy enough to drown a person’s speech.

“I was away,”

“But you promised. You said, as long as you lived, nothing was going to happen. You promised!” She lamented further.

“My presence might have made things better, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help as I promised.”

Huey swiftly moved his head; Andrew’s response shocked him. ‘Could this be the real Andrew?’ He thought. Andrew’s statement sounded coherent, it was as though he knew the family.

As soon as the couple left, Huey rushed to Andrew; he wanted to know if his friend was back.

“Talk to me, Andrew. Is that you?”

“Of course, it’s me, who would it be?” Andrew replied.

Huey leapt for joy. It was Andrew. He was back!

“How long have you been there, you bastard?’ Huey asked, excitedly.

“Excuse me?”

Huey paused. He immediately realized he had been ahead of himself thinking it was his Andrew. Whoever the guy before him was, he was a great actor.

“I’m sorry,’ Huey apologized, “It’s just that your performance with the couple was good. It fooled even me,’ he added.

“It wasn’t a performance, I felt bad for them. They’re on the verge of losing a daughter to an abusive man, what type of man would be if I didn’t sympathize with them?”

“Not the Andrew I used to know.”

Andrew paused. He thought hard on what to say, but couldn’t find the right words to use that’ll convey his message perfectly. He wanted to remember, he truly did. He was stuck in childhood memories while the rest of the world had moved on, but if remembering meant he’d fit the monster Huey just described, he wasn’t sure he wanted to anymore.

“What about us? Your family. Your life. Anna?” Huey asked; he was frantic. “Don’t you want to remember us?"

Andrew squeezed his eyes hard. They felt the same way they did moments ago when he dashed the couple's hope, because he knew he wasn't yet himself and could be of no help to them. “I don’t know,” he replied honestly.

Huey snapped. He kicked against the chair, door, waste-bin, every item his legs could find. He wanted his friend back: the man with whom he humbled the most pompous lawyer in City of Lagos.

Andrew walked out on him; he ran into Abigail at the door. The confrontation was distasteful, as Abigail’s anger against him oozed out her body.
As he wandered the floor, he remained on thoughts of his own – he didn't fully understand the reason for Huey's outburst; he understood how painful it was to not be able to reciprocate the same kind of love received, but it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t remember anything. He wished he could be brutal. He wished he could be angry. He wished he could pretend to be who they all wanted, But he couldn't. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride freely on them. He could only be who he was now, and everyone needed to start accepting it. This was the new him, Andrew 2.0.

Patricia surfaced from a sharp bend, and ran straight into an Andrew well lost in his thoughts. She was terribly frightened. If Andrew had shown an inkling of recollection of their last encounter, she’d have taken to her heels, but he didn’t, hence, she stayed, and played right into his confusion acting as a damsel in distress.

Andrew on his part, had a flash of memories accompanied by a huge migraine. He called her Anna.

Patricia shook her head in disgust.

Andrew wouldn’t take no for an answer, so, he held her firmly by arms. ‘Are you Anna? Are you her? Tell me. Tell me!” He shouted.

“I’m not Anna, I’m not her,’ Patricia said. She fought her way off his firm grip.
Realizing what he had done, Andrew apologized, but Patricia would have none of that. According to her, Andrew had physically assaulted her, and he best remembers the favor she did him not pressing charges, in the near future. She walked out on him.

Andrew stood there, embarrassed, watching as Patricia walked away purposefully swerving her hips to stir up feelings in him. Huey walked up to him, calling him back to reality. Huey appeared calmer now. He had decided to take a different approach in triggering Andrew’s memories, he was going to make him thirsty for the things he used to love until the old Andrew comes out to play again.

“Would you feel better if I said you've hit that thing many times already?”

“I have?” Andrew responded, shocked. He wasn't sure if to believe Huey's words, but he was happy at the prospect. A wriggly smile formed at the corner of his mouth.

“He's here,” Helen, Patrick’s wife, announced.

As soon as she spoke, she turned her eyes back to the Mercedes that just drove into the compound. Through the window, she admired tits occupants, and watched them hole up at her door.

Patrick wheeled himself into the kitchen where his wife was, he wanted to know why she hadn’t answered the door, which bell had rung six times already. Recalling her senses, Helen dashed for the door.

The August visitor was Barr. James, the man from Tiffany-Janes Chamber, the same chamber that had been bombarding Patrick with various offers to have him on their team; they kept coming with better offers each time, until now, that a big-wig had decided to come by himself.
It was secret, Patrick was flattered, and had actually started considering their offer.

“Let’s talk about respect,” James started, “Your colleagues at Lewis' do not respect you. That’s why none of them has come to visit you yet,’ he said.

“Have you been spying on me?” Patrick cut him. His gaze alternated between his wife and Barr. James.

“I had no need to,” James responded. He threw his sight at Helen, implicating her as his informant.

Patrick was pissed. He was faced with the reality that his wife had been conniving with personnel of Tiffany-Janes’ Chambers all along. He had been in the dark, not knowing his actions have been in tune with the direction his wife wanted.

“Before you say anything,” Helen began.

"It’s okay,” Patrick interrupted her. He turned to James, and said, “I accept.”

Barr. James in turn was shocked, “Excuse me,” he said, he wanted to be sure he heard him correctly.

“I said, I accept. I’ll take the job,” Patrick reiterated, “I’ll see you on Monday to conclude the formalities,” he added.

Barr. James rose, he shook hands with Patrick, gave Helen a nod, and took his leave. Once James had left, Patrick turned his attention to a picture on the wall – it was one that had him, Akin and Andrew smiling – it was taken after a major trial three years ago, when things at the firm were rosy and unpolitical. He had a mug in his hands. He threw the mug at the frame in frustration, as Helen watched. She cringed.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?” Patrick asked, coyly.

“For everything. The lies and deceits. For all of this. For…”

“It’s not your fault,” he said, “It’s mine, for not knowing when to move on.”

He wheeled his seat towards her, and placed his right hand on her chin; he massaged them, just the way she liked it. She in turn, let her tears grease his palm. He room was quiet. They were at peace. They were in love.

C8

Anna sunk herself onto the soft couch in Patricia’s office. It was her first time out since the incident; she’d finally convinced herself that she needed some time with friends. Her head still hurt, even though she had started medication, it still troubled her, and there wasn’t much she could do about it.

Patricia feigned sympathy at Anna’s complaints. She tried hard to not let herself feel angry that her secretary, Nimah, let Anna into her office in her absence; she had to play along, else, Anna get suspicious over her true intentions.

“Hope you’re alright, sweetheart?” She asked.

“Yes,” Anna replied impulsively, but on second thought she reformed her answer, “I’m not so sure.”

It was Patricia’s idea Anna come to the office to pick up Mark’s stuffs he left behind. Anna thought it was her friend helping her to find closure, not knowing Patricia had other agendas.

“What’s the matter?” Patricia asked, fondly.

The question triggered memories Anna was trying hard to suppress. She really wanted to answer, but her strength was failing her; she gave up, and said, “I can’t. I really can’t.” She panicked.

“It’s alright,” Patricia said, and handed over Mark’s box to Anna.

“Thank you,” Anna said, as she received the box.

Patricia smiled, and said, “All I want is for you to be happy, Anna.”

Anna put down the box and gave her a hug, befitting a good friend, for old time sake, and for the deeds of the present.

“You’ve been a very good friend,” Anna said, “… and I love you.”

Lewis’ head found succor on Andrew’s shoulder. She couldn’t bear for the beautiful moment to end. For the past twenty minutes, she enjoyed the sweet pleasures his strokes offered her; she talked about lots of things, from Andrew leaving her for Ramon, to the twelve years she’d spent living life without him. As Andrew still had difficulties remembering things, he did most of the listening.

“I loved you, Andrew,” Lewis said, with so much sadness written on her face.

“Loved me?” Andrew rightly asked. He was confused, yet, surprised.

Lewis sighed. “What more can I say? You’re poison. You destroy everything you touch.”

“I’m sorry,” Andrew apologized again, for the umpteenth time.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Andrew!” She had an outburst. “You destroy everything and everyone. You destroyed my life. You destroyed me. And that’s why you’ll never find love, or be happy.”

Andrew immediately rose to his feet. Her reply was unexpected, and it shocked him. “What do you mean? What do you mean?” He repeatedly asked, but Lewis gave no reply. Andrew could tell something in her words weren’t true. He might not have his full memories, but he felt he experienced true love not too long ago. For some reason, he remembered what true love feels like, thanks to her.

“Good for you,” Lewis congratulated him, “I really hope I’m wrong. And if you do find her make sure you treat her better than you did me.”

Andrew tried to make sense of the way she spoke. He had a question that had burdened him since he first arrived in here. “If you’re so unhappy here, why do you leave?”

Lewis immediately stood up; he was going into territories she’d rather have unexplored yet. Even though she found herself inclined to give him a reply, she fought hard not to, but within seconds, she let her guards down and concluded it was for the best to tell him the truth

“Talk to me, Lewis,” Andrew chided her. “What does the Prophet have on you?” He pressed further.

“Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself.”

The Prophet walked into the hall at that exact moment. His presence caused them to become disconcerted. Lewis immediately rose, and made to leave, but not before she said, only to Andrew’s hearing,

“A mother shouldn’t leave her children to chance, no matter the reason. My children are in need of their mother.”

And she left.

Andrew’s face tightened with anger and disgust. He took a good, long look at the Prophet, and his vex skyrocketed. He clenched his fist in response.

“Andrew!” Someone called him from behind. Lewis stopped moving, and turned to the direction of the voice; so, did her husband.

“Andrew, my name is Huey,” the gentleman said, “You might still not remember me, but I’m a good friend, and you value my opinion.”

Andrew, just looked on, perplexed.

“It’s time to come back home, Andrew. We’ve come to get you.”
Andrew felt slighted. ‘Who was this Huey guy, who thought he could pop up and whisk him away?’ He thought. He further tightened his fist, and rushed towards Huey’s position.

07

“Yes, you're almost there!” Patrick’s therapist, Dr. Eniola, exclaimed.

‘I am?” Patrick asked. He was elated at the possibility that he might finally walk again without support-clutches.

“Yes, you are,” Dr. Eniola said. “Three more to go,” Patrick’s wife, Helen, added; she had joy written all over her face.

This was their third week at the therapist's office. Every appointment before this one had ended in huge disappointments. There’s was something different about Patrick’s spirit at the beginning of today’s session, and it reflected in the positive outcomes they were getting.

“One more,” Helen said. She gripped Dr. Eniola’s hand: she could hardly contain her excitement.

“Almost there,” Patrick said, to join in their excitement. His joy got the better part of him; he missed his step, and fell to the floor.

The Doctor sighed in frustration. Patrick’s process of recovery was proving more difficult than anticipated, it was going to take longer than he thought, but if the initial happenings of today’s session was something to go by, a miracle was possible.

Helen rushed to her husband's side, “I'm here baby,” she said, “I'm here,” she reiterated.
Patrick pulled away the cravat over his eyes, and clung tightly to his wife’s leg for succor.

Elias caught Andrew and Glory having sex at the church’s backyard. ‘How could she?’ He troubled himself with nagging thoughts. Glory betrayed his trust. She knew he was into Andrew, and was making arrangements to bed him, yet, she put a block on his plans.

He was angry; hence, he gave Andrew the silent treatment as he escorted her back to the church’s main auditorium, where the prophet awaited him.

They arrived the altar. The Prophet was already seated, with his wife beside him.

"Thank you, Elias. You can go now.”

He turned his attention towards Andrew and invited him to the altar.

“How do you feel being here again?” The Prophet asked Andrew, “Tell me the truth.”

Andrew scratched his unkempt beard ferociously for a while; “I’m fine, prophet.”

“Feel free. Talk to me," the prophet seemed urged Andrew. He toyed with the many rings on his fingers.

“I feel at home, prophet,” Andrew said, “Thank you for your hospitality.”

“It’s nothing, my son. You’re always welcome here.”
Andrew tried hard to not maintain eye contact with Lewis. Prophet caught his eye movement; he ogled;

“Do you want my wife?” He asked.

The question caught Andrew off-guard. He wondered how the Prophet could be so perceptive?

“I... I..,” Andrew stuttered. “I really don’t know,” he managed to say.

Prophet stood. He took off his large mantle that hid his flabby body. He beckoned Lewis to come over.

“Strip,” he ordered. Lewis obeyed, no questions asked.

Andrew was shocked. Anger had started to creep into him. It caused his great sadness to see the pain that lingered on Lewis’ face.

The Prophet wanted a tag-team sexual conquest, and it was taking Andrew everything he had to say no. It wasn’t until Lewis, herself, summoned him, did he oblige. He only wanted to make her happy.

KC walked into Abigail's office clothed in a cream short, yellow tee, and a sky-blue face cap. He looked dashingly simple in his multicolored appearance, and Abigail could tell. She didn’t care for what brought him around her on his off-day, but that for his bright presence gracing her day. She admired the hairy layer of his feet, it was a guilt she indulged in whenever a guy wasn’t looking.

“Here's the final draft, with the corrections you asked for,” KC said, flashing a smile. Abigail took note. KC was making reference to the designs of the conference room he’d been working on. After their last meeting, he received a memo from her office to squeeze in a minibar in the new design; he was here to make deliver on that notice.

“Thank you," Abigail said. She stretched forth her shaky hands to receive his designs, his hands brushed against hers, and she smiled at him: they both laughed.

KC felt relaxed in her presence, he enjoyed the company of the lady most people at the firm criticize; he’d always admired her from a distance, and now, he had the opportunity to meet her in person, he could tell her exactly how he felt.

“Someday, you’ll be remembered for making this firm great again,” KC said. He was at the door, about taking his leave.

Abigail asked him to wait; he spoke with sincerity, and she felt his opinion mattered. She wanted to know what he sincerely thought of her leadership so far.

KC wanted Abigail to own everyone, because whether they liked it or not, she was the boss. As Akin’s only daughter, she had unrestricted claim to the throne. He claimed to have a way out of all her recent problems, including the couple that created a scene because they wanted to see Andrew.
Abigail became as more smitten. ‘Why isn’t KC on my team?’ She wondered. It’s was taking her time to recruit trusted allies for her own Circle. Just like her father, she believed she needed a circle of friends to function better.

“I want you on my team,” she said, without a second thought.

“What team?” KC asked, oblivious to the severity of the position he had been offered.

“The team that gets to decide most of the happenings of this firm.”
Realizing what he had been offered, KC became dumbfounded; never could he believe he’d rise up the ranks of ‘Lewis Chambers’. He didn’t have a Law degree, he wasn’t Law inclined at all, and here he was being offered to rule one of the biggest Law firms in Lagos.

“I don’t know what to say,” he managed to say.

“Say, thank you.”

Abigail planted a kiss on his lips. It became obvious to KC that Abigail wanted him as much as he did her; for the moment, they belonged to each other. He watched as she returned from bolting the door, falling into his arms, they were for each other now.