Chapter 7: The Unseen Truth.

Adex and Lydia fell asleep when a sudden knock disrupted the quiet of the early morning. The bedside clock, which had a soft blue glow, indicated that it was 6:20 AM.

Adex woke up feeling drowsy and blinked at the soft, dim light that was filtering through the curtains. He placed his arm gently across Lydia's waist. She slept peacefully, her calm breathing providing a quiet, soothing backdrop to the loud pounding at the front door. He frowned slightly, ignoring the noise, but the persistent knocking continued.

He felt too heavy to get out of bed, wishing the knocking would stop. He rolled over and looked at Lydia, who slept as if the knocking didn't bother her. He then glanced at her face and kissed her cheek. "I'll be back, my love. Let me see who's knocking at my door at this hour."

He sighed loudly, jumped out of bed, rubbed his eyes to wake up, and headed towards the door. He opened the bedroom door while stumbling and groggy, then proceeded to the entrance door. The house was quiet, apart from the constant knocking. He felt a slight increase in his heart rate while his mind was thinking about different possibilities. 'Who could have knocked at his door this early?'

He hesitated for a moment, peering through the peephole before flinging the door open. His grumpiness vanished the moment he saw who was standing there—John.

Adex blinked in surprise and asked curiously, "Are you serious, John? It's six-twenty in the morning." He yelled.

John's solemn expression and tense posture indicated this was not just an ordinary visit.

He spoke gently and seemed worried. "Something bad has happened."

The word sparked Adex's curiosity. "What happened?"

John shook his head vigorously. "You need to come with me right now."

Adex stood still and looked at him for a moment before he spoke. "That's out of the question, John. You came knocking at my door at six twenty in the morning and asked me to follow you. Who does that?"

John's jaw tightened. "Trust me, if this isn't as serious as you thought, I wouldn't be knocking on your door at this hour. You need to come with me."

He smirked while raising his eyebrow. "Why are you acting like you've never done this before?" He glanced around cautiously, making sure no one was listening, then leaned forward and whispered, "The last time you showed up like this in my house, a prostitute collapsed in your apartment. Remind me again—how is that my problem?"

Neyo smiled softly. "I remember that day like any other. But this isn't one of those days. I assure you, Adex, this is not what you think."

Adex couldn't shake the serious expression on his face as he continued to wonder what could be so urgent that he knocked at his door so early. He was captivated by various scenarios: 'Did someone get hurt?' 'Was there any danger present?' 'Was this related to a past event?' He boldly stared at John, standing at his entrance, and these thoughts were repeated in my mind.

"This is a matter of urgency. We need to go now," John said, his tone sharp but controlled.

Adex studied him carefully. John did not tend to overreact. If he was here looking this shaken, something serious was happening. Adex sighed, weighing his options, and finally said, "Give me a minute. I'll be back."

He quietly returned to the bedroom, hoping the earlier conversation hadn't disturbed Lydia. He crouched down to plant a gentle goodbye kiss on the sleeping beauty's forehead. "I will be back, my love. Ensure you get enough rest." Lydia rested quietly on the bed, completely still. He quietly left through the door, and John turned around, confidently taking the lead. Lydia's eyes opened slowly and quietly. Her facial expression changed from calm to slightly perplexed.

John hurried to the car and opened the door loudly. Adex arrived shortly after and sat beside him in the front seat. They exchanged a subtle nod as they made their way down the calm, early-morning streets.

The silence in the car felt heavy. Adex glanced at John, who gripped the steering wheel tightly. The streetlights flickered past, casting long shadows inside the car. Apart from a few early risers heading to work, the roads were mostly empty. Adex cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

John kept his eyes on the road, his lips pressed into a firm line. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Something happened last night. I can't explain it yet, but you must see it yourself."

Adex frowned. "What are you talking about? But we were together last night. You're not making any sense."

John sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "I know. Just trust me. We're almost there."

He furrowed his brows in concern. "Is this about Seun or Neyo? Did something bad happen to Seun? He looked pretty drunk the other night."

John avoided his gaze and was silent for a while before finally stating, 'We'll arrive soon.'

Adex leaned back in his seat, frustration building inside him. He hated being pulled into situations without any explanation. His mind swirled with countless thoughts, but he couldn't figure out what was happening. His face showed his distress as John kept driving down the empty road.

Meanwhile, back home, Lydia lay in bed, looking downcast. Adex's sudden decision to leave at such an early hour didn't surprise her. Her eyes wandered around the room, her face showing no particular emotion. She sighed lightly, her mind drifting as she thought to herself, processing everything slowly. Then, after a moment, a faint smile formed on her lips. Beside her on the bed were a notebook and a pen, lying undisturbed.

Back in the car, Adex sighed deeply. "John, whatever this is, I hope it's worth dragging me out of bed for."

John didn't respond. He just gripped the steering wheel tighter and pressed down on the accelerator.

The silence in the car made Adex uncomfortable. Every unspoken word intensified the tension, and he could sense the weight of the pressure on his shoulders. His mind was full of scattered thoughts, each trying to make sense of something he couldn't comprehend. As he looked out the window, he observed the city lights blend into colourful streaks. He clenched his jaw and tightened his hands without realising it.

As they continued down the road, everything seemed different. It looked strange now, nothing like it used to be. Something felt wrong, and Adex couldn't quite put his finger on the issue.

Police cars were parked nearby, red and blue lights blinking and throwing weird shadows on the buildings. The officers looked serious as they walked around.

Neyo parked the car and stepped out. Adex glanced around, appearing confused. He exited the vehicle and observed officers roaming around the scene. Adex took a deep breath and walked closer to John.

"What happened here?" He asked.

John remained silent without saying a word. He looked forward and noticed that a car had crashed off the road, its metal twisted and shattered. There was wreckage scattered all over the ground, and pieces of glass covered the road. The air was thick with the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber.

He turned to an officer standing nearby, his voice low but demanding. "What happened here?"

The officer's gaze was steady but weighed down by the familiarity of routine tragedy. "There was an accident this morning," he answered, his voice flat. "I'm afraid it was fatal.".

The scene around them resembles a tragic performance. Officers went about their business. A detective knelt beside the tire skid marks, cameras flashed, and notepads were stuffed with scribbled notes. A tow truck stood by in the distance, ready to remove the wreckage, while another officer spoke into his radio, reaffirming the news. The chief investigator examined the wreckage, looking for signs of foul play or mechanical malfunction.

His breath ceased, and a weight settled in his chest as he moved forward. His stomach tightened, and he began to feel nauseous. Then, he saw something that instantly shattered his world.

He slowly glanced at the car's plate number and realised that it was Lydia's car. His lips parted, but only a whisper of a word escaped. "No…"

Immediately, he turned around and saw Neyo and Seun coming towards him. Their faces showed unspoken fear as they exchanged glances. Their eyebrows furrowed, and their eyes were filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

Adex felt his heart beating against his ribs as he glanced at a familiar sizeable concrete slab on the opposite side of the highway. On his drive home last night, he noticed it and briefly mentioned it to his friends, but they disagreed with his idea of moving the slab off the road. He stood there silently, witnessing something unimaginable.

He slowly turned to his friends, and his voice quivered. "Tell me this slab didn't cause an accident?"

Neyo hid his eyes by looking away. John quietly sighed, his shoulders heavy with a weight that was not visible. Adex looked back at the wreck—the broken windshield, the crushed cab, and the familiar license plate. He felt dizzy and asked. "This is Lydia's car. Why is it here?" His voice was tense with worry.

Neyo hesitated, glancing at John. "You didn't tell him?"

John's expression conveyed deep regret as he shook his head.

Adex yelled with a furious expression. "What are you guys whispering about?" He looked back and forth at them, waiting for answers they wouldn't give.

Neyo placed a firm but hesitant hand on Adex's shoulder. He swallowed hard, his throat tightening with anxiety. "Adex… I don't know how to say this, but—" He struggled to find the right words as he faltered.

Adex's voice cracked and hoarse, and he pleaded for him to speak.

Neyo inhaled deeply, bracing himself. "Lydia was involved in an accident." He hesitated before adding, "She… she didn't make it."

Adex felt like the world was spinning around him. His breath caught, and his vision became blurry. His friends expected him to look devastated as they shared the bad news, but a hollow, unfunny laugh escaped him. He shook his head, revealing a fragile, broken smile on his lips. "That's impossible. It's a joke."

John, Neyo, and Seun stood still, glancing at him with a puzzled expression. There was no communication from anyone or movement as they kept watching him. He shifted uneasily, feeling their stares weighing on him.

Seun finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's no laughing matter, Adex. This is serious."

Adex's chest tightened as he stepped back unsteadily and struggled to breathe. He paused and shook his head. "No, this can't be. I left her at home. She's asleep."

John, Seun, and Neyo remained frozen, their silence louder than any response they could have given.

"Adex, what do you mean?" Seun asked gently, his voice cautious. "We saw her body being taken to the morgue."

Adex sensed a chill running down his spine. He struggled to accept their words as he shook his hands. The truth pressed against his mind, but he refused to believe it.

"No. She's at home." His voice was shaky but steady. "I'll show you. Come with me."

Neyo exhaled sharply, rubbed his face, and said. "Adex, I understand…."

Before Neyo could finish, Adex cut in. "I can prove it to you guys," he shouted. "Let's go home, and you'll see my Lydia."

Neyo and Seun exchanged a second glance, expressing their apprehension and silent understanding. The truth was known to them, but Adex was not ready to hear it.

John nodded reluctantly. "All right. Let's go home and see Lydia to clear up our doubts."

They entered the car without hesitation. The engine roared to life, and they drove off, heading toward the truth that Adex refused to believe. The car was silent, without a single unspoken word.

The silence was interrupted by the hum of the tires during their journey through the city. Adex sat in the passenger seat, holding onto his knees, his breath quick and uneven. Seun sat in the back passenger seat, glancing at Adex in the rearview mirror. His worry was evident. Neyo sat beside Seun in the back seat. He had a doubtful expression and was eager to know the truth as he tried to understand what was happening. The heavy truth remained between them, even though no one spoke.

The minutes went by quickly as they approached Adex's house. He leaned forward with his eyes focused on the building. The sound of his pulse was like a drum in his ears. Neyo drove inside the compound and parked. He opened the door and sprinted towards his apartment.

He struggled with the keys, shaking his hands while jamming them into the lock. The door hit the wall with a loud bang and swung open violently. "Lydia!" he called, his voice cracking.

He rushed to the bedroom with a shallow breath. He opened the door with force and quickly glanced at the bed.

The bed was empty, and the blanket was neatly folded, untouched. There was no sign of Lydia, no sign of life.

"No… no… this can't be real," he muttered, stepping backward.

John, Neyo, and Seun stood in the doorway, watching in silent grief.

"No," he grunted, avoiding eye contact with his friends. "She was just here. I left her on this bed." He extended his forefinger, precisely indicating the direction of the bed.

He checked the corridor—It was empty.

He ran to the kitchen with his heart racing. 'Lidia?' he exclaimed in astonishment. Silence gave him a response.

He staggered toward the bedroom again and yelled her name. He looked confused as he scanned the room and thought, "She couldn't have vanished; she was napping right there." He pointed in the direction of the bed. He then noticed a piece of paper on the bed. He leaned forward and picked it up. He opened the paper and was about to read it when John entered. John placed his hand on his shoulder, and his voice was soft but firm. "Adex, wake up."

His hands trembled as he read through.

My Dearest Love,

I want to thank you for everything you have done for me. How you appreciate, love, and cherish me means more than I can express. You make me feel special in ways I never imagined, and I am truly grateful for you.

If you're reading this note, you must have realised what happened to me. I didn't come home to scare you or make you uncomfortable. I wanted to keep my promise and celebrate you on your special day. You mean so much to me, and I couldn't let your birthday pass without being there for you.

Please do not shed tears for me. I wish I could be with you again to embrace you and fulfill my promise of spending a day devoted to you. Though we might be physically apart, know that you carry me with you in spirit.

I hope you see where my heart lies. You are always loved.

Regards

Lydia.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he whispered, "No, no, no," each 'no' filled with a desperate wish for things to be different.

Adex held the note between his trembling hands, unable to look at it as tears streamed down his cheek. He pressed the paper against his chest, hoping to bring back Lydia.

He shook his head, but only a slight whisper escaped. "No..." His knees buckled, and he sat down on the floor, his body sobbing silently. The walls were compressed as the air was dense and suffocating, resulting in a thick and still atmosphere. Adex felt emptiness and loss as the candle from the previous night burned out, leaving a faint trail of smoke in the air.

Seun and Neyo rushed in with worried and sad expressions, and their faces fell when they laid eyes on him. They could see he was struggling to cope with the agony.

"She's gone," Adex choked out, his voice barely holding together. His fingers clenched around the letter she left behind. The words written on it burned into his soul.

"She made a promise to me..." His voice wavered, and he began to shake.

"She promised to meet my parents and make a perfect wife." His voice broke utterly, and he allowed himself to succumb to the sorrow.

John knelt beside him, his grip firm on Adex's shoulder. "We're here, brother. This is harder for you than it is for us," he said softly, though his voice trembled slightly. "You're not alone."

Adex's face was soaked with tears, and his voice was hoarse and straining as he turned to look at John. "We could have moved the slab off the road when I asked," he murmured, his words cracking with regret. "But you said we should leave it behind." He gasped and cried again. "Lydia is no more, and I will never see her again."

John, Seun, and Neyo felt a sense of deep regret when they remembered the night they ignored Adex's warning, believing it was unimportant. They had ignored the signs and told one another that the road was clear enough, so there was no need to waste time moving the sizeable concrete slab blocking half of the road. But now Lydia was gone. They would never hear her laugh again, never see how she made Adex's eyes shine, and never get the chance to fix their mistake.

The regret was overwhelming. They later realised that the signs they ignored were quietly warning them about something that could have saved the life of someone they loved.

"We should have listened," John whispered, his voice breaking. "We should have moved the slab off the road."

Neyo wiped his face roughly, but the tears kept falling. "It's our fault," he admitted, the words choking in his throat. "We didn't listen. And now... now she's gone."

Adex closed his eyes, completely overwhelmed by grief. He didn't say a word—what was there to say? Nothing could bring her back, and nothing could ease the pain.

Their quiet, sorrowful sobs were all that remained as silence filled the room, a haunting reminder of the moment they desperately wished to undo.