“I’ll throw you into this well, and your mother will never know about it.” Adaeze said spitefully to the four-month-old baby in her hands—the child that belonged to her best friend.

—

CHAPTER 1

Adaeze and Amara had been best friends since childhood. They were literally like sisters from different mothers.

People had mistaken them for twins several times even though they were not related by blo0d. They did almost everything together—almost every little thing.

People even believed they would get married on the same day.

“This one that you two are this close, are you sure you people will not end up getting married on the same day?” people would often ask, and the two friends would laugh about it.

The two friends actually took the matter seriously. One day, Adaeze brought up the idea of making silly vows about it.

“Amara, let’s promise each other that we will get married on the same day and have our first babies at the same time,” she said.

Amara nodded excitedly. They locked pinky fingers as a promise and burst into laughter.

Years passed, and this childhood dream remained nothing more than a fond memory—until life happened.

Amara ended up getting married first. Not only that, she also had her first baby before Adaeze.

Meanwhile, Adaeze had neither gotten married nor had her first child.

One afternoon, Adaeze visited Amara’s home. According to her, she simply could not wait to meet her goddaughter.

Stanley, Amara’s husband, was not around. He had traveled out of town for a business meeting.

When Adaeze finally arrived, the two friends hugged each other happily and exchanged pleasantries.

“My friend, you’re looking so good o,” Adaeze said to Amara.

“Motherhood is looking so good on you,” she added with a smile.

Finally, Adaeze carried Amara’s baby into her arms.

“Jesus o! See my baby o. This one looks so much like me,” she said playfully.

The two friends laughed.

After a moment, Amara looked at her friend and smiled.

“Bestie, do you remember the vow we once made to each other—to wed on the same day and have our first child at the same time?” Amara asked.

“Yes o. How silly we were. Things we did as children,” Adaeze replied.

They both laughed, waving the memory off lightly.

But behind those smiles lay hidden feelings that no one could decipher.

As evening approached, Adaeze suddenly said she wanted to buy something.

“Amara, give me your baby. Let me go and buy something from Nneka’s shop. We’ll return soon,” Adaeze said.

Trusting her friend completely, Amara gladly handed over her baby.

“We’ll be right back,” Adaeze assured her as she stepped out with the child.

The moment she stepped outside the house, her expression changed.

The smile on her face disappeared, replaced by bitterness and spite.

How could Amara give birth before her?

How could she get married before her when they had once vowed to do all these things together on the same day?

Consumed by jealousy, Adaeze changed direction. Instead of heading toward Mama Nneka’s shop, she quietly walked toward an unfamiliar compound under the cover of darkness.

The night was silent.

She moved carefully, making sure no one noticed her.

Soon, she arrived at a lonely well situated far away from the nearby houses.

She stared at the innocent baby in her arms.

Then she spoke through clenched teeth.

“I’ll throw you into this well, and your mother will never know.”

Without giving it another thought, she threw Amara’s baby into the well.

The baby’s cries echoed through the deep darkness.

Adaeze let out a loud, spiteful laugh.

“Now, let’s see how you’ll keep making mouth and gallivanting because you have a child while I do not. Don’t worry. By the time I am done with you, Amara, you will not recognize yourself any longer.”

She took one final look around to make sure no one had seen her.

Then, like a thief in the night, she quietly tiptoed away into the darkness.

—

To be continued…