Bonds that tether.

I saw a prompt on Twitter.

“Do you want my advice, Bola? Go and find another man, just leave Chidi for me.”

Her voice was calm, too calm.

The words didn’t immediately register. I stared at my older sister, my fingers frozen on the book I was flipping through.

“What did you just say?”

She leaned back against the couch, meeting my gaze without a hint of shame. “You heard me. Leave Chidi. He doesn’t want you anymore.”

I laughed, though it came out shaky. “You’re joking, right? Leave Chidi for you? I’ve been with Chidi for four years. He loves me, Tola.”

Her expression didn’t change. “He’s scared of you, Bola.”

I felt the laugh catch in my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. “What does that even mean? Why would he—”

“Because of what you did, Bola. What you did. To Amaka”

I froze.

“What are you talking about?”

Tola tilted her head, studying me. “You act like everyone else is the problem, Bola, but you’ve always been the one causing harm. Amaka saw it. She told you the truth, and you couldn’t handle it. Now look where she is.”

The memory hit me like a wave—My late best friend, Amaka, her voice shaking as she shouted at me in my living room. You’re controlling, Bola. You don’t care about anyone unless they’re doing what you want. And Chidi? Don’t think I don’t know you only wanted him because I liked him first.

She was wrong. She didn’t understand me. She thought she did, but she didn’t.

It had been raining that night, the roads slippery as I drove home after her accusations. My anger still burned in my chest. And then there she was, crossing the street in the pouring rain.

I wasn’t speeding. I wasn’t reckless. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But when my car hit her, and her body crumpled onto the road, I didn’t stop.

It wasn’t my fault. She shouldn’t have been there. She shouldn’t have pushed me like that. Maybe she deserved it.

“Bola,” Tola’s voice broke through the haze, “you can keep pretending it was an accident, but we both know the truth. You’ve never felt a bit of remorse for what you did. And Chidi knows.”

I blinked. “What?”

Her lips curled into a small, cruel smile. “He knows everything. About Amaka. About that night. I told him.”

I couldn’t breathe. “You told him?”

“Of course I did now. Someone had to.” She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And do you know what he said? He said he’s afraid of you. He’s terrified of what you might do if you found out he knows.”

The room spun, her words hammering into me. Chidi knew. He knew. Oh my God.

“You had no right, Tola, no right!” I hissed.

“I had every right. You think you’re untouchable, but you’re not. The truth always comes out, Bola.”

I shook my head, standing abruptly. “You’re trying to ruin my life. That’s what this is about. You’ve always been jealous of me. Amaka thought so too.”

At the mention of her name, Tola’s smile vanished, replaced by something darker. She stood, facing me with a look I couldn’t quite read.

“Jealous of you?” she said softly. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Do I?” I shot back, my voice rising. “Because Amaka told me exactly what you were like. She said you were manipulative, that you tried to turn her against me, just like you’re trying to do with Chidi now.”

Tola’s eyes narrowed. “And did she tell you why she came to confront you that night?”

“What are you talking about?”

“She came to tell you the truth, Bola. She was tired of your games. Tired of being controlled. Just like Chidi is now. But you couldn’t handle that, could you?” Her voice dropped, quieter now. “You thought she wanted Chidi for herself, didn’t you? That’s why you snapped.”

“I didn’t snap!” I yelled, my voice shaking. “I didn’t kill her. It was an accident!”

Tola took a step closer, her eyes boring into mine. And then, she smiled—a slow, deliberate smile that chilled me to my core.

“No, Bola,” she whispered. “You didn’t kill her. I did.”