A lady walked out from the door that was left open, her face filled with sadness, she held a rope in her left hand and a long stool chair in her right hand she lumbered, there was a big tree with a very large shed. High in the sky.
She stopped and positioned the chair very well on the floor. She struggled but successfully got herself on the chair.
Corrected: "She looked back at the open door, and shrugged, tears rolling down from her eyes. She hissed and recalled something important."
       **********
      Flashback
       **********
A lady in her early 20s stood in front of a giant mirror, behind her was another lady making sure her outfit was properly arranged and chosen. She assisted her in brushing her hair, taking time to comb her beautiful long cinnamon hair. Her face was softly rounded, adorned with expertly applied makeup that enhanced her natural beauty, creating a captivating allure. Her earrings swung gently, gleaming brightly like precious gems, capturing attention with their radiant allure. Her stunning blue gown mirrored the serene beauty of the deep blue sea, evoking a sense of tranquility and elegance.
Her skin was smooth and soft, her fair complexion lending her an angelic beauty, her height increased by the cone heels she wore.
On her wrist adorned a glistening bracelet, its delicate charms catching the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing dance of twinkling reflections in the embrace of the day's radiance. The woman behind her dropped the comb, prompting her to glance over her shoulder, wondering if she could spot any flaws in her attire. Even if there were errors in her dressing, it would still be considered fashionable because from her hair down to her shoes was perfect.
It's all right, ma'am. You're free to go," she said reassuringly. With a respectful genuflection, she stepped back, and kept her head lowered.
"Thank you," she expressed with appreciation. "I've mentioned before, please stop calling me 'ma'am' and just call me Doris," she gently reminded with an angry tone mixed with correction.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," she murmured, her gaze fixed downwards as she nervously played with her fingers, consumed by remorse."Your dad and mom are against us calling you by your name." She clarified,
"Hmm," she muttered, her tone tinged with annoyance as she rolled her eyes. "I'm 23 years old, perfectly capable of making my own decisions," she declared, trying to assert her independence while battling a hint of childishness. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, lost in thought as she studied her image.
 "You're more beautiful when you're angry," She remembered his words fondly, and a smile graced her lips as the memory warmed her heart.
"You're free to go, Cameka," she stated, dismissing her with a wave of her hand.
"Thank you, ma'am," she said graciously, then turned to Doris with a remorseful expression. "I'm sorry, Doris," she added softly before quietly excusing herself and leaving the room.
With adoration in Doris' gaze, she delicately traced her fingertips across her face, marveling about her beauty. "You're more than beautiful Doris when you're angry." She whispered and moved her hand slowly on her face. She requote someone's statement.
She pulled out her phone, which had broad buttons, a characteristic feature of late 90s designs used at that time. She selected the buttons and clicked on photos. An image of a guy popped up.
 "I still love you, Buju, "In a tender moment, she whispered and pressed a gentle kiss on the image. She took her handbag from the table before she left the room.
She walked out of the house, As she emerged from the house, the chauffeur smoothly maneuvered the car closer to her, ready to drive her around the environment.
He halted the car and promptly stepped out, swiftly opened the door and gesturing for her to enter. With a courteous nod and a bow of his head, he greeted her, "Good morning, ma'am."
"Thank you, Roffy," she said gratefully as she stepped into the car. With a nod, he closed the door behind her.
He climbed into the driver's seat and smoothly guided the car out of the building, While the car was moving, Doris enjoyed music on her phone. "Buju," she called, her voice warm and beautiful, she smiled with her lips parted. "Love is a beautiful thing when you find someone who truly cherishes you," she mused, her words carrying a sense of genuine appreciation for the emotion. She whispered and scrolled through her phone.  
She stopped pressing the button, Buju's number was on the screen, her thumb approached the button slowly.
"Ma'am."Where should i go from here?" Roffy asked. She was the one giving him directions.
Roffy's inquiry halted her from tapping the number, causing her to pause and reconsider her action, she wanted to call Buju but she changed her mind.
"Take left and stop at Fatirazo?" she requested politely, her gaze fixed ahead, avoiding direct eye contact with him 
"Okay, ma." He turned the steering left.
"I'll make my visit to him a surprise visit," She declared her intention confidently before delicately placing her phone in her handbag.
After a few minutes of driving, the car stopped at the building with 'Fatirazo' written boldly on top of it. The building was very beautiful.
Roffy rushed out and opened the door for her. She stepped out and looked at the building. She's in love with what's in front of her, but the building is not new to her.
"Roffy, you can go i will call you when i need you." She said and walked to the entrance door of Fatirazo.
He beckoned and drove the car away.
 Fatirazo is a private estate owned by an anonymous entrepreneur. It is a very beautiful and highly secure environment. Records have it that Fatirazo is the most secure place in the land. Not even an ant or mosquito has access to attack the occupants.
She scanned her face, input her reason for having access to the estate, typed in her digits, and swiped her card. There was a countdown. After the countdown, the door unlocked, and she walked into the building, then the door closed.
As she walked in, someone in uniform waited for her. She was escorted to Buju's doorstep. Maybe she would love to explore the estate, just my guess, because this was not her first time in the Fatirazo estate.
The man in uniform left. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. She knocked again, but no one came to her aid.
She turned to leave, but her instinct made her stop. She brought out her key and unlocked the door. Buju didn't tell her anything about leaving the estate.
She has every right to access Buju's room because she has passed every demand to have access to Buju's apartment.
She wasn't certain about some things in the house. She felt the presence of Buju's in the house. First, she saw Buju's shirt on the sofa. She smiled cause that's Buju's normal life, he likes putting his clothes on the sofa.
She kept moving, she stopped when she heard a conversation going on in the house. It was a masculine and feminine voice, the masculine was from Buju and the feminine was unknown to her.
 Guess the room the conversation was going on? If your answer is bedroom then you're right. She refused to believe that Buju was with another woman. The man she trusted with all her soul, the one that promised her forever and only dead do us apart.
The door was left open. He can do whatever he wants in his house, so leaving the door open was just minor to him.
She Tiptoe and stood in front of the door. Her eyes cannot unsee what she has witnessed. Buju and another lady were sharing the bed with Blacket covering them.
Her handbag fell off her hand, she froze. She was shocked about what she saw, she never had it in mind that Buju would do this to her.
Tears slid down from her eyes, it wasn't just tears it was a tears with greater amount of pain.
 Buju didn't notice her.
"Buju," she called out with a voice heavy with sadness, the pain evident in her tone.
He knew the voice. He looked at it immediately, it was Doris, his girlfriend, his one and only lover.
"Who's she, darling?" The lady asked disconnecting immediately from what was going on between them 
He didn't respond, he spoiled everything, he broke her trust and betrayed her love for him.
"Doris." He called. 
"It's not what you think," he insisted, his tone pleading as he attempted to capture her attention.
She stepped back and turned around.
"Doris?" The woman called out, her voice mixed with questioning and exclamation, conveying surprise and intrigue all at one.
She was as surprised as Doris; maybe she was also played by Buju. Buju was frustrated. He might have loved Doris, but just one catch ended everything for him.
He jumped off the bed to keep her calm but she ran out of the house.
She barrel with tears in her eyes, she pressed her phone and placed it behind her ear.
"Roffy, come and get me out of here." She said and ended the call without waiting for Roffy to say anything.
She was escorted out of the estate. As she walked out, Roffy halted the car. Doris opened the door and jumped in. Roffy was surprised to see her open the door, noticing her sadness. He wondered if someone was after her, realizing he could be in big trouble if that was the case.
"Go, Roffy," she struggled to say it out but her voice was soiled with sadness. "I said go!" she yelled at him when he wasn't quick to respond to what she had just said.
He turned on the car engine. Buju was already outside the Fatirazo estate; he ran to the car. Doris clicked a button, and the window locked. Roffy drove out of the street. Buju didn't stop; he continued running closer to the car. The gap between him and the car was wide; he stopped when he felt tired.
Inside the car, Doris' phone rang persistently, she only stole a glance and dropped it back. Buju was behind all the calls.
She did not want Roffy to know what was wrong, but if she continued in the car then Roffy would decode everything.
"Stop the car, Roffy," she voiced out, immediately pushing the door open without letting him stop the car.
He halt the car to avoid any query from her.
"I will call you when I'm okay. For now, just go," she said and stepped out of the car. Roffy pushed the door open, paused, wanting to follow her, but there were boundaries for him.
He returned to the car and drove away. 
Doris ran to a nearby building with tears in her eyes, infront of the building was a big cross on top of the building. She pushed the church door open, the chairs were arranged into different sections. She pass through the aisle.
The church was very quiet. It was a nice place for her to find peace, to erase all her pains.
She spotted someone sitting on one of the front benches. Without much consideration, she knew it was a guy because, from the back, everything was revealed to her.
She sat on the second bench, very close to the person in the front row. He was very quiet, refusing to look behind, not caring to say hi or hello.
Doris sat on the bench and covered her face, deeply hurt by Buju. Her tears dropped onto the floor.
She hated the day she met him, she believed he was different. She hates 'love' for what Buju just did to her heart.
"I hate you buju." She mumbled.
Tears streaming down her face, she cried out, "I hate you, Buju!" Her voice cracked with anguish as she lifted her face to the sky, not caring where she was, consumed by the agony in her heart.
She wept, she needed a shoulder to cry on but her parents are always busy.
The guy in front was touched by her outcry. He looked behind slowly; it was Toe. After being admitted to the hospital, Toe regained consciousness after 20 days, but he wasn't the same. He ignored people and preferred solitude, forgetting much about himself. Cendi's decision had deeply wounded him, transforming him into a new version of himself. He had made numerous suîcîde attempts but was always stopped.
He only looked at her, and felt her pain, but speaking to her wasn't on his mind. He looked away from her and focused on the altar.
Toe stood up, he hated what was unfolding behind him—her tears and the sorrowful words.
He walked out of the church.
Doris's head remained on the chair, tears cascading onto the floor, drop by drop. Feeling a gentle palm on her shoulder, she was startled. Pausing for a moment, she looked up to see Toes, whose face she hadn't seen before.
He held a white kerchief. "Need this?" He said.
Thanks," she took the Pierce from him and wiped off her tears.
"May I." He requested.
She beckoned.
"Thanks," he sat on the bench but kept a gap between them.
"If there was anything that could take us back to the past, we'd all return to correct our mistakes and ease our regrets," he said, his gaze averted in sadness.
"Sometimes our hopes and expectations falter, not because we don't deserve good things, but because life dictates our fate," he said, his gaze fixed directly on the symbol on the altar, his expression filled with sadness.
"Buju," she mumbled. "I believed in love, but guess what I got in return?" she asked, not expecting an answer from him, but if he did respond, she wouldn't mind.
"What's the point of sharing it with you? You're just like him," she said, wiping her nose with the kerchief.
"Sometimes we attack and fight what we don't understand. We judge based on our views, but does that make us right? It's up to us to find our answers," she said.
"I love and trust Buju with all my heart but he chose to break my trust and my heart." She wept.
"I loved and trusted Cendi with all my heart, but she chose her father's relationship over ours," he lamented. "I've tried living without her, but my brain just can't go a day without her. She's the air that I breathe every day. I've moved from one isolated location to another, from one lonely place to another, thinking it would solve my problems, but everything is still active like it happened yesterday," Tears fell from his eyes as his voice faded.
"Like you go through all this for just one person?" She asked with serious astonishment.
"That's life; sometimes when you feel your problem is too big, there's someone out there with an even bigger problem who still considers it small." He said and got closer to her.
"My name is Toes." He put out his hand for a handshake.
"Doris," she responded, exchanging a handshake with him.
"I would like to see you later, Doris," he said, his expression devoid of any smile or sign of interest. Since Cendi left him, he had forgotten how to smile or show any signs of emotion.
"I will think about it." She Ignored him. She can't just let go of what Buju did to her.
"Can I drop my digits? When you arrive at your answer, let me know.".
"You're free." She said and looked away.
He handed out his card to her, she received it.
Expecting your feedback as soon as possible. He added. She beckoned and he walked out of the church.
*****************
A handsome young man with black hair and a confident face wore a black suit as he walked to the car parked outside his office.
He opened the car door and stepped in, closing it behind him. The driver didn't waste any time but immediately started the car. Inside the car, he didn't say a word. He was deeply focused on his phone.
"Don't forget to stop at the flower shop." He mumbled still scrolling the screen of his phone.
"Yes, boss." He answered 
The car engine was turned off at the flower shop, the driver alighted and walked into the flower shop. He stopped scrolling, the image on the screen triggered a special memory in his brain.
      ***********
      Flashback 
     ************
The environment tensed with people anticipating to witness something special. They made an arena gathering, their eyes feeding on what was going on before them.
It was in an open field. People were on their feet with their phones making the drop of light since it was daytime. 
Some with their hands covering their mouth, and their expression and expectations were too deep. The shorter ones desperately look for space to see what's going on inside the circle.
The sunny and yellowish weather, sent down it orange ray, but in as much as the weather was sunny, it maintained the normal earth temperature.
Say yes!! Someone from the crowd shout-out loudly 
Say yes!! A beautiful lady from the crowd begged 
He really loves you!! A lady dying of tension begged and stood as a custodian to what was going on.
Inside the circle was a guy in his late 20's, face so milky and soft, eyes sparkling, hair thick and dark, fair in complexion, his skin competing with IceCube. He wore a black suit. Heaven, he was every girl's dream man.
He knelt with one knee facing up, in his hand was a piece of metal with a shiny earthly treasure. The expectations of the tensed audience were scribbled down on their faces.
He brought the ring forth to the lady in front, she was 23 and younger. If beauty was a crime then her punishment will be life imprisonment, her purple gown and handbag don't need a price tag cause it worth alot of bank figures.
Cendi. He called with a voice natural and less ego.
Hello, Wednesday, and hello, Cendi,
A butter that flies, beautiful and free.
Your beauty soars high, above and beyond,
Rare and precious, like treasure fond.
In Atlantis' depths, your secrets lie,
A mysterious island, hidden from the eye.
Sunny goddess, radiant and true,
I gaze up to you, in awe of you.
Pour down your light, for I am prepared,
On bended knee, my love declared.
With hand outstretched, forever signed,
Will you, Cendi, be forever mine?
Marry me, my love, across seven zones,
Together, forever, as husband and wife, our love shall be known.
He said willingly and waited for her reply
"God, when?" a voice echoed from the crowd, a heartfelt plea by a woman yearning for answers amidst the uncertainty of life's journey. 
Awwnnn. She crafted her voice, her fingers moving with a graceful rhythm, enchanting all listening ears.
Cendi's mood was not quite competing with the crowd's pressures to accept the young man's ring. 
The excited expression was far from her, do you expect the daughter of the general to be excited about a ring? Let's forget about the ring what about the treasure kneeling before her?
The crowd was waiting for her response the atmosphere was dying of her silence.
"I, Cendi, the only daughter of the highest ranked general, the face of every beauty companies and the most beautiful lady on earth's surface thereby i Cendi. She praises herself," she was worth every line of praises.
"Toes." She called and faced the audience.
"Say yes!!" 
"His so cute, just say yes" 
"He's your perfect match!!" The audience chants. If Cendi say yes then their children's beauty will overshadow the earth's surface.
"Shut your mouths!" she roared, her voice laced with fury, as she glared fiercely at the crowd.
A heavy hush silent descended upon the space, suffocating any lingering whispers and stifling even the faintest rustle of movement. The air grew thick with anticipation as the silence enveloped the crowd, rendering them motionless, each individual held captive by the weight of the collective stillness. It was as if time itself had paused, allowing only the echo of their breaths to resonate in the vast expanse, a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions raging within.
"Just shut up you all, you, you and you. " she snapped, frustration evident in her voice, her hand gesturing angrily from one spectator to another.
"You have no say in my affairs!" she bellowed furiously, her voice dripping with venom. "He's mine, not yours, so keep out of it and let me handle this," she warned her tone firm but controlled.
The crowd took their mature position but i know deep in their hearts they still wanted to throw words in but they also learned that their actions were affecting her choice of action.
"Toes." She faced him after making sure the crowd was out of their affairs.
"Cendi, my love," he replied, his voice heavy with sorrow as if burdened by the weight of unspoken emotions.
In the realm where the sky meets the earth so wide,
Where birds take flight with a fearless stride.
Love, a sturdy chord, needs no strings to bind,
In hearts entwined, its melody we find.
Mountains stand tall, touching heavens above,
Yet beneath their peaks, lies life's tender love.
The sun may scorch with its fiery light,
But love's embrace shields us through the night.
The ocean's tide may ebb and flow,
But its depths hold secrets we may never know.
In the ballad of love, our souls entwine,
Forever bound by a love divine.
my debt is rank and with rank, i shall pay.
"Adam, I love you," she said, dropping on her knee, which deeply triggered the audience, stirring emotions all around.
"I love you too, Cendi," he whispered, his words barely audible, while still steadfastly holding up the ring, showing no signs of tiredness.
Live is unfair
Love is unfair
Feeling is unfair.
"Adam, I'm sorry," she whispered with a heavy heart, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I can't... my father insists I marry the son of another general," she explained, her hands resting sadly on his shoulders.
"Eyeeeh." A mournful cry pierced the air as someone from the audience shouted in disappointment.
The number of phone's increased as the news hit deep, no one expected her to say no. He was every woman's spec, every woman's dream man.
Two to five ladies in the audience fainted. Sometimes life is unpredictable, their dream man is being rejected infront of them.
Toes you will find someone else that will love you more than me. She stood back on her feet with thousands of tears in her eyes.
Toe never believes what just happened, he still tries to decode everything that just happened, he never believed that Cendi would say no to him.
Words have it that Cendi's father and the general have a strong relationship so to keep their friendship going they agreed to get their children married and any disappointment from Cendi or the son of the second general might cause or trigger chaos.
After Cendi left with a goodbye wave. She was sad, she broke him into pieces. Can't she fight for her love? Even life fails to fight for us sometime so who's Cendi to fight for love?
Toes lose control and fall back on the floor. He passout, and the audience dropped everything they were doing and rushed to his aid.
He lay helplessly on the floor, the marmot crowd gathered around him, they murmured and chittered. 
A person hastily enters, wielding a plastic rubber, and pours water over him, but he remains unresponsive to the water, causing concern.
"Call an ambulance!" someone in the audience shouts, the voice trembled with worry.
The company provided a first aid kit, which was utilized to attend to him until the arrival of the ambulance. He was then transported by the ambulance for further medical attention.
******
few minutes the chauffeur returned with the jasmine flower. "This is it boss." Toes didn't respond he looked lost in thought 
"This is it boss." He repeated and tapped him in the hand.
"Ehh." He said as he realized he was out for a long time. "Thanks."
 He handed it to him, and he took it, placing it beside him. The car was moved. After a few minutes, the car stopped in front of a black gate. The driver tapped the horn, and the gate was unlocked.
The car drove in, he opened the door and grabbed the jasmine flower. He walked slowly to the door. Tap on the switch. The bell rang, he clicked again, there was no response from inside.
He held the knob and lowered it down. The door unlocked. He walked in with the jasmine flower, the color was enough to get anyone's attention.
"Pretty, I'm back!!" He sounded cool and romantic. "Come out and meet the only man you can't do without." He said childishly. He looked good but why was he acting like a God inside the car?
"Where are you?" He asked peeping around the hidden space of the room. 
"Stop hiding, i can see you!!" He whispered passing the window that viewed the outdoors, he stopped and looked back.
"Doris," he called with a great shock.
Outdoor was Doris with a rope circling her neck, and tied to a single branch of a tree, below her feet was a long stool that supported her. It might be what you're trying to imagine.
Her eyes closed with tears dripping down her cheek, the wind danced around her, her hair enjoyed the rhythms made by the cold breeze.
The mango leaves were falling off the trees, they might be crying for her, such a sad moment on a bright day.
She has accepted what she's about to do. In a few minutes, a few seconds, she will wave the world goodbye and never face anything that's bothering her in the world again. 
If such a thing as life after death exists then she will surely look back and smile if only it was the best decision.
What might drag her to the extent of hanging herself on such a beautiful mango tree? The poor tree will be held responsible by the police for killing such a beautiful woman.
She kicked off the chair. The rope held her neck getting tied and tied, she struggled her leg dangling in the air. Life was slowly leaving her. Dead was slowly taking her away
"Doris!!" he called as she hurried up to her, he didn't know what to do, he was totally confused, how could he save her? her body is struggling for life.
He quickly, used his back, and her feet landed. She struggles and balance. Her eyes were red, she freed her neck, now that she had tasted a cup of death and life gave her the opportunity to survive then she might not try such an act again.
She fell off his back and he grabbed her. She looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry for taking such a decision but i had to, life itself has refused to give me a child." She struggles to speak.
"I know, but that wasn't the best decision. How will I survive without you? Sometimes you need to consider other people's feelings before you decide for yourself." he caressed her hair and rubbed her back.
He sat on the floor and sang a little French music for her. She wept.
"I'm sorry Mr. Toes, I'm a bad wife and I don't deserve to be loved by you." She hid her face in his chest.
"Don't say that we deserve each other." she kissed her hair.
"I have something for you." He brought out a paper from his pocket. This is for you. 
She looked at him for some second before taking it from him. She flung it open. It was a test result. She shed tears with a smile on her face.
"I'm pregnant!!!" She exclaimed.
"Finally, I'm pregnant!!" She screamed.
"I'm pregnant," she jumped up. And run around the tree.
Toes was happy, the smile on his face was more than money, then sometimes money can't buy happiness. 
She slides on her knee and hug him.
"Finally, i will become a mother." She whispered into his ear.
"And i will be a father." He whispered back. They look at each other and lock lips.