A soft knock on the door slowly pulled me out of sleep. At first, I thought it was part of my dream, but the knock came again—calm and polite. That's when it hit me: Fiona. I had forgotten to lock the door after she left yesterday. Maybe it was the comfort her presence brought me. Something about her made me feel safe, like she was soothing a part of me I didn't even know was hurting.
"Come in," I said in a tired voice, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
Fiona walked in with her usual cheerful smile. This time, she had two shopping bags that looked expensive—even I could tell.
"Good morning, sunshine!" she said, sounding very happy. "I brought you a few things. I hope you'll like them."
She placed the bags on the floor and started showing me what was inside. Piece by piece, she brought out beautiful clothes. They weren't flashy or loud, but they had this quiet beauty—something calm but classy. The kind of outfits a confident woman would wear without trying too hard. I couldn't help but stare as she laid them out on the bed. Each one was prettier than the last.
"Please try them on," she said, looking at me kindly. "I guessed your size."
For a moment, I hesitated. It had been so long since I even thought about clothes like this. But there was something warm about the way she asked. So I nodded.
Inside the bathroom, I put on one of the dresses. When I looked in the mirror, I almost didn't recognize myself. I gasped quietly. The dress hugged my body in a soft, perfect way, and my skin looked brighter. For the first time in years, I looked like… the luxurious me at age 15.
Who is this person? I asked myself, staring at the reflection.
The woman in the mirror looked calm, pretty, and peaceful. Her face was rested. Her lips seemed fuller. Her eyes looked focused and strong. The simple makeup Fiona had chosen made me look more alive. I hadn't looked at myself this way in years—not since everything changed.
Losing my dad had changed everything. I was only fifteen then, and life turned into survival mode. Fear, stress, and pain became my normal. Then Obinna came into the picture, and whatever beauty I had left was buried under his abuse. I stopped looking in mirrors. I didn't want to see what I had become.
But now… here I was. Dressed up. In front of a mirror. And for the first time in forever, I felt visible.
I noticed Fiona behind me in the mirror, her smile soft. "You look magical," she whispered.
I turned around and gave her a small smile. I didn't have words. But she didn't seem to need any. Instead, she handed me a small white purse.
"We're going shopping," she said.
"Shopping?" I repeated, surprised.
"Yes. Around the estate. Maybe even outside. Callum gave me his black card just for you. He said, 'Buy her whatever she needs. Comfort, luxury, ease.' His exact words."
I blinked. Callum? I didn't know how to feel—confused, grateful, unsure. But I didn't argue. I simply followed her lead.
As we walked around the estate, I noticed people looking at me. Men and women turned to watch me. Their eyes stayed on me longer than I was used to. Some whispered. Some smiled. I wasn't used to this kind of attention. It made me feel nervous. But Fiona's laughter and her light-hearted chatter distracted me, helping me relax.
"Girl, stop acting like you don't know you're fire," she teased. "Your body? Even mannequins will envy you!"
A small laugh escaped me. It felt strange—like it had been trapped inside me for a long time. Deep down, I felt something start to grow. Not confidence exactly, but maybe a tiny bit of pride.
We drove to a high-end mall in Ikoyi. The place was massive, with marble floors and soft music playing. We went from one luxury store to the next, Fiona excited and full of energy, pulling me along as if it were a fun game.
I tried on clothes of every style. Fiona picked dresses, tops, pants, shoes, bags, perfumes, and jewelry. Each piece felt like it was made for me. I didn't fight it. I let her guide me. She had a way of knowing what would look good on me, and I trusted her.
"Try this one," she said, holding out a long, dark green gown.
"That one's too much—" I began.
"Shhh," she said with a finger on my lips. "Today isn't about the cost. It's about healing. And trust me, looking this good is part of the healing."
A full, real laugh came out of me this time. I let myself enjoy it. In one shop, she even made me pretend I was walking a fashion runway. I walked awkwardly at first, but we laughed so hard. Then I wore a soft pink dress with flowers on it.
"This one's perfect!" she squealed. "You look like a dream."
By the end of the day, we had more than ten shopping bags. Fiona used Callum's card like she was buying tomatoes at the market. No hesitation. Our expenses ran into tens of millions of naira.
When we stepped out of the mall, she grinned.
"Now the real fun begins," she said.
We didn't drive back to Banana Island by road.
Instead, we got on a private yacht.
I stood on the deck as the breeze hit my face. The yacht sparkled under the Lagos sun. Everything felt too perfect. Fiona told me the yacht was custom-made for Callum. That didn't surprise me. It looked like something from a movie.
I didn't say anything. I just stared out at the water, lost in thought. How did I get here? My life felt like a different story now.
**************
Back at the estate, Fiona gently took my hand.
"Come, I want to show you something," she said quietly.
She led me away from the main house to a hidden part of the estate. It was quiet and beautiful. Flowers of all colors bloomed everywhere. Their sweet smell filled the air. A tiny stream flowed nearby, clear and peaceful, with small fishes swimming through the water - they looked like fingerlings.
"This is my happy place," she said in a whisper. "Whenever I feel heavy, I come here."
I sat next to her on the grass. We didn't talk much. We just listened to the stream, felt the wind, watched the fish move in the water, and breathed in the calm.
For the first time in a very long time, I felt a flicker of peace. Not a strong one, but something sufficient to be called a new beginning.
I looked at Fiona. She smiled at me, full of kindness.
And right there, in her quiet, safe space, I made a decision.
I was going to give this place a chance.
Not because of the yacht. Not the clothes. Not the money.
Because of Fiona.
She made me feel human again. Seen. Safe. Like maybe, just maybe… I could learn how to heal.