The Moment Everything Shifted.

The rain had already started before the store owner, Mama Taye, shouted from inside her small provision store

Emeka o ! Abeg start packing the crates, close time don reach”

Emeka wiped sweat from his forehead, even with the rain threatening, the evening still felt hot, he hurried to gather the crates outside, while muttering, "This woman sef, every day closing time dey come early and early.”

Just as he picked up the last crate, the bell on the door jingled , and a young woman rushed in, dripping from the sudden rain.

Please, are you still open? she asked, breathing heavily.

Mama Taye’s eyes narrowed playfully, We dey close o, but if na something wey dey important, talk fast fast.

I just need bottle water ma , the girl replied.

Emeka! Give am one cold Eva water inside fridge, Mama Taye ordered.

Emeka glanced at the girl and froze, he knew her “ Ahn Ahn Amara?”

She blinked “…Emeka is that you?”

They stared at each other for a moment, both surprised, Mama Taye then hissed loudly, "abeg If una wan do reunion, abeg do am outside,I say my closing time don pass, children dey house dey wait me.”

Amara laughed and stepped aside to allow Emeka finish, “Wow, I didn’t even think I would see you again,” she said.

“I thought you moved to Abuja na,” Emeka replied.

“I did o, but… life happened,” she said softly, her smile fading.

Mama Taye locked the door behind them and pulled down the shop’s metal shutter, “Goodnight o!” she called out, already hurrying into the rain, and just like that, Emeka and Amara were left standing together under the small awning, though sheltered from the rain but exposed to everything else.

“So… what happened?” Emeka finally asked.

Amara sighed, hugging her bag, “Everything just scattered, the job I went for? They downsized, my relationship? It crashed, I came back home last week, honestly, this rain was not the only thing that caught me off guard today.”

“Omo, life ehn... ,” Emeka murmured, "E fit humble person.”

She laughed quietly, “Exactly o”

A moment of silence passed, only filled by the sound of the rain that was crashing against the roof , “You know,” Amara said, looking out onto the street , “I used to really love rains like this, they always felt like a reset button.”

“Reset ke?” Emeka chuckled, "For me na reminder that new things don reach time.”

“New things how?” she repeated.

He nodded. “Yeah , every time Mama Taye shouts closing time oo9 , it always feels like she is saying, ‘Oya Emeka, whatever happened today don end, tomorrow go come.’”

Amara thought about that, “Hmm ,maybe that is what I really need… a proper closing time, something symbolic that says one phase of my life has ended and another opening.”

As if on cue, the rain grew softer, falling gently instead of pounding, the street was slowly coming alive again,people running across the road, buses honking, a generator humming somewhere in the background.

“You know what I think?” Emeka said, “You are not back to square one, You are back to starting point and those two no be the same at all.”

She stared at him, surprised, “Wow... when did you become a motivational speaker lol .?”

He scratched his head shyly, “If I tell you say na TikTok teach me, you go laugh?”

She burst into laughter, loud and unfiltered, “Yes o! Definitely!”

The rain eased even more, now just a drizzle, Amara stepped out a little, letting a few drops touch her palm.

“You are right though,” she said, "Maybe I needed today, maybe I needed to walk into that shop at the exact moment you were closing.”

“Omo, see destiny,” Emeka bragged jokingly.

She rolled her eyes, “Relax abeg.”

Another silence followed, but this one felt softer comfortable , “So what’s next for you?” he asked.

She shrugged, “No idea yet, but I know I am not staying stuck, Closing time or not, I am moving.”

“That one sure,” he nodded, “And if you need anything… even if na to buy pure water, I dey around.”

Amara looked at him, really genuinely touched, “Thank you, Emeka," The streetlights flickered on slowly, glowing in the damp air, closing time had truly come for the shop, for the day, and maybe for the chapter of her life that she had been dragging behind her.

Amara took a deep breath, "You know what? I think this is a new beginning for me" , Emeka smiled, “And this one go sweet.”

They started walking down the street together, side by side, talking about old classmates and new plans , their steps matching without effort.

It may have been closing time, but something new had just opened.

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