The image is mine.
A great sense of weariness swept over Alero, sucking her energy with it as she gaped at the thugs who lashed her lover, Segun. She was paralyzed to the spot, her pulse beating in her ears, blocking out all other sounds.
There was nothing she could do to rescue him from their hands. She had no strength to fight back for his sake and it was late at the hour; there were no other persons close by who could have intervened.
The street was dark, empty, and quiet. She was filled with regrets and wished she had listened to Segun when he had asked her to leave earlier.
She had proven stubborn by staying back till it became dark. All these wouldn't had happened if she had returned home at noon.
Tears cascaded her cheeks as blood trickled down the nose of her lover, he was bleeding from his head too. There were deep cut of wounds on his body which had been caused by the bamboo sticks used in flogging him.
She slumped to the ground, scooped up dusts into her hands and poured them on her head. She rubbed her face with her dusty hands and wept uncontrollably.
Alero had no doubts her dad was behind the attack, she knew he had sent the thugs. For two years, her dad had refused to give his blessings for their marriage and wouldn't accept Segun as his son-in-law.
She had no idea why he hated him so much. He had warned him to stay far-away from her and chased him away countless times; yet there was nothing he could do to stop their love which grew stronger.
Several times, she had been locked indoors and starved for visiting Segun, but that didn't deter her from going to his house again. She was convinced her dad would do anything to separate them which was impossible for they were entangled.
At the sight of Segun fainting, Alero couldn't withstand the ill-treatment melted on him any longer and had to do something before they killed him.
She looked around and found a big stone, she crawled to it and picked it up. She edged to her feet, anger welled up in her chest as she lunged forward.
"Leave him alone," she screamed and hit the head of one of the thugs.
He collapsed to the ground, with blood pumping out from his head. She glared at the rest and said to them, " If you don't leave this very moment, I will kill every one of you. " She gritted her teeth.
They glanced at their member who was unconscious on the ground and stepped back from Segun.
"Pick him up." She ordered them and pointed at their member on the ground. " Leave now and don't look back."
They did as she had told them and fled away with their member. She bent low beside Segun, threw the stone away, and pulled him to her bosom.
"Segun, look at me," she said, crying.
He groaned in pains and vomited blood. She shivered in fear for she had no idea of what to do.
Chief Sanya paced up and down his spacious living room with his hands crossed behind. He was waiting for the news of Segun's death from the thugs he had sent. He had ordered them to kill him since he had refused to leave his daughter alone.
He wanted her to marry someone from a wealthy home and not to a pauper like Segun. He had vowed to do everything within his powers to separate them, and killing him was the best idea.
The thug leader, Sniper dashed into the house with sweats dripping from his body. Chief Sanya was stunned to see him in that manner and wondered what had happened.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked, with his brows raised.
"Chief, it's your daughter."
His heart thudded in his rib cage when he made mention of her. "What happened to her? Have you killed her?"
"No. No. I haven't. She's the one who has actually," Sniper told him.
"How do you mean?"
"While we were beating up her boyfriend, she picked up a stone and hit one of my men. She threatened to kill us and ordered us to leave with our injured member. It hurt me to say he is dead."
His eyes widened in shock. "I can't believe my ears."
"You have to. I think you should leave them to get married, to avoid more problems."
"That would be over my dead body. She won't marry him," he replied, with clenched fists.
Sniper rose to his feet. "Suit yourself then. Count me out," he said and pranced out.
Chief Sanya stared at him blankly as he left.
"Coward." He cursed under his breath.
Alero held the hand of Segun who was fast asleep on a spring bed. She felt relieved he was getting better and stronger.
His wounds had been cleaned and treated by a kind-hearted man who had driven past and had found her weeping with Segun half dead in her arms.
He had stopped by to find out what the problem was and had helped them right away. She kissed his hand; happiness swelled within her for he was alive.
She couldn't imagine what would have become of her if she had lost him, it was possible she would go crazy. She only prayed he wakes up soon and gets very much better.
And when he was fully recovered, they would abscond to another land away from her father. They would get married and have their babies, living happily forever.
She couldn't wait for that time to come and prayed her lover wakes up soon.