Chapter 2 THE CHOICE

Ada didn't leave her room for hours.

She placed the letter and map carefully inside a notebook and slid it under her pillow, like a secret only the stars should know. Her mind ran in circles. What if this was fake? What if someone was playing with her emotions? But who would even do that? And how did the handwriting look so... perfect?

The next morning, she tried to go about her day like nothing happened.

She helped her aunt in the kitchen, swept the compound, fetched water. But her hands were slow, her thoughts far away-trapped on a small dot labeled Black Rock Island.

Her aunt noticed.

"You've been quiet lately. You're not still thinking about your father, are you?" Mama Ifeoma asked as she cleaned some dried fish.

Ada hesitated. "I always think about him."

"Hmm. Well, it's been two years. You have to move on, my daughter. Life waits for no one."

Ada bit her tongue and nodded. She couldn't say it. Not yet.

By noon, she had made up her mind. She needed answers. Her father's words in the letter weren't vague they were clear. Direct. "Go to Black Rock. You'll find the truth there." She couldn't pretend it meant nothing.

But where was this island? How could she go?

That's when she remembered Daniel.

He wasn't her close friend. Just someone she had met during a short photography training in Yaba. But he was curious, bold, and knew a lot about random things-like geography, travel routes, abandoned places. He was the kind of person who would actually believe her.

She dialed his number.

"Ada?" His voice crackled through the line.

"Hi... um... can I see you? It's important."

Daniel didn't ask questions. He just said, "Where?"

They met at a small café near Festac. Daniel showed up in his usual way-hoodie, sneakers, and a small camera around his neck.

"You okay?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from her.

Ada opened her bag slowly and brought out the letter and map.

"I know this sounds crazy, but this is from my dad. He died two years ago. And this... this came yesterday."

Daniel read the letter quietly. Then unfolded the map.

For a long time, he said nothing. Then finally:

"This island... I think I've heard about it before. I read something about a place called Black Rock off the coast of Bayelsa. They said it's uninhabited. People don't go there anymore. But it's real."

Ada looked at him, hope rising in her chest. "Can we go?"

Daniel blinked. "Wait-we?"

"I can't go alone."

He looked at her like she had just invited him to jump into the ocean.

Then he smiled.

"You know what? Why not?"

That night, Ada packed her small black backpack with the few things she owned-a change of clothes, her father's photo, a pocket diary, a bottle of water. Her aunt was asleep, and she didn't want to wake her.

She left a note on the table:

"I need to find something. Don't worry about me. I'll be safe. I love you."

-Ada

As she stepped out into the cold night, the sky was filled with stars silent, watching.

She didn't know what was waiting for her out there.

But for the first time in two years, her steps had purpose.

She was following her father's voice.

She was following her heart.

And nothing could stop her now.