Sarah woke up to the sound of the city outside her windows, a cacophony of horns, sirens, and distant chatter. She lay in bed, starring at the ceiling, trying to remember why she was there . Why she was living this life. The room was prison, a gilded one, but a prison nonetheless.
She threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet sinking into the plush carpet. the apartment was a symbol of her husband's success, a high rise-tower in the heart of Lagos. it was a place she never felt at home.
Sarah stood up, and her eyes caught the glare of the mirror on the wall. she didn't recognize the the woman starring back at her. Her hair was pulled back, her face pale, her eyes dull. She was a shadow of the woman she used to be.
She walked to the windows, the glass cold beneath her fingertips. the city stretched out before her, a sea of concrete and steel. she felt a pang of desperation, a longing to escape.
The sound of the door opening broke the spell. Her husband, Richard, walked in, a smile on his face, "Good morning," he said, his voice cheerful.
Sarah forced a smile, trying to hide the emptiness inside. "Good morning," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Richard crossed the room , his eyes scanning her face. "You look beautiful, as always," he said, his tone dismissive.
Sarah felt a twinge of pain. he didn't see her, not really. He saw the woman he wanted her to be, the trophy wife he could show off to his friends.
"I have a meeting downtown," he said, glancing at his watch. "I'll be late tonight."
Sarah nodded, trying to hide her relief. She was alone again, free to wander the empty halls of their apartment, searching for something, anything, to fill the void inside.
As the door closed behind Richard, Sarah felt a shiver run down her spine. She trapped, trapped in a life she didn't want, with a man she didn't love. But she was starting to realize, she had the power to break free. the question was, was she brave enough to take the first step?