theinkwell fiction challenge | We lose some

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Never had Vivian imagined herself being in chains but there she was at the back of a police vehicle handcuffed and she could feel the heat of anger from the policemen who were watching her with disgust. When the vehicle finally halted, it was in front of the Ikeja high court in Lagos State, Nigeria. She knew what she did was wrong but regrets couldn’t undo what she has done. She has to face trial for her offence.

Each step taken toward the courthouse brings flashes of her past and the next is of a beautiful world crumbling right before her eyes and she has absolutely no way of averting this crisis. How did I get here? Vivian ponders on this question before reminiscing about her journey up to this moment.

Vivian was only five years old when she lost her parents in a car crash. Up to date, her survival still baffles those who rescued her from the crash; she was rescued unscratched and was put in an orphanage home as all efforts to locate her family members proves abortive. At age 10, she got a beautiful and wealthy family to adopt her as one of theirs and things have gone smoothly from their on for her.

She was enrolled into one of the best basic schools in Lekki, Nigeria and at age 17 she got an admission letter from Babcock University, Nigeria to study law. It was while at University that she met Cynthia and they became best of friends even after completing their studies from the university.

As years turned into a decade Vivian friendship with Cynthia grew stronger and so was her law career. she was becoming one of the best lawyers in town and was yet to lose a case. Her watchword had always been to be the best and even in areas where her peers failed, she triumph. Her attention to details regarding clients cases was top-notched as she also does her own groundwork before accepting a case.

Vivian was wining in all sphere of life and she believed it was going to continue like that; not knowing that her greatest test was yet to surface. Not too long after winning a case against the Lagos state government, she got the news that her friend Cynthia was dead. Vivian was devastated as she knew that she was partially involved in her death.

Cynthia married a woman beater and whenever she wants to sue her husband, Vivian will warn her against it. She took it upon herself to make sure that the beast Cynthia married never walk freely among humans and she decided to represent Cynthia’s family who had sued Jude (Cynthia’s) husband to court.

The case lasted for two weeks and Jude was exonerated of all charges. Vivian knew that she has failed her friend and with evidence pointing to Jude to have killed Cynthia during one of his drunkness states, she knew the case rigged. Vivian lost a case for the first time and she didn’t know how to react. In a fit of rage, she ran towards Jude just outside the court of law and shoved him on the chest.

Jude fell from the push and died!