My parents were still at the factory. My younger siblings were fast asleep. I dragged myself out of bed, threw a jacket over my shoulders, and went to answer.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Nathaniel."
My stomach dropped.
I'd been trying so hard to avoid any entanglement with him. Why was he here?
When I didn't open the door after answering, he knocked again.
"Is Layla home? I need her. It's urgent!"
"Who's asking for me?"
Layla appeared beside me, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"It's Nathaniel. No idea what he wants this late."
With Layla there, I went ahead and opened the gate. Nathaniel stood on the doorstep, caked in mud, a wreck.
"What happened to you…?" Layla was taken aback.
Nathaniel was usually careful about his appearance. He didn't own much, but he always kept himself clean.
"Layla, please. I'm begging you. Save Vivian."
He dropped to his knees right there in the dirt and pressed his forehead to the ground at my sister's feet.
"She's bleeding so much. I can't stop it—"
"Just save her, I'll do whatever you want. You want me to leave Vivian and marry your sister instead, fine, I'll do it—"