Noah's POV

It has been three days since we received the verdict and everyone was still shocked. I can still remember the shocked/horrified expression on Ijeoma's face after the verdict was announced. Even after people dispersed out of the courtroom, she remained stuck standing in the same position. I tried talking to her and getting her to snap out of her trance state but there was no response from her.

She remained in the quiet and rigid state for over two hours after we left the courthouse before she finally snapped out of it. After which she began to act as if nothing had happened, she didn't cry neither did she want to talk about it. We had to return to Anambra the next day since we were given three days before they came to get Zozo. The moment we stepped into the house, she stuck Zozo to her side and wouldn't let her out of her sight for a second.

Ijeoma's mother offered to still stay back, just so she could offer support to her daughter but Ijeoma refused. She said she didn't want anyone hovering around her and it was fine for her mother to head back to Lagos.

Ever since the verdict announcement, everyone had their hands on deck trying to help out whichever way they could. Aunt Chisom was working on appealing to a higher court for Zozo's custody, my dad hired a private investigator... well because everyone with a working brain could see that this is a case of foul play. My mom spoke to the chief of surgery and the hospital administrator concerning an elongation of my leave from the hospital, Ijeoma's boss excused Ijeoma from work for as long as she needed after her father filled him in on the current situation. My siblings also called in to let us know that they were available if we needed anything.

I was currently in Zozo's bedroom, trying to pack up her stuff against tomorrow. The most dreaded day of my life. I had already packed a small box that contained her shoes and cosmetics, like her body lotion and others. I raised a purple shirt that had 'daddy's little girl' in glittery prints on it, I had gotten it for Zozo the week before I left for the medical volunteering. I didn't even get to see her wear it because by the time I got back from my trip the court summon had arrived.

I was about to place the folded top into her box when the door was pushed open and Ijeoma walked in.

"Hey wh-" she halted in her steps and narrowed her eyes at me. "What are you doing?"

I didn't respond instead I exhaled deeply, sensing a heated argument approaching.

She took a step away from the door. "What are you doing?"

"I'm packing Zozo's stuff for tomorrow" I replied softly

She visibly winced at my response but quickly covered it up. "Why?"

"Babe, I know you're hurting right now. I am too... but acting like nothing happened won't make it go away" I said calmly.

She didn't respond for a while as she focused her gaze on the clothes scattered around the bed. Like someone who was propelled by an unknown force, she rushed over to my side and turned the box upside down. She shook the box in the air to get all the neatly folded clothes back on the bed.

"She's not going anywhere so there's no need for all of this" she said, her voicing breaking as she spoke.

She moved to grab the smaller box that had the shoes but I held her back.

"Please stop" I said

"No, you stop!!" she pushed my hands away and stepped back.

"She's my daughter! She's supposed to be with me!" she screamed out as tears pooled in her eyes.

This was the first time since the verdict that she was crying. I moved to hold her but she stepped back, holding out her hands in front of her.

"No" she said amidst tears

"She's supposed to be with me, Noah. With me." she pointed to herself. "How could they take her away from me? How? And they said I have visitation rights... what the fuck am I supposed to do with that? Huh? What am I supposed to do with that?!"

I stood helplessly watching her break down in front of me. I really wanted to hold her in my arms and comfort her but she wasn't having it. I had never heard her cuss out before, I knew she was speaking out in pain.

"We are going to appeal to a higher court to get custody back... but for now, we have to do what the court ordered" I said

"How long is that going to take? I don't want to wait, I don't even want to give her to them in the first place" she paused for a while before rushing to my side. "What if we disappear? What if we take Zozo and just go far away from here?"

It pained my heart watching her this distraught. "We can't do that. It'll only make matters worse" I replied calmly.

"Then what do we do?" she looked up at me, her eyes slightly red and glossy. "We can't let them take her"

"It's just for a short time" I said softly.

"No... No..." she shook her head as she took a couple of steps away from me.

I pulled her back before she could move too far. I couldn't handle seeing her in so much pain and not being able to hold her close to me. This time around she didn't push me away instead she wrapped her arms around my torso as cried into my sweatshirt.

She cried for close to an hour and it scared me. She would calm down for a couple of minutes before picking up again. All I could do was run my hand along her back and try to comfort her by continually whispering it was going to be alright.

She pulled apart, wiped her cheeks and then focused her gaze on the clothes scattered on the bed.

"Do you want to-"

"No" she said immediately. "I can't handle it. I just can't"

I nodded. "It's fine, I'll do it."

"Thank you" she said in a soft tone.

"I need to check up on Zozo" she said as she headed for the door.

It took me an hour and a half to finish packing most of Zozo's things, the important stuff. When I got downstairs, I noticed all the lights were turned out and no one was in sight. I headed back up and moved to Ijeoma's room. Placing two soft knocks on the door before entering, I found both of them all cuddled up and asleep.

Ijeoma had her arms wrapped protectively over Zozo like she feared something would take her away as she slept. I decided not to wake them instead I placed a kiss on their foreheads before turning out the light and quietly stepping out of the room.

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The next morning

I walked into the kitchen to find Ijeoma and Zozo. Zozo was perched up one of the high stools while Ijeoma was at the other side of the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards. She pulled out the cornflakes carton and placed it on the counter.

She looked up and saw me. "Good morning"

Zozo turned her head around and then greeted in a high pitched voice. "Daddy, gumorning"

I felt a little stab in my chest knowing that in a couple of hours, she wouldn't be here. I didn't let my sadness show instead I gave a wide grin.

"Morning, sweetie" I walked over to her and placed a kiss on her forehead, hugging her to my side.

I moved over to Ijeoma's side and engulfed her in a hug which she returned tightly. I couldn't imagine how she was holding up. She pulled apart and moved to continue with Zozo's breakfast. I busied myself with preparing Ijeoma and I's breakfast which was tea, bread and scrambled eggs.

Breakfast was filled with the heavy tension of what was to come and so we were immersed in our thoughts leaving the talking to Zozo. Zozo was completely oblivious to our sombre mood as she happily chattered throughout breakfast.

After breakfast, Ijeoma took Zozo upstairs to give her a bath. I told her that I would handle the dishes, I needed something to focus on to distract me from my thoughts. Even if it was just for a few seconds.

I was on my way back to my room after doing the dishes when I heard something that made me halt in my steps. Zozo's door was slightly ajar and I could see Ijeoma seated on Zozo's bed with Zozo standing in front of her.

"-Daddy and I are going to need you to stay with some people for some time. Something really important happened and you'll have to live with those people but it wouldn't be for long. I promise" Ijeoma said to Zozo

"Why?" Zozo asked

"Baby, you won't understand but I need you to know that we would come back to get you and you'll only be there for a while" Ijeoma said softly

"But I wanto stay wit you" Zozo said

Ijeoma pulled Zozo into a hug. "It won't be for long sweetie. I promise"

"I want you to know that daddy and I love you so much, no matter what anyone says. I hope you know that?" Ijeoma said to her.

"Yes" Zozo said nodding her head against her mom's chest.

I pushed the door open and walked into the room. Ijeoma looked in my direction as I walked over to them. I could see that she was trying really hard to be strong in front of Zozo. Crying in front of Zozo would instil fear into her so she wanted to keep a calm front. I lowered myself to their level and wrapped my arm around both of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At exactly 12 pm noon, a court official and Kunle arrived at the house to pick Zozo up. This was the first time I'd ever seen Nigerians comply with the time given to them. We already had Zozo's things by the door and Kunle didn't waste any time taking them to his car which was parked by the road, across from our house.

Ijeoma was carrying a quiet Zozo in her arms as we watched Kunle load up Zozo's boxes in the boot of his car. The time we all dreaded finally came, when we had to release Zozo to Kunle. It was like Zozo also noticed what was about to happen because she began to cry and tightened her hold on Ijeoma.

"Mummy!!" Zozo screamed at the top of her lungs.

Zozo's screams could be heard throughout the neighbourhood as she struggled against Kunle when he finally took her in his arms.

Ijeoma's hands flew to her mouth as she tried to suppress the sound of her crying. When Zozo saw that Ijeoma wasn't doing anything she changed tactic.

"Daddy!!!" she screamed out.

My heart literally shattered at that moment. I couldn't stop myself from walking over to Kunle and stopping him.

"Hold on" I said to him. "Let me get her to stop crying"

Kunle looked at me for a few seconds before hesitantly passing Zozo over to me. The death grip Zozo established around my neck broke my heart even more. I gently tapped Zozo's back to get her to calm down as I walked about on our front lawn.

"It's alright" I whispered to her.

I waited for her to completely settle down before placing her down on the ground. At first, she didn't want to be dropped down but she eventually agreed. I went on my knees so I could be on her level.

"You're a good girl, right?" I asked as I used my palm to wipe the snot away from her nose.

She nodded.

"You remember what mummy told you?"

She nodded.

"Well, I want you to be a good girl and go with him" I pointed to Kunle. "It won't be for long, okay. Mummy and I would be back to get you before you know it, okay"

"Okay" she said, her voice hoarse from screaming.

I pulled her into another hug before Kunle came up to us. I handed Zozo over to him but before he walked away I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Take care of her" I said firmly.

He looked at me briefly before turning around and walking to his car. The court official who was standing by Kunle's car opened the door for Zozo to get in before heading to the passenger seat. Zozo's eyes didn't leave mine till the car disappeared from the driveway.

I turned to the house and didn't find Ijeoma by the door. I walked into the house and headed straight for her room. Her room door was wide open and so was her bathroom door. She was on her knees, over the toilet bowl retching out her breakfast.

I gently rubbed her back till she was done and helped pull her up to the handwashing sink to rinse out her mouth. After rinsing her mouth and face, she turned around and wrapped her arms my torso as she cried against my chest.

"Everything is going to be fine" I whispered against her head.

I hope.

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My throat literally hurts from holding back tears. This is literally the most emotional I've ever been writing a chapter.

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