I never thought I’d be the type to get caught up in something so complicated, especially not at a place as busy as Lekki Conservation Centre. It was supposed to be a simple day out, just me and some friends, walking through the canopy, taking in the sights. I had been looking forward to it all week, just to unwind and escape the usual hustle of Lagos.
But then she showed up. I knew her through a mutual friend; we’d met a few times at gatherings, exchanged pleasantries, but nothing more. That day, though, something was different. Maybe it was the way she smiled at me, or the way she kept finding reasons to walk close. At first, I thought I was imagining things. I mean, what could really happen in a place like this, with so many people around?
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As we walked deeper into the reserve, we ended up getting separated from the others. It was just the two of us, walking slowly and talking about everything and nothing. The further we went, the quieter it got. We found ourselves on one of the smaller trails, away from the noise of other visitors, just the sound of our footsteps and the rustle of leaves around us.
I don’t know what came over me, but suddenly, I reached for her hand. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she looked up at me, and I saw something in her eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. It was like the whole world stopped for a moment. I leaned in, and before I knew it, we were kissing, right there in the middle of the trail, with the trees towering above us.
It felt so right and so wrong at the same time. Anyone could’ve walked by, seen us, but we didn’t care. It was like the world outside didn’t exist. We eventually pulled away, breathless, and just stood there, staring at each other, knowing we’d crossed a line we couldn’t uncross.
Now, I can’t stop thinking about her. Every time I pass by Lekki or see a picture of the place, it all comes flooding back—the way she felt, the way the air smelled, the sound of the birds in the background. I know we can’t be together; we’re both seeing other people, and this was never supposed to happen. But part of me wants to go back to that moment, to feel that rush again, even though I know it’s a bad idea.
