03/06/2026
Omaly's empire is my backup page and I have continued our story there.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US
EPISODE 9
Living together in Toronto did not erase distance.
It only changed its shape.
At first, it was beautiful.
Then slowly, life began to press in from all sides.
Timi’s days were no longer simple.
School demanded more than he expected, assignments piling up like silent pressure on his shoulders. After lectures, he rushed straight to his part-time job, standing for long hours just to earn enough to survive the week.
By the time he got home, his body was tired, but his mind was louder.
Olivia noticed the change.
He smiled less now.
He spoke less.
And sometimes, he would just sit quietly staring at nothing, like his thoughts were somewhere far away.
But Olivia was not having an easy time either.
Work drained her completely. Some days she came back so exhausted she could barely remove her shoes before sitting down. Bills were increasing, responsibilities were heavier, and her phone never stopped ringing.
Especially one contact.
Chike.
At first, his calls were polite.
Then they became frequent.
Then persistent.
Then emotionally charged.
Timi noticed it.
Every time Chike called, Olivia’s mood shifted slightly. Even when she tried to act normal, there was always that brief tension in the air.
One evening, while Timi was washing dishes, he heard Olivia laugh softly at something Chike said over the phone.
It was a different kind of laugh.
Not the one she gave him.
Later that night, when the call ended, Timi asked quietly.
Why is he still calling you like this?
Olivia sighed.
I told you, I am trying to handle it
Timi shook his head.
It is not “handling” anymore, Olivia. It is becoming something else
Olivia frowned.
So what do you want me to do? Stop talking to everyone because I am with you?
The words hit him instantly.
That was not what he meant.
But it was already too late.
Silence filled the room.
Days passed and tension grew slowly but steadily.
Then Olivia’s family pressure increased again.
Her mother insisted she should “consider Chike properly.”
He is stable.
He is present.
He is serious.
Not a man across the ocean who appeared suddenly.
Olivia stopped telling Timi every detail, but he could sense it.
And Timi’s own pressure was not any lighter.
His mother called repeatedly from Nigeria.
Timi, people are saying you are suffering abroad
You are sending small money like you are not okay
Are you sure this Canada was necessary?
Each call left him more drained.
Then one evening, everything collided.
Timi returned from work exhausted, only to find Olivia on a video call with her mother discussing Chike again.
He did not interrupt.
But he heard enough.
Later that night, he finally spoke.
So this Chike is still in the picture?
Olivia turned sharply.
It is not like that
Then explain it to me properly
His voice was calmer than his words.
Olivia stood up.
Why are you acting like I am doing something wrong?
Because I am tired of sharing you with pressure that I cannot see but always feel
That line changed everything.
Olivia froze.
Timi continued, voice shaking slightly now.
Your family wants Chike. My family wants money. School wants results. Work wants energy. And in the middle of all this, we are pretending like everything is fine
Olivia’s eyes filled immediately.
So what are you saying?
Timi looked away.
I am saying I do not know how long I can keep doing this
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
That night, they did not sleep properly.
They stayed in the same apartment but felt miles apart.
In the following days, things did not improve.
Chike continued calling.
Olivia kept receiving pressure from home.
Timi worked more shifts trying to stabilize himself financially.
And each time they tried to talk, it ended in emotional exhaustion instead of comfort.
One night, after another long argument about trust, Olivia sat alone in the kitchen while Timi stood by the window staring outside.
Neither spoke for a long time.
Then quietly, Timi said something that scared her.
Maybe I am the problem here
Olivia stood up immediately.
Do not say that
But he did not respond.
For the first time, she saw how far gone he looked emotionally.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just tired.
Too tired.
That night, Olivia could not sleep.
And neither could Timi.
At some point, he sat on the edge of the bed and stared at his packed school documents on the table.
Not luggage.
Just papers.
But still, it felt like a decision waiting to happen.
Leave or stay.
Fight or quit.
Love or survival.
The next morning did not bring peace.
Only silence between two people trying not to break completely.
And somewhere between love, pressure, and exhaustion…
both of them quietly feared the same thing.
That maybe love alone was no longer enough to hold them together.
To be continued.
Omaly's empire
