The next step was harder than Amara expected. Hope had opened a door but reality stood behind it, waiting.
⸻
Two days passed after her visit to Khalid's house.
He hadn't called.
Hadn't sent a message.
Hadn't given her an answer.
⸻
But he also hadn't rejected her.
And that alone kept her going.
⸻
Amara sat inside a small legal office, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she waited.
The room smelled faintly of paper and dust.
Files were stacked high on shelves.
And behind the desk sat a man flipping through her documents with a slow, practiced expression.
⸻
Barrister Sadiq.
⸻
He adjusted his glasses as he read the DNA report again.
Then looked up at her.
"You understand what this says, right?"
Amara nodded.
"Yes."
"And you're saying it's wrong?"
"I'm saying it's incomplete," she replied.
⸻
He leaned back slightly.
"That's a difficult argument to make."
⸻
Amara swallowed.
"I have a medical explanation."
"Which is?"
⸻
She took a breath.
"Chimerism."
⸻
The barrister paused.
Just for a moment.
Then he frowned slightly.
⸻
"That's… extremely rare."
"I know," Amara said. "But it exists."
⸻
He studied her carefully now.
Not dismissively.
But cautiously.
⸻
"And you have proof?" he asked.
⸻
Amara hesitated.
"Not yet. But I have a specialist willing to investigate."
⸻
The barrister tapped the file lightly.
"In court, we don't work with 'not yet.' We work with evidence."
⸻
The words hit hard.
But she expected them.
⸻
"I'm trying to get that evidence," she said. "But I need legal support to reopen the case."
⸻
He sighed.
"This won't be easy. The court already accepted the DNA result. Your divorce has been finalized based on it."
⸻
Amara's fingers tightened.
"I know."
⸻
"And without solid medical proof," he continued, "this could be dismissed before it even begins."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
For a moment— doubt threatened to rise again.
⸻
But Amara pushed it down.
⸻
"I'm not asking if it's easy," she said quietly.
"I'm asking if it's possible."
⸻
The barrister looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
Slowly—
He nodded.
⸻
"It's possible."
⸻
Amara exhaled softly.
⸻
"But," he added, "you'll face resistance. From the court. From the opposing side. From society."
⸻
"I already am," she said.
⸻
That made him pause again.
⸻
Then, for the first time—
A hint of respect appeared in his expression.
⸻
"Alright," he said. "I'll take your case. But we need that medical confirmation."
⸻
Amara nodded.
"You'll have it."
⸻
Because she had to.
⸻
There was no other option.
⸻
Later that day, Amara stepped out of the office with mixed emotions.
Hope.
Fear.
Pressure.
⸻
This wasn't just personal anymore.
It was legal.
Public.
Official.
⸻
And failure—
Was no longer something she could afford.
⸻
At the tailoring shop, she worked quietly, her mind elsewhere.
Hajiya Mariam noticed.
"You're thinking too much again."
Amara gave a small smile.
"I went to see a lawyer."
⸻
The older woman raised a brow.
"And?"
⸻
"He said it's possible," Amara replied.
"But difficult."
⸻
Hajiya Mariam nodded.
"Anything worth proving usually is."
⸻
Amara looked down at the fabric in her hands.
"I just hope I'm not too late."
⸻
"Truth doesn't expire," the woman said calmly.
"But people do lose the strength to chase it. Don't be one of them."
⸻
Amara held onto those words.
⸻
That evening—
Her phone rang.
⸻
Her heart skipped instantly.
⸻
Khalid.
⸻
She stared at the screen for a second before answering.
⸻
"Hello?"
⸻
There was a brief pause on the other end.
⸻
"I've been thinking," he said.
⸻
Amara sat up straighter.
⸻
"And?"
⸻
Another pause.
Longer this time.
⸻
"I spoke to my mother."
⸻
Amara's breath caught.
⸻
Khalid continued.
"She told me… there were complications during her pregnancy."
⸻
Amara's heart started racing.
⸻
"She said the doctors once mentioned something about… another heartbeat."
⸻
Silence.
Heavy.
Unbelievable.
⸻
Amara's hand trembled slightly.
⸻
"But they said it disappeared," Khalid added. "They told her it was nothing."
⸻
Nothing.
⸻
But it wasn't nothing.
⸻
Amara closed her eyes briefly.
⸻
"It wasn't nothing," she whispered.
⸻
Khalid didn't respond immediately.
⸻
Then—
"What if this is true?" he asked quietly.
⸻
The question hung in the air.
Fragile.
Dangerous.
⸻
Amara opened her eyes.
⸻
"Then everything changes."
⸻
Silence again.
⸻
"And if it's not?" he asked.
⸻
Amara's voice was steady.
"Then I'll walk away."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
Then—
"Set it up," Khalid said.
⸻
Amara's breath caught.
⸻
"The test," he clarified. "The specialist. Whatever it is."
⸻
For a moment—
She couldn't speak.
⸻
Then finally—
"Okay."
⸻
Her voice was soft.
But filled with something powerful.
⸻
Victory.
⸻
Not the final one.
But a step.
A real step.
⸻
"I'll arrange it," she said.
⸻
The call ended shortly after.
⸻
Amara lowered the phone slowly.
Her heart still racing.
⸻
He agreed.
⸻
He actually agreed.
⸻
Tears filled her eyes again.
But she smiled through them.
⸻
Because now—
This wasn't just her fight.
⸻
It was their truth.
⸻
And it was finally coming to light.