𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑, 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐈’𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 - 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟏

 

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟏

"The first time he held me when I cried, I didn’t feel like his sister—I felt like a woman dangerously close to falling in love."

My name is Nina. I grew up believing love had boundaries—until my heart crossed the one it never should have. My brother, Kelvin, is two years older than me. He’s my mother’s pride, my father’s clone, and the boy I’ve shared my whole life with. He protected me, teased me, fought for me... and without meaning to, he became the one person I couldn’t live without.

It started the night Mom and Dad had their worst fight ever. They screamed so loudly the neighbors knocked. I was seventeen, and Kelvin was already in university. He had come home for a weekend visit. That night, I curled up in his room while they argued downstairs. I was shivering, heartbroken, and scared. He wrapped me in his arms, whispered, “I’m here,” and something in me shifted.

I started craving his hugs more. His scent stayed in my nose longer than it should have. I began comparing every guy to him. And then, my dreams betrayed me—because they weren’t innocent anymore. They were filled with stolen touches, kisses I wanted but could never ask for, and a kind of desire that made me wake up in tears.

Kelvin didn’t know. He was just being a good brother. Always kind, always present. But every smile he gave me chipped away at my self-control.

It got worse when he brought a girl home—Jennifer. She was pretty, smart, and kind. I smiled at her. I even helped her with her nails and makeup. But inside, I was dying. Every second she spent wrapped in Kelvin’s arms, I imagined myself there.

I hated myself for it.

Then, one night, everything changed.

We had gone for a family trip to Calabar. Jennifer couldn't come. It was just me, Kelvin, and our parents. Our hotel had only one room left with two beds. Mom and Dad took one. Kelvin and I took the other.

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I turned to him in the dark. “Do you ever think about… things you shouldn’t think about?”

He looked at me, puzzled. “Like what?”

I swallowed hard. “Like… wanting someone you’re not supposed to want?”

He was quiet for a long time.

Then he whispered, “All the time.”

My heart stopped.

I turned to face him. He was already staring at me.

“Nina,” he said, his voice hoarse, “we can’t… you know we can’t.”

But neither of us moved away.

Our breaths were shallow. Our faces were inches apart. I felt his hand brush mine under the covers. I knew he could feel my trembling.

Suddenly, he sat up and walked to the balcony.

I lay there, confused, humiliated, but still burning inside.

The next morning, he acted normal. Too normal. I almost thought I had imagined it. But that night? I saw the truth in his eyes. He wanted me too.

And that was the beginning of my torment.

Because you can’t be in love with your blood brother.

You just can’t…

Right?