Be sure to leave it in the comments 

Gaddo’s Story

An’s Story

Shola’s Story

 

 

I wonder if there are any good people left in this world. You’d think you’ve found a friend in someone then suddenly they’ve stabbed in the back. Not even having the effrontery to tell you what they really think to your face. But now I’ve learnt my lesson. The only person you can truly trust in this world is yourself 

 

The journey to Lagos is farther than I expected and my legs are cramped. This woman beside me is taking up all the space— not that there’s even any, but eventually we get there. The first thing I notice is the dust, It’s everywhere and at first I’m weary of breathing it in but this is my new life so suck it in deep and try not cough. There are people everywhere, all unaware of the next person's existence and the dirty air their breathing in. Hopefully I’ll get use to it too

 

The first thing that greets me as I step into my new home is the cold. It slaps me brutally and unapologetic going straight to my core. As I look around it hits me that this will be my first time living alone. Even when I was in university my parents made sure of that, choosing a university close to home and constantly dropping by. Unlike most of my friends, I looked forward to those visits, they reminded me that I was never really alone, but now, here in another man’s land, with the cold and air that sits different in my lungs, I wasn’t so sure.

 

 

When he was younger Gaddo believed that money was earned by lavish living. He had drawn this conclusion by observing his father and his friends. They were, after all the personification of enjoyment, he failed to notice however, that they were drenched in sadness and this ‘lavish living’ was their feeble attempt at suppressing it, As he grew older he followed in his father’s steps and soon ended up in debt. Now he lived most of his days resentfully, blaming death, ignorance and youth exuberance.

 

Papa wouldn’t have understood even if I had explained, he has always said that I need nothing more than what he provides, but how could that be true when we barely have enough to fill our bellies? It is out of love that I’m leaving, love for him and for myself. Nothing special ever happens in my village. I am sick of it. Because Papa is always in his world they feel it is their duty to ‘raise’ me. My hands are tired of doing the work of others. It’s due time they work for me.

‘Is the AC too cold ma?’ Uncle Peter asks. I’ve told him over and over that there’s no need to call me ‘ma’ but he still does, the same way he did when I was eight. I think he thinks it’s a sign of respect. I think it makes me seem older than I’d like. It reminds me of the looming 23 in two months. Another unemployed Nigeria ’lazy youth’according to Daddy. That’s why he’s shipping me to London for my masters, to give me an ‘edge’ over my competitors. Mummy just prays I’ll find a young rich husband that’ll be able to take care of me the way Dad does her. I’m not sure what I want, never have, never need to. Maybe I’ll find it in London.

My life was not supposed to be like this. I was born a king and should have lived like one, but this life is cruel. It robbed of what was mine. Now I live off the scraps of strangers, earning in return for my resilience either pitiful or disgusted looks. But they are not to blame. I made a rash full decision and now I must stand by it if I’m to protect the only thing I’ve left— My dignity.

 

Shola was always stunned by the beauty of Lagos in its moments of chaos, it made her realize how minuscule she was in the large scale of things. She was faced with such chaos now, as she entered the bus that would take her to the mother she had never seen. She had abandoned her young when she was barely old enough to gaze at her voluptuous behind as she stooped under the wooden door, hanging on to the frame for its life, in the dead of the night, while her father snored away, clueless as always. Papa had always gone about the world like he was a temporary visitor and this allowed her to have an adventurous childhood filled with much mischief. But now she had grown not just physically but mentally into a decisive young woman who had made her choice. She would go to her mother and that was that.

To be continued……