Chapter 4: Small Rebellions

For downstairs of hostel, I see Halima dey wave one boy, their hand join.

Their joy dey open like market day for village. I dey envy small, but I hide am.

She see me, pause, then waka come.

Her step light, her face dey shine as if say breeze dey blow her worry away.

"Nkechi... na Musa from computer science, we..." Her face dey red.

I dey smile, I dey happy for am, even if my mind dey reason wetin my own freedom fit be.

"Congrats," I talk true true.

For my heart, I dey pray make her own love no get control drama like mine.

At that moment, I realise: if my mama hear say I even talk to boy, she go cut my allowance.

The fear dey real, but e dey funny too. I dey wonder how long I fit dey pretend.

Halima lower her voice. "Actually... all of us dey respect you."

I surprise. For my mind, I feel say na pity dem dey pity me.

"Me?"

Her smile dey soft, she dey look me like elder sister.

"With your mama like that... I for craze since."

She laugh small. "But you still dey do your own. That day I see you for lit club..."

E shock me say dem dey notice. Even when I dey hide, eye dey watch me.

I shock. So all my 'secret' waka no really secret.

Na so life be—people dey observe pass wetin we think.

"Erm..." Halima dey hesitate.

Her eye dey bright, but e get small fear inside.

"Na my birthday next week. My guy book karaoke room. You fit come? But if your mama—"

I dey feel the old fear, but I ready to break am.

"I go come." I cut her, this time no fear.

I dey look her straight, my chest dey strong.

"No matter wetin my mama talk."

My voice sure, no shaking. For my mind, I dey ready for anything.

As I talk am, I feel something break inside me—not fear, but the chain wey hold me since.

Freedom dey sweet, even if na small. I dey taste am for my tongue.

That night, my mama call as usual.

Her questions long, but I dey answer with patience. For my mind, I dey count down to the new me.

I answer her question gently, as I dey write for notebook: "Family Wallet record fit dey fake."

I dey plan escape, small small. If to say na movie, I for dey root for myself.

The girl for tower don know: the witch power na from her fear.

If you fit see your captor for mirror, dem go lose power.

And mirror go show the witch her real face.