Chapter 5: Last Word

For Halima birthday, I waka up and down for karaoke door for ten minutes before I enter.

My leg dey shake, but I dey ginger myself—today na today.

Inside, colored light dey shine, about seven classmates dey dance, cake full table.

Their joy dey full everywhere, music dey loud, laughter dey scatter room.

"Nkechi! You really show!"

Halima rush hug me, her face red from drink and joy.

Her joy dey infectious, I begin smile well.

I smile, but my palm dey sweat—my phone dey vibrate for pocket: my mama 38th missed call.

My heart dey beat, but I dey tell myself, just today, make I enjoy.

"I pick song for you!"

Halima drag me go karaoke. Screen show "Wild Daughter" for background.

Song wey dey talk about small rebellion. Na so God arrange am.

"That time you hum am for hostel, e sweet."

Her memory dey sharp, I dey grateful say I get friend wey dey observe me.

As the music start, my finger touch my phone for one second. Then I off am.

Just today, just tonight, I wan be the real Nkechi.

For my mind, I dey tell myself, na today I dey born again.

When I sing, "I want to bury it deep in my heart, but still summon up that little bit of courage," my voice crack.

The crack dey real, na my heart dey talk true.

My classmates dey look me, surprise. Halima hug my shoulder tight.

E shock me say dem dey clap, dey sing along. I no dey alone again.

First time for years, I feel warm, like I belong.

Na so I dey understand say friendship fit heal wound wey mama control create.

When I reach hostel, na 1 a.m. already.

Leg dey pain me, but my spirit dey fly.

I hide for bathroom, on my phone. Thirty-eight missed calls, WhatsApp messages full screen.

The screen dey hot, but my mind dey calm. I dey ready for anything.

[From tomorrow, your Family Wallet daily limit na 1500 naira.]

Fifteen hundred naira no reach for one correct lunch for school cafeteria.

Na my mama last message.

I dey read am, my face calm. No more tears. If she like, make she reduce am to zero.

Mama, you really wan win this game?

Okay. I go let you win…

So, I find myself again dey look receipt for special packaging from 24-hour chemist. My heart dey pound till e numb.

This time, I dey ready for the wahala, my eye dey sharp. Na new chapter I dey enter.

Sharp sharp, my phone vibrate.

"Wetin you buy?" Her voice cold, dey cut everywhere.

Her voice dey familiar, but I no dey shake again.

I dey watch the red dot for delivery app. "Late-night adult snack."

I dey smile as I talk am—my own kind of code, my own victory.

From the earpiece, I hear cup break. "Return am."

Her vexation dey sweet me small, I no go lie.

I hold the doorknob, laugh small.

This laugh get freedom inside—like say chain just break for neck.

"E don late."

"E don dey knock for my door."

From the earpiece, I hear my mama vex shout.

But this time, e no reach my heart. My own tomorrow don start.

I dey ready. This time, na me get the last word.

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*Family Wallet: One payment feature for some Nigerian bank and wallet apps, wey fit make parent dey monitor, control and approve every money pikin spend in real time.

Even as I dey write this, I dey reason say many people dey this my shoe, dem just no dey talk am. But one day, everybody go find their own key.*