Chapter 9: Empty Walls, Heavy Heart

After that, Seyi Akanji use two days pack three years load.

Maybe e feel some kind way, because as e dey go, e soft small, e eyes get one kind guilt.

The compound dey quiet, only sound na from generator wey dey hum for backyard. E pack him things small small, greet the gateman, even wave small for Ngozi.

I stand for window, dey watch as e dey waka go.

"Seyi Akanji."

"Pro player life dey short. One wrong step, everything fit scatter. Hope say you no go regret."

E nod, like say e understand small.

For that quiet, e look the white wall for parlour—where we hang picture, all the memories for three years.

The day Dream Force club start: me, Seyi Akanji, and Ngozi. Ngozi just finish school, hair still yellow.

Our first full squad, seven of us dey raise glass for barbecue, all of us dey smile.

And last, me and Seyi Akanji, dey look the league championship photo for sofa, never hang am yet.

That golden rain for frame—maybe e no go ever reach the middle of the wall.

I remember say Seyi Akanji talk one day, "One day, we go get trophy for every wall." Now e dey leave the wall empty. E pain me.

Seyi Akanji just drop eye, talk, "Sorry, Wen Ran."

That moment, I no even know if na our three years e dey sorry for, or for leaving Dream Force, the club wey put everything for am.

E just waka go, no look back. For my mind, I wish am well, but I gats keep face strong—no be now dem go see my tears.

I lock window, let generator noise swallow my cry.