Chapter 5: Morning Sun, Empty Eyes

Ding ding ding—

Ding ding ding—

Ding ding ding—

My phone alarm ring on time, wake me from heavy sleep.

I off alarm, check time: eight o’clock.

I touch my swollen face.

Even inside danger, I still sleep like goat?

Screen show 99+ missed calls and messages.

Even MTN sef go tire for this kain wahala.

I open call log.

Calls just dey from midnight reach six in the morning.

This one…

As I dey look the plenty missed calls, cold just catch me.

I swallow, brace myself, get up from bed.

As long as I pretend say I no know anything, dem no go fit do me.

E suppose be so…

I no fit hide for house forever—I must go out.

To call vigilante? Forget that one.

Who go believe impostor story?

Dem fit even carry me go Yaba Left straight.

I open door.

Parlour quiet, everywhere dead silent.

Good say I close the sliding door last night.

My eye jam the bell wey dey ground.

E be like something try enter from balcony for night.

I pick bell, shake am small.

Ding dong—

The bell ring clear.

E fall, but I sleep like log, no hear anything.

No words fit describe how I dey sleep for danger like this.

I rush go baff, ready go catch bus.

Creak—

I open door small, peep the corridor.

Nobody.

Whew.

I breathe out, waka comot, lock door behind me.

From corner of my eye—

I see Uncle Musa stand gidigba behind the door, him hollow eyes dey look me.

My throat dry. Sun don shine, but cold dey for my marrow.

"I don finally wait for you."

His voice echo for the empty corridor, and for the first time, I believe say for this Lagos, some things no get explanation. As Uncle Musa dey look me with that empty eye, I know say my own don set.