Chapter 2: Family Calls and Second Chances

My uncle and aunt dey cry anyhow for phone, voice almost faint from wahala.

Omo, if you hear their cry, you go think say person don die. For village, when serious matter land, na to shout and roll for ground remain. Voice crack, as if dem dey pour all their tears inside phone.

"Chijioke, your cousin get accident! Dem dey rush am go hospital—abeg, try take leave from your work and go quick!"

Uncle voice dey tremble, words dey jam each other. If you sabi old men for Naija, you go know say dem no dey beg unless wahala pass power.

"Doctor talk say e bad well well, one leg fit no survive—abeg hurry!"

"Chijioke, you dey hear me so?"

My aunt follow shout. For my mind, I see her for that mud veranda, wrapper for chest, hands for head, phone dey shake.

My head just blank, memory from last life rush me like flood.

E be like say cold water dey pour for my brain. Images just dey fly—blood for tiles, Ebuka voice dey echo, pain for my chest, that scream never gree leave my ear.

The pain before I die still dey my chest, breathing dey rush, sweat dey my forehead.

Omo, na so body dey react. All that trauma from past life grip me. You go think say spirit wan catch me.

"Chijioke, Chijioke, talk something now!"

"You get only this one brother, Ebuka! Which one better, work or your brother? If anything do am, na you I go hold!"

Na so family matter dey for Naija—if wahala happen, na the person wey get small sense dem go point hand. As if others no fit use head.

I take deep breath.

Try steady myself, heart dey bang like generator after NEPA bring light.

"Uncle, Aunty? Wetin happen to Ebuka?"

I try talk calm, even as fear dey hold me. My voice still dey shake small.

"I dey travel for work, even if I rush come now, I no go fit reach on time."

I dey explain, because for this country, road long, nothing dey happen quick unless miracle.

"Hello? Wetin you talk? Network for road bad, abeg repeat... hello..."

Typical village network wahala. MTN just dey misbehave.

I cut call and put phone on airplane mode.

No time for long gist. I just cut am, make I fit think. For Naija, if you no clear head, wahala go swallow you.

Then I book ticket for night bus to next state online, apply for leave, and enter bus sharp sharp.

If you no dey ready to run for Naija, e go pass you. I just dey pray make hold-up no block us for road.