Chapter 10: Kindness and Hope

Clang, clang. Iron door bang again. No be food time. Who dey come? My heart dey beat—wetin Musa wan do again? I dey hide my face, dey pray. Torchlight shine enter. For behind the light, I see woman figure. Na Aisha.

E voice soft, e step careful. I dey surprise. "Ngozi, come here." She call me reach the bars. Her hand dey shake small. E show say fear still dey her body, but kindness dey struggle come out.

She slip plastic bag for my hand. Inside, I feel small bottle. Na medicine—painkillers. Hope flash small for my eye. "Na painkillers. Maybe e go help you small." Her voice low, like person wey dey share secret. I nod, my eyes full gratitude.

I no know why she suddenly soft. Maybe she dey pity me, or she don see herself for my eyes. Sometimes for Naija, woman dey help woman, even if wahala full ground. Before she waka, I beg her leave the torchlight. E nod, drop torchlight for ground. E give me small smile—painful, but warm.

I bring photo from under my wrapper, use the light look the person for the picture. Na my last treasure. I dey wipe the glass, dey touch the face for picture like say e go answer me. The only photo wey remain. Fine man for police uniform, eyes bright, smile like sun. My Tunde, my hope. E face dey ginger me to survive one more day.

Tunde, e don tey since I last see you. My tears dey drop small small. I dey whisper prayer for the picture. My mind drift go back again, to five years ago. Inside this darkness, hope and memory na my only food. But I dey wait—I dey wait say better go come, even if na for another life.