Chapter 14: South and Dreams

I no know wetin to talk. He talk plenty, some I no understand.

The words dey big for my ear. My chest dey pain, but my mind dey blank. I just dey wish say everything go stop, even if na for small minute.

But I fit guess wetin he mean.

For our land, when prince talk like that, e mean say his own pain dey hide. He no wan show weakness, so he dey talk as if he no care. But sometimes, na the people wey dey shout pass dey hide the most pain.

He no go save my mama.

The truth hit me like rain for dry season. I dey feel the end dey near, hope dey disappear like smoke. For my mind, I dey curse war, I dey curse pride.

He even fit kill her.

My own fear dey become real. The world dey turn against my mama, even her own blood dey plan her downfall. I dey wonder if na the way of the world, or if we just unlucky.

I remember how mama dey always ask me which side be south, then she go use her blind eyes face that direction quietly.

Her own way of holding hope. For our land, south mean home, mean better land, mean place where suffering no fit reach. Even as chain dey her leg, her spirit dey face south.