Chapter 15: Roots of Hope

Me sef no know which side be south, but I go always point same place to make her happy.

Small lie, but e dey give her hope. For our side, hope na medicine, sometimes na only thing wey person get. I dey wish say my pointing fit really lead her to freedom.

For that side, no hut, no cow, no sheep—just big grassland.

The land dey wide, empty, yet peaceful. For rainy season, e dey green, flowers dey bloom. Na the kind of place wey spirit fit rest, na that side she dey always dream of.

When na rainy season, everywhere dey full of small flowers...

The air go smell sweet, ground soft, even animals dey happy. I dey remember how mama go tell me say flowers na spirit children, their colour dey remind her of home.

Mama go ‘look’ that flowers, tell me old stories.

She go talk of kings, of gods, of warriors wey fight for love. Her voice go soft, full of longing. I go close my eyes, try picture the world she dey describe.

She say she get twin brother, one of the people wey love her pass for this world.

Her stories always end with her twin brother—strong, wise, always dey save her. I dey wonder if na real, or if na only wish for her heart.

I think say maybe mama dey like me, always dey dream.

For our place, dreamers dey suffer. But I dey believe say her dreams dey give her strength, even when reality dey hard.

She dey hope say her family love her.

Hope stubborn, even as pain dey ground. She dey believe say someday, family go come, freedom go land. For my mind, I dey pray say her hope no go finish.