Chapter 6: Under Star, Life Dey Begin Again

Afternoon, somebody knock my gate.

The knock light, almost musical. I wipe hand for wrapper, peep window, heart dey jump. Safety new for me; caution old.

Seyi Wenika wear hoodie, backpack for shoulder, smile dey shine as I open door.

Face open, friendly. Dimple for left cheek. Hand full—sketchpad, brush dey poke from bag.

“Sis, I wan climb Oke-Aro tomorrow morning go paint sunrise. You go follow me waka small?”

Him Yoruba playful, pidgin easy. Him point mountain, eye bright like say e go win lottery.

He point the mountain wey no too far.

E rise above town, early evening haze cover am. I hear story—pilgrims, lovers, traders dey climb am for their own reason.

I know say that mountain dey popular.

Even market old women get story—miracle, wedding, lost soul dey find themselves for dawn.

Na main reason people dey come this town.

Photographer, pastor, herbalist—everybody believe Oke-Aro get secret. I dey curious, but I pretend.

I think am small.

Mind dey run: If I fall nko? If I lost nko? But Seyi confidence dey catch person.

“No worry, I dey do this thing steady. E safe.”

Voice calm, no fear. Smile again, my worry just dey melt.

As he talk am with that kind ginger, I just nod.

I just agree, before my sense go change am. Sometimes, new thing need small madness.

Seyi sabi as he dey talk.

He dey paint picture with mouth, adventure dey easy for am. I dey envy him courage, wish make small rub for my body.

He bring another bag, carry both camping gear and painting things.

He juggle water bottle, mat, even small pot. I laugh for his excitement, the sound sweet me.

I try help, he refuse.

He shake head, pretend flex muscle. “Na woman dey help man? Abeg!” I roll eye, but inside, I dey happy.

“I strong! This one na small thing.”

He wink, whistle as we dey go. For the first time, town feel like e fit belong to me too.

For road up mountain, we talk about past and future.

He yarn story—NYSC wahala, family palava, dream to paint president. I dey listen, surprise as world wide reach.

My own past just dull—everything na Ajayi family, na Tolu.

I talk small, my word dey drag, old pain heavy. But Seyi listen, no rush me, no judge.

In the end, I just become Madam Ajayi by name.

I laugh, short, bitter. “Na only title I get. My own na empty chair for big house.” Seyi shake head, eye gentle.

But Seyi different. Him story and dream full everywhere.

E laugh easy, hope dey sweet. E make me believe say new beginning dey, even if na small.

“Life na experience. My dream now na to become famous painter, so I must try my best at least once.”

He talk am with quiet power. I dey admire am. For years, I dey shrink; now, I wan expand too.

“Make I tell you secret—I run comot from house. If you wake one day and no see me again, maybe my family don carry me go.”

He yarn am with half-smile, but fear dey him eye. I nod, understand pass as I fit talk.

I look am, just smile.

The smile real, small but true. For the first time, I no feel alone for my running.

I no expect say we both be runaways.

For this strange town, we dey find freedom, hope say e no go run from us.

But him get family wey go find am. If na me, maybe Tolu go even celebrate.

I think of Tolu, him indifference. Pain sharp, but I let am pass. Here, I fit exist without am.

We reach mountaintop as sun dey set.

View fine—golden light dey touch roof, palm tree dey wave for breeze. Town look small, almost toy from above.

Warm gold light everywhere, make everywhere look like dream.

I breathe deep, air sweet and sharp. For years, my chest never expand like this.

I look small town below, gold light cover am—quiet, peaceful.

I remember as small pikin, I dey wish for this kind freedom.

Seyi dey set tent already.

Him hand quick, e dey hum Fela “Water No Get Enemy.” I watch, happy to be part of something simple.

I ask am, “This sunset fine too. Why you no paint am?”

He grin, eye dey shine. “Na sunrise dey give new life. Sunset na for remember old things. I wan face future.”

“I like sunrise pass. Every day na new beginning, full of hope.”

I nod, word dey stick for my chest. I wan believe am, wan believe I fit start again.

I sit for the stool wey Seyi put, dey watch as he work, but my mind dey think about ‘new beginning.’

Brush scratch soft, canvas dey colourful. My thought dey waka—what if I allow myself to hope again?

Leaving Ajayi family na the boldest thing I do for years.

I remember fear, shame. Yet here I dey, dey chop jollof rice and dodo, aroma sweet die. I dey alive, dey breathe mountain air.

But I still dey hide, like person wey dey fear.

I live small, dey fear take space. World feel too big, too bright. But tonight, I want more.

I run come small town, hide for small compound.

World shrink, but maybe e fit grow again. I dey watch Seyi work, him hand sure, spirit never break.

I never even think of my future. Na so I go stay here till old age?

I be just twenty-five—my life suppose still get plenty chance.

I make silent promise—live bold, find joy, even if e dey fear.

Just to run away, na escape.

But to build life, chase joy, na courage be that.

I go meet new people, see better world, till one day, even if I see am again, e no go move me.

As sun rise, I know say my old life don end—now, anything fit happen.