ORE Ore paused outside her brother’s door, taking a deep breath. She felt bad that she had lied to him, especially because he was the ‘better’ brother. Benjy was easy to talk to, and not judgmental like her eldest brother, Deji. It was why she chose to share her decision with Benjy because she knew […]
The Siblings EP01
BENJY The pitter-patter of the rain against the zinc roof woke Benjy up. Or was it the mismatched voices of the children? He shifted in bed, his hand hitting the wall as he did so, reminding him of his present location; his father’s house. He grimaced, his eyes adjusting to the room he was in. […]
Hoodwinked
There was a visible tremble in Monica’s hands as she scrolled through her Instagram page. The news was everywhere – wherever she turned, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Telegram, everywhere – she couldn’t seem to escape it. Out here with her two closest friends on a Saturday, it was all they could talk about, even though she […]
Forty and Counting Finale
SIX WEEKS LATER Imade felt familiar emotions churn up in her as she boarded an airport taxi from the Benin airport. She couldn’t believe how much she had missed Benin since she left six weeks ago. She couldn’t believe the decision she was about to make – she trembled with excitement and nervousness at the […]
Forty and Counting Episode 23
They were in her kitchen – Yvonne had convinced her to come over so they could try their hands on a new carrot cake recipe she had found online. Imade had agreed largely because she had missed their friendly chats and also because she needed something to distract her from the constant loop that was […]
Forty and Counting Episode 22
Imade was due to return to Abuja in two days. Mixed feelings were running through her, she had missed Abuja, but she loved who she was in Benin. There was a sense of fulfillment she got from working with the orphanage. It wasn’t a paying job, yes. There were no corporate clients to kiss their […]
Forty and Counting Episode 21
Imade had never been great at handling big emotions, mostly because when growing up, her parents were big on poker faces, so much so that even if they were going through turmoil underneath the surface, they maintained an unwavering exterior. When her parents fought, her mother pinched her face into a frown and answered her […]
Forty and Counting Episode 20
Dapo went on his knees in his office, his hands thrown up in gratitude. “Thank you, Father. Oh, thank you!” It was big victories like these that made the small setbacks fade into the background. If there was one thing he’d seen in his years as counselor and team lead, it was unbelieving believers. They […]
Forty and Counting Episode 19
It was 6am when Imade’s phone rang and Mrs Osakwe cried hysterically that the police had called her to the station. “I don’t want to go alone,” she cried. “Please Imade, come with me.” “But what did they say? Why do they want you to come?” Imade asked, sleep fogging her eyes. “I don’t know. […]
Forty and Counting Episode 18
“You can’t leave Benin now,” Mrs Ajayi said to Imade on the phone, the next day. “I can’t imagine how chaotic it is over there. What are the police doing about it?” “I really don’t know. They said they’re looking for her, trying to retrace her last steps. Honestly, I don’t have much faith in […]