“I’m falling for you.” As the words fell from his lips, her throat closed up, and she began to cough. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been expecting it; she was a grown woman, thirty-four years old, and she knew men. She knew the signs that someone was getting close. She had seen it coming, had […]
That Yoyo Life
“Happy Valentine, ma!” Mr. Alex, their security man called out as Olanna waited in front of the office complex for her Uber. Olanna smiled a close-lipped smile, determined not to engage. She knew what would happen next if she opened the door to a conversation with Mr Alex. He would launch into a tirade about […]
The Fortune – a New Year’s Special
It was New Year’s Eve, and something about being on the cusp of a new beginning gave Nuhu a fresh dose of confidence. He loved new things, whether a new shirt from his favourite vendor, new shoes from his best friend’s store, a new restaurant that just opened down the street, and now…a new girlfriend […]
The Singing Lights
When I hear it, I am sleeping somewhat peacefully with my brothers and sisters. At first, I think I’m hearing things. My brothers and sisters always say I have such a vivid imagination and maybe I do. I daydream a lot so that means I get lost easily. My owners are always out looking for […]
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 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 […]