Chapter 6: Departure

Next day, I wake by six.

Morning breeze cold, cocks dey crow. I fold wrapper, tie scarf, ready for new life.

As Tunde hear me, he think say I dey go market. "Mama like goat liver. Try buy am."

He dey talk from bed, eye never open finish. I no even look am. Today, na my own day.

I no even answer am.

I just waka pass, my mind don dey Kaduna already.

After I bath, I carry my packed load, find okada go train station.

Okada man dey blast Sonny Okosun for small radio. I hug my bag, dey look street—people dey waka, market dey start. My body dey ginger.

As I reach, hunger hold me. I buy akara for outside.

The woman for gate dey shout, 'Hot akara, come buy!' I buy five, wrap am for old newspaper. Hot oil dey drip for my hand. I chop, heart dey calm.

Before, I plan make akara at home yesterday take for journey, but as Tunde mama come, I no bother again.

If to say she no come, I for fry big batch, pack for nylon. But e no matter—street akara sweet pass house one sometimes.

At the train station, the air dey thick with suya smoke and conductor shout, “One chance, Kaduna! Last bus!”

After four days for train, my body don weak as I finally reach university.

Mosquito bite my leg, but I no send. The journey na struggle—noise, people dey shout, hawkers dey sell gala, Fanta. Sometimes, train go stop for bush. But finally, I land.

I dey see girls with afro, boys dey wear bell-bottom. Na real old-school Kaduna.

After I finish all registration, I go straight dormitory, sleep like person wey dey coma.

I no even open bag. I collapse for bunk, cover myself. My roommate dey peep, but I no fit talk.

Na my roommates wake me. Dem, too, come from different parts of the country. After everybody rest small, we go cafeteria together.

One be Igbo girl, Adaobi, always dey laugh. Another, Salamat, dey speak small Hausa. We gather waka go buy food—beans and plantain. Na there I begin feel hope.

First official day of class, I think say I no go see Tunde—after all, him mama still need person for house.

I dey arrange note, dey plan new life. I dey reason say I go get peace finally.

But suddenly, I see am push door enter, dey waka come my side, face strong like stone.

My heart cut—wetin bring this man here? I hold book tight, brace myself. For this life, wahala no dey ever finish, but this time, I ready for am.

I square my shoulders, no run. This time, e go see the real Morayo.