Chapter 9: Last Encounters

Halima always value birthdays and holidays. Maybe na her romantic side—she dey prepare gift for me, expect me to do same. Me wey no send birthday as pikin, start to care as adult.

I remember as pikin, birthday na just ordinary day. Now, with Halima, e dey feel like festival.

That day, weather cold small. I go airport pick Halima. As she see me, she hug me tight.

Her perfume fill my nose, her arms warm. For that second, I feel like person wey get family again.

"You don lose weight. See as your chin sharp. But you look fine. Seems you never suffer yourself."

She squeeze my arm, eye dey check if I dey hide pain. Na true friend.

I smile, take her home. While she dey bath, I step outside. Under the dim streetlight, Akinlolu stand there in black coat, collar up. His eyes deep, and the way he look me, na like he wan carry me go hide somewhere.

Na movie scene. Shadow long for floor, face pale. My heart knock small.

"You follow Halima come? She go vex if she catch you."

I say am, voice soft, body dey guard. Old lover, but wound still fresh.

Akinlolu no talk, just look me. After long silence, he turn and waka go.

Shoe echo for tarred road. For a moment, I remember how we use to stand for Obalende bus stop, waiting for rain to stop. Now, na cold breeze dey blow us apart.

As he disappear for night, I know say chapter don close for real. Tomorrow fit bring new story, but tonight, I go sleep as woman wey survive.

For Lagos woman, survival na first step—happiness, na next chapter.