Finding Us

I've always dreamt of living alone.This isn't because I don't like my family (they're the best); neither is it because I have something under my sleeves. It's because I love the picture painted on the internet. I like the idea of being the one to make decisions on what to eat, when to eat it and how to eat. I love that I could go out and come home whenever I wanted without being hassled upon my return; the freedom to embrace the cold air with my naked body. I love all the pros that come with living alone because this equals absolute freedom — something I've never really had the chance to experience.Like most Nigerian parents, mine expect me to follow a set of rules without contradictions or refusal. Don't go to your friend's place or go out with them, they might be occult members scheming your initiation. Once you come home from school, it's straight to your homework and no staying out late — 6 pm is the curfew. Your fri

Federal University of Lagos, F.U.L — not the catchiest of names when pronounced as a word — however, it's one of the biggest Federal University in Nigeria. It's famous for the bright minds it's produced and infamous for the wayward that either dropout or eventually graduate.After we graduated High school, unlike my mates, I wanted to stay back a year to learn to sow clothes. I had an interest in cutting up and sewing clothes to make replicas of various patterns — sometimes with a slight or numerous difference(s) — and I was lucky to have a mom who's a talented seamstress. Aside from my parents liking my idea (since it'll be a means to make money while in school), it was also so much easier for me to stay back because even Eric wanted to learn something before going to school. He was interested in graphic designing, which is totally unrelated to his field of study, Medicine and Surgery. He wante

Till the end of the day, no lecturer enters the hall — even though it's already the second week of resumption — and I'm grateful that I listened to Eric when he said we shouldn't wait.There were many Ither things we needed to do upon resumption and I didn't know about this until Eric informed me. We still had to print some important documents from the student portal, have them signed, make photocopies and submit. According to Eric, we won't be considered students if in our final years these documents aren't in the administrative office.But all I hear Eric say as he explains all we have to do is work, work, work. I was wishing we'll get to sit one place, gist and laugh. But no! We have to work, work, work.By 4, I'm exhausted and thankfully —  even though we're not finished — the offices are closed and we're told to come back the following day.“Your house isn't that far from school,”  Eric tells me a

When we walk through the wicket-gate of my hostel, I'm glad to see there's light. The caretaker didn't really lie. This place is a different breed of Lagos.“You guys are enjoying light here o," Eric says as we approach the stairwell.“You guys don't have light like this?"“Have light ke? It's mostly at night and that one doesn't pass two hours before they take it.”“Ah-ah. So how do you guys survive? Where do you charge your phone?”“One of my flatmates brought gen when he resumed, and that's what we're using. He's connected it so everyone in our flat has light when it's on. We all just contribute for fuel.”“Wow. That guy is nice o. If it's some people, they won't care.”“Harry is a cool guy. He's not greedy in any way.”We get to my flat and I'm surprised to see an unfamiliar face coming out of the room next to Amanda's, an older guy behind h

It's a Sunday morning and although I should be in bed, I'm all over the place trying on clothes upon clothes.I haven't been to Eric's place before, since he's mostly always coming over to mine. So, since he couldn't make it today, I decide to go over instead. The materials for my joint business with Dare have been bought the day before. I ran out of thread last night, and since it's a Sunday, hardly any shops are opened.Once I'm done dressing up, I grab my bag, food flask. On my way out, I meet Amanda in the hallway."Good morning," she says."Good morning.""I see you're also on your way to church."I spot the Bible in her hand. "Oh. No, I'm on my way to a friend's.""So you won't