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Solana

My breath constricted as I felt myself waver. My skin tingled and itched as the room spun around me.

A body bumped into me, slapping me back to reality as the anxious bodies of students rushed through the stuffy corridor, eager to get home.

Resumption week was coming to a close, assignments were beginning to pile up and the buzz and euphoria that followed the end of summer break had gradually worn off…

Sure, some ‘pick me’ students had tried to make a dramatic entrance, no one really cared though. Our teachers had chosen to make our last year as secondary school students as hectic as possible.

Having missed school for three months, I was finding it very difficult having to readjust to the workload that came with attending a world renowned school. Coupled with that, I had a session with Eniola- my therapist today.

Finally, I managed to squeeze myself through the door, the wind picked up around me, strands from my pick and drop braids blew into my face, I brushed them aside as I tightened my hoodie and shrunk into it.

Of all the days to tell Aunt Tola I'd make it home myself.

In the distance, I saw Ori get into a car, a car that didn't look familiar. Ewo.

A drop of water brought me out of my trance and I realised the violent wind had been joined by a gentle drizzle which seemed to want to become more as the dark clouds looming over me rolled in quickly.

I rushed to the bus stop a few steps away from the gate, I barely made it in time as the rain went from gentle drizzle to violent downpour. The violent ‘splat’ sound the raindrops made as the fall mercilessly.

I wasn't a stranger to Nigeria weather– but the violent switch up from ‘Sunny, hot as hell Thursday morning' to ‘’Windy, gloomy Thursday evening' still baffled me.

I daintily brushed the brown-blue seats which were behind me, taking a seat and admiring my nails.

Water droplets flew into my face, I became hyper aware that the streets were emptying and time was quickly going by.

Not only was I missing my semi-mandatory therapy session, night time had arrived and mosquitoes had found a way through my thigh high socks and were feasting on my skin.

I rummaged around my back, whipping out my iPhone for the hundredth time– as if that would charge it somehow. A tear drop fell from my eyes, The wind blew all around me, leaving goosebumps in its wake.

I shivered in my now very very damp school uniform, sniffling as I leaned back. Sticking my head out for the umpteenth time, a bright light shone on my face. I shielded my eyes as I rummaged around my bag for my pepper spray, quickly remembering my aunt had made me throw it away.

I gripped my bag harder, praying to God I wasn't about to become like one of those Chibok girls. Aunt Tola ran out of the car, her designer slippers splashing water as she ran towards me. Her umbrella and bubu blew in every direction as the wind picked up again.

Aside from the rain, she was giving rich aunty vibes right now.

The designer bubu that could be seen on Pinterest? Check.

Designer slippers to match with her designer glasses? Check.

Car key dangling from perfectly manicured hands? Check.

I quickly stood up, the wetness of my clothes making them heavy and weighing me down.

“Aunty Tola,”I shouted, the wind threatening to overpower my voice.

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