yellow lode

CHAPTER ONE

I Have a Dream, a song to sing. 🎶
To help me cope, with anything🎶🎶🎶
If you see the wonder, of a fairy tale🎶🎶
You can take the future, even if you fail🎶🎶
"By ABBA"

Grateful — that's how I should feel. If nothing else, for this moment. It feels like I've just been handed the most precious gift of all. And to me, it is truly precious.

I need to leave this house.

Gosh...

"Did you hear me?" my dad asked softly, his voice calm, a pleasing smile resting on his face.

"Yes, sir," I replied, though I could barely hear him. My mind was drowning in excitement. Maybe that's why my ears stopped working — because all I could hear clearly was my own voice echoing inside my head.

All I wanted to hear was, "Safe journey," and that classic "Be a good girl."

I always wonder why they say that.

Because I am a good girl... right?

"What is wrong with this girl? What did your daddy just say?"

Or maybe not. My mum's sharp tone yanked me back.

"Abi this school no hungry you again?" she added, eyes squinting suspiciously.

"Ma... no, I heard what Daddy said..."

"Common shut up and listen!" she snapped. "If you like, don't hear. If you useless yourself there, remain there oo — ehn, don't come back to my house."

She adjusted her waist firmly on the couch, muttering, "If you like, don't hear."

"Be a good girl," my dad continued, brushing off Mum's usual drama. "And always know that we love you, okay?"

"I love you too, Daddy. And I'll always be a good girl," I replied in one breath.

"Be very careful of friends — I repeat — do not be influenced by bad company."

He cupped my chin gently in both hands and kissed my forehead.

"Remember your brothers. Be a good example, okay?"

"Okay, sir."

In that moment, a wave of calm washed over me.

For a minute, I felt ready — like I knew what was ahead.

I'm not going to fail them, I told myself. I promise I won't disappoint you.

"Come here jare, let me pray for you," Mum said, rolling her eyes.

I jumped up and knelt down beside her, resting my elbows on her thighs as she muttered prayers in a low tone.

"In Jesus' name we pray—"

"Amen!" I responded hastily, standing quickly, excitement bubbling over again.

"Wait..." she paused. "If you like, when you reach there, de do like bolé..."

She gave Dad a side-eye.

My dad just smiled at her, and she returned the look with a grin.

I never understood why a graduate like my mum would always switch to Pidgin so proudly. But then again, maybe that's her own love language.

Oh no — the love gaze again. Here we go.

Couldn't they wait for me to leave first? I did admire it sometimes, but this was not the moment.