Chasing Greatness :A Journey Of Hope

chapter 17: miracle

In my street, life had changed over the years. It felt like a ghetto now—young boys had joined junior cults and were parading around as "big boys." The sense of safety I once knew was gone, but my mom never treated anyone differently. She sold provisions in front of our house, and these boys often hung around, speaking in their coded cultist slang. My mom was kind to everyone, including them, so our store became a gathering spot.

One evening, a boy named Femi came around. He was Yoruba, but he lived in Benin. He was the last born in a family of three boys and one girl, Miracle—my namesake. Femi was small in size, with a contagious smile that lit up the room. He was charming and funny, and he had a way of making both my mom and me laugh. I knew I had a crush on him because whenever he was around, I’d check my appearance, making sure I looked my best. I couldn’t help but blush whenever he cracked a joke.

My mom adored Femi. He was always welcome in our home, and sometimes he stayed long enough for us to have private conversations. As the days passed, my feelings for him grew. By now, I was no longer 15. At 16, I had just finished my junior WAEC and was preparing to start senior secondary school. Femi, on the other hand, was 21 and had already finished his senior WAEC. He was ready for university, but financial struggles were holding him back. His father was old, and his mother was the second wife, so he had started working, registering SIM cards, to save money for his education.

The day of my graduation from junior secondary school was a special one. I remember wearing a pink gown with my hair neatly styled in a packing gel. I felt radiant and proud of myself. When I got home that evening, still basking in the joy of the day, I saw Femi waiting for me. My mom wasn’t home, and my siblings were preoccupied, so it felt like the perfect chance to spend time with him.

We went to the back of the house to talk, away from the noise and distractions. He made me laugh as usual, but this time, something was different. My heart was racing, and I wasn’t sure why until he said the words I had secretly been hoping to hear:

“Will you be my girlfriend?”

The question caught me off guard. My mind raced with doubt and fear. Was I ready for this? At 16, could I handle having a boyfriend? My mom’s story was fresh in my mind, and I was terrified of making the same mistakes she had. But before I could think too much about it, the word “Yes” slipped out of my mouth.