It's never brighter on the other side

en walked to sit under the big tree to wait for my dad, he should have been here by now, what’s taking him so long. I sat comfortable on the bench under the tree wondering why drivers always ask

it to the iron on his lady bike. He sat on bike while I lifted my leg, stretched it forward carefully as to not hit the box

e you can get close to. He’d beat you for the slightest mistake , I shifted a little on the bike wondering if i can really mañage to be in this uncomfortable position till w

nt of our house has grown. We entered house and he lead me to my room, it was already cleaned all I had to do was arrange my things I

al intr

, I wasn’t particularly concerned about missing my dad he rarely came around because of his work and my mum could not afford to leave her work to move in with him. My mum is a teacher and my dad a mechanical engineer, so you see why he rarely came around. My dada was never In support of me schooling in a boarding house as a matter of fact I can vividly remember they had a serious fight about this but my mum

OARDING

toop up slowly walking to my door. “ mummy.” I said as I opened the door. “ you have to start getting ready so we can get there early for registra

d at the back of my dad’s car playing with my brother, I think he knew that I was leaving because he was always glued to my m

nd read. Please don’t join bad gang o”. M

a” I r

ompanied me to my assigned dorm. My mum fixed the mosquito net and arranged my assigned cupboard constantly reminding me to be a good girl while doing so, we finished and went to meet my dad . He also advised me but he didn

to my hostel crying and wondering how’d survive without m

eed daily before classes. We were shown the dining hall and other important places in the school environment, I met few of m

hall for breakfast. We all were present at the assembly by 7:30 which was to be our daily routine except for weekends, after the assembly we all marched to our various classes, I was in J

opying the note of the previous lecture. On my way to the computer lab walking as fast as I can with my stomach grumbling afraid that I would be punished for arriving late I heard someone shouting “ that girl, that girl.” I looked back to see a senior waving her hand through her class room window beckoning for me to come. I walked back wondering what I did for a senior to notice

orn you well no bring wetin I send you with my ch

immediately because at that point I already knew I won’t buy anything. I didn’t eat lunc

e ? I say which

3A ma”

etin I send you, no

titled . Well it’s her loss and she can’t find me because I didn’t tell her my real class. I got to my mama risi’s place bought coke and two parle G found a cool spot to sit

, I knew what I did was bad but it wasn’t entirely my fault. I

turned back angrily to see who did that. I didn’t recognize her immediately but once I did my plate and spoon fell , I just stood there wide eyed looking at her w

be smart girl now, make

thief, had my provisions taken away, had to fetch her water and wash her clothes. I was basically turned into a house help, I was humiliated and had no one to run to. After every visiting days my provisions were taking away from me, everythi

RE

each dorm to inspect each space and check everyone’s nails then

took my bathe, arranged my space and got ready for inspection. I was standing slightly re

e that fooli

t she found out what I did but I didn’t even care.

r say I dey

in and in an attempt to dodge I raised my hand with the blade trying to cover my face, shortly after her hand lande

he blade. The first time might have been a mistake but this time it was intentional. Just at that moment the matron came in confused wondering what a

evening we were both invited to the vice principals office to each explain what happened. The senior was found guilty she was suspended for two weeks and

and dragged. I reported on multiple occasions but the school authorities did nothing because the senior denied ever knowing the people behind it. The assault got to a poi

mib

seniors pretty much and there was no case of bullying. My time there was short , I completed my Jss

village is bad and the rise of dropouts and young pregnant girls bothered my parents. The superstition that the witches won’t let u attain greater heights wh

how we g

A

to take ur bath and eat.” My dad said gent

next morning. My dad and I will go to my new school for registration the next day,

, the company try to make life easier for their workers by giving them discount on the schools fees they also provide med

t him asking how my day went in school and making me promise him I will stay away from boys. When we arrived home he asked me to get a pen and paper to write down the rule and regulations I was to abide by daily. I was asked to clean the house and sweep the front porch every morning, the bathroom and toil

with their female children but what I never understood was why he couldn’t just trust me to make the right

RE

ther subjects, you could be asked to solve a question and also be asked to derive the formula for that question I never understood the logic behind that, I felt for every given question the formula should be provided I heard that’s how it’s done in the UK. I really did try my best to pass the physic exam but it just didn’t happen, I fai

N, BAB

or a few days, behave yourself”. My dad said s

my room. Later when my mum called to speak with me my dad stood listening to

d that

inks. I got the drinks and headed back home , on getting to the door step I saw a ladie’s sandal I entered the passage and there were two big traveling b

re now a big girl o” sh

what of bobo ?”. I asked

e kitchen wi

the kitchen I heard her trying to say something on my way but I really didn’t pay a

the first time but from his facial expression I knew he heard and he just didn’t reply. At that moment I knew what it was but my fragile little heart couldn’t believe it. I stood up, opened the store d

ach other again. I never knew I had so much anger and courage in me till that day. I really didn’t know what came over me. I went back to the passage to drag their bags out

she even do to you to deserve thi

le life try this nonsense you did with me today again”. She said with hands akimbo. “ t

won’t sleep with her her friends husban

He just went into the living room with little boy and the mum followed. I fell to my kne

lways on standby, listening to all our conversations even the day he wasn’t there I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what was happening. I betrayed her and I hated myself

before you leave the school premises” the

res I went

tell him that he has to pay for your school fees by tomorrow

s si

epl

e information to my dad but before I c

ild with añ empty brain like you” she s

n everytime the bursar called names of people who haven’t paid which I found odd because why do you beat the students they don’t have the financial c

away” I taught to myself. “ but where will I go to ? I don’t know anywhere” i taught of going back to my mum’s but then she will get to know everything that has been happening.

es. “ hope that’s not my plates o ehhen Ayo” she said smiling wickedly. “ you’re so useless that you can’t even do anything at all, you want to send me back to the village abi ? So you and your mother have connived to brea

never going to stand up for my mum. I smiled, I couldn’t even believe that this man could be like this. She kept ranting, cursing and hitting me. I said nothing and just kept smiling I think that triggered her more because she just got more angry,

l the cash on the drawer I made sure to check if there was more and I took that too I also checked the fridge for a few snacks. I didn’t know where I was going but I knew I had to get away from them. I

or me, I don’t even know where I am headed but anywhere will do as long as it’s not with these h