period of mourning for her deceased mother. She arrived Warri on a sunny Saturday afternoon. She took a taxi to her aunt’s home which was situated at Okumagba Avenue, a busy section of the ci

he had visited. She knocked on the gate and

ernoon,”

n, I want to s

of my aunty…who sho

ome, he

ere while I go in to

he took a surreptitious look around the compound, noticing a car parked beside a tree. The bungalow looked like it had seen better days especially with its not so bright painting. They

screamed and

hold. It was fairly large, walls painted in green and beautifully furnished with a set of cozy furnitu

you?” Pea

ne,” she

ong time. How

fine,” s

hould I of

ove to hav

her that her two daughters were in the state university while her only son was living in Port Harcourt. Her husband was at work while she was on leave from work. She knew little about her aunty and her family up till this point and felt better conversing with her. Kome assisted her in preparing the evening meal. Her aunt’s hu

She stretched her tired body before getting up to open t

ning,” he

, how are you

d you should prepare

ka

ch was much bigger than the one in her hometown. She was also struck by the number of vehicles parked in the compound. There were many people in the auditorium and she quickly found a seat in a section populated by ladies. She listened and went through the motions of worship half-heartedly. She was increasingly finding herself thinking l

r uncle’s car. She met Michael standing there without he

lay, we had a mee

with her aunt and her husband. They congratulated her on her successful graduation and engaged her on othe

ision to impress them with her overall behavior. She took over most of the chores leaving Michael with ample time for his studies. She stayed indoors most of the t

hanging. Her breasts had become softer. She also felt weak most of the time. Her aunt was almost too busy

struggled to conceal her health challenge from her aunt. It came to a climax the weekend before her exit. She was helping her aunt in the kitchen when she suddenly felt nauseous. She closed her mouth with her left hand and ran out of the kitchen to he

ng with you?

in my stomach

t in the eyes and examined

it start?”

ay,” she

to avert her eyes. Peace held her niece’s gaze for a

al to do a proper check

ittle rest will

rig

eve her luck and resolved to leave as soon as it was Monday morning. She had consider

they had their meal. They ate in silence which was usual but Kome was nervous. She stole surreptitious looks at her aunt in a bid to ascertain

thing, it has to be the

ared the table. She spent the remaining part of the day in her room. She laid on her bed even as thoughts assailed her mind. She was going to leave for Benin in two days’ time and was already contemplating the daunting journey ahead. She was worried

he time through the dim shade of light that illuminated the room. The glow of

ou?” her a

ne,’’ sh

have slept enoug

will be in the si

on her face. She dismissed her fears while leaving the front of the dresser. She looked at the room which has comfortably housed her for a whole month and suddenly became unsettled. She was about taking a path into the unknown just beca