The Ilorin Shock Episode 3
Episode Three: Far From Home
That night, reality finally caught up with me.
School had distracted me during the day, but once night fell, there was nothing left to hide behind. The compound grew quieter, yet my mind became louder. Different voices, different smells, different air nothing felt like Oyo State.
I lay on the mat beside my brother.
He was silent.
Too silent.
I wanted to ask him if he missed home, but I already knew the answer. The way he kept turning from side to side said everything. We were both pretending to be strong for each other, but strength was heavy to carry at that age.
Back in Oyo State, nights were peaceful.
I remembered our street.
The familiar voices.
The way people called my name correctly without laughing.
I remembered the house… and suddenly my chest felt tight.
Why did everything change so fast?
Just a few days ago, I was home. Now I was in a strange place where even my accent betrayed me. A place where my father had driven away and left us behind with courage we were still learning how to grow.
Tears gathered in my eyes, but I wiped them quickly.
Big boys don’t cry, I told myself.
But missing home doesn’t ask for permission.
I missed my mother’s voice.
I missed the smell of home cooking.
I missed being somewhere I didn’t have to explain myself.
Beside me, my brother suddenly spoke in a low voice.
“When are we going back home?”
I had no answer.
So I stayed quiet.
The darkness listened.
As the night stretched on, I realized something painful but important: this place was no longer temporary. Ilorin wasn’t a visit. It wasn’t a branch. It was now part of my story whether I liked it or not.
And if I was going to survive here, I would have to grow faster than my age.
I closed my eyes, holding tightly to memories of Oyo State, afraid that if I let them go, I might forget who I was.
But deep inside, I knew
This was only the beginning of the lessons.
continue reading Episode 4
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