WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING.

EPISODE 5:SMALL WINS

Despite constant obstacles, life started to show little signals of improvement—tiny triumphs that gradually transformed optimism into something real. I still recall the day the community centre sent me a letter inviting me to participate in their business course. It seemed like a recognition that I was more than the sum of my sorrows and that I could grow, learn, and create a better future for myself and Oyinye.

Every little victory turned into a turning point in my path. I began keeping a close eye on every spending and creating a strict budget. Gradually, I realised that even minor changes, like cooking at home rather than getting takeaway, might have a big impact. The extra naira I was saving here and there came up to a small but encouraging cushion, and I started to see the results of my labour.

Not all of my labour was in vain. One day, my manager assigned me a project that was crucial to our team's performance after complimenting me on my ability to multitask during busy periods. I held on to this duty as a symbol of confidence, even if it was frightening. Every task I completed and every study session I had after Oyinye went to bed showed how persistent I was.

I also began to claim happy moments away from the everyday grind. I observed that Oyinye's laughing, which had previously been infrequent in the midst of the persistent melancholy, started to bring an almost alien sense of joy into our tiny flat. Her smile filled the void between hopelessness and optimism when she ran to me after a successful day.

Every small triumph, whether it was a compliment from the workshop, a supportive remark at work, or just a day when the sun came out a bit brighter, strengthened my resolve. I realised that recreating a life didn't necessarily require large gestures; occasionally, the most significant advancements were represented by the little victories.