The silent advocate

The sun was scorching, but Mirabel didn’t pay it any attention. In fact, she couldn't even feel the heat. Her mind was already clouded with thoughts of her JAMB result. After so many sleepless nights burning the midnight candle, she couldn't bring herself to expect anything less than success. ​She was in a frantic hurry to get to the CBT center to check her score. The journey was quite a distance—about a thirty-minute walk—but in her current state of mind, she felt like she could run the whole way. ​Mirabel was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even see her mother coming from the opposite direction. She would have walked right past her if she hadn't been jolted back by a firm grip on her arm. Her mother pulled her back, demanding an explanation for her behavior. ​"I’m sorry, Mom," Mirabel stammered, shaking her head to clear the fog. "I wasn't paying attention." ​"You were not paying attention on this busy road?" her mother asked, her voice a mix of anger and worry. ​"I’m sorry, Mom." ​"What are you thinking about? Look at the way you are sweating! Where are you going in such a hurry?" ​"The JAMB results are out," Mirabel explained, her voice trembling with excitement. "I’m on my way to check mine." ​"Is that why you want to kill yourself on this road? You didn’t even notice me! What if it had been a car coming instead of your mother?" ​"I’m sorry, Mom," Mirabel repeated, looking down at her feet. ​Her mother stared at her for a moment, sighing. "Besides, why are you trekking all this way?" ​"Daddy wasn't home when I heard the news, and I didn't have any money for transport." ​"Is the center still far from here?" Yes... no," Mirabel fumbled. ​"What is 'yes, no'? Answer me properly!" ​"Just a little further," Mirabel whispered. ​Her mother reached into her bag, which was heavy with groceries from the market, and pulled out some change. "Take this money and enter a keke. Make sure you actually board it, too. Don't go and get lost in thought again and pass your destination!" ​Mirabel hurriedly collected the money, her face lighting up. "Thank you, Mommy!" she shouted as she started running toward the nearest junction. ​"Don't kill yourself because of a result!" her mother shouted after her, watching her daughter disappear into the crowd. Soliloquizing "God please protect this girl".