Unbreakable

chapter 2

The Journey That Changed Everything

Life was already difficult for my family, but things became even harder when the owner of the apartment we were renting suddenly made an announcement.

He told everyone living in the building that he wanted to renovate the house. Because of that, all the tenants had to leave and find another place to live.

For many families, it was stressful news.

For my family, it felt like the ground beneath our feet had disappeared.

I was still very young at that time, but even as a child I could see the worry on my parents’ faces. They tried their best to hide their fear from us, but children are more observant than adults realize.

Before long, we had no choice but to move in with one of my father’s friends. His house was not very big, but he allowed us to stay there for a while.

That meant our already large family had to squeeze into a house that was never meant to hold so many people.

The house was always noisy and crowded.

My father’s friend lived there with his wife, their children, and even their dogs. Adding my family to that environment made everything feel even tighter.

Despite the discomfort, we tried to make the best of the situation.

During that period, life became very difficult for all of us. School was stressful, church felt different, and even simple daily activities became harder because we were living far away from the life we were used to.

But somehow, my siblings and I kept smiling.

We laughed, played, and pretended everything was okay, even though deep inside we could feel the pressure our parents were facing.

One day, during my first term in JSS1 in the year 2010, my mother called me to sit beside her.

Her voice sounded serious, which immediately made my heart start beating faster.

She told me that my aunt in Lagos was about to give birth soon and needed someone to help her after the baby arrived.

I listened carefully as my mother spoke.

Then she told me something that changed my life.

She said I would be the one going to Lagos to stay with my aunt.

At that moment, I felt excited.

To a young girl like me, Lagos sounded like an adventure. I had heard so many stories about the big city. In my mind, Lagos was a place full of bright lights, tall buildings, and endless opportunities.

What I did not understand at that time was that Lagos could also be a very hard place.

I was only eleven years old.

No one really explained to me what life there would truly be like or what responsibilities would be waiting for me.

All I heard was one thing:

“You are going to Lagos.”

And because of that, I quickly agreed.

Little did I know that this decision would mark the beginning of a new chapter of struggle in my life.

Before the journey, my older sister tried to warn me.

She spoke to me quietly one evening, telling me that living away from your parents is never easy.

But I did not really understand what she meant.

At that age, my mind was full of curiosity and excitement. I just wanted to experience life outside my parents’ house.

I thought I was going on a simple trip.

I had no idea that I was stepping into a completely different life.

Finally, the day of the journey arrived.

It was a Sunday in June 2010.

That morning felt very emotional. Everyone in the house kept telling me to behave well, listen to my aunt, and remember where I came from.

Some people prayed for me.

Others hugged me tightly.

At that moment, I did not realize how much I would miss them.

My aunt had traveled all the way from Lagos to Kaduna to pick me up. She was already pregnant when she arrived.

Soon it was time for us to leave.

We boarded a long luxury bus that would take us from Kaduna to Lagos.

The journey was long, stretching across many hours and many miles. I watched the world pass by through the bus window — towns, villages, roads, and endless landscapes.

Inside the bus, my aunt rested quietly while carrying the child growing inside her.

I was happy.

I was curious.

I was hopeful.

I believed I was about to begin an exciting adventure.

The trip went smoothly, and we arrived safely.

In Igbo, there is a saying: “Ije ọma”, which means “safe journey.”

At that time, I thought it was just a simple journey.

But looking back now, I realize something important.

That journey was not just a trip to another city.

It was the beginning of a story that would change my life forever.