The soul i couldn't own

The cracked pride

Your work is done for the day. You do not have to do anything today. Today is finished for you.

Oh no! I could feel urine filling up my bladder I almost pissed my pants.

I did not mean to cause any trouble sir I said as I held up my hands.

You want to ruin my daughters life just like you did to all the girls in this village? You are going to make her unhappy and mess up her life. My daughters life is important, to me. I do not want you to hurt her like you hurt all the girls in this village.

I said to him "No sir I really mean well for her sir." I took a steps back.

The man asked if I had intentions. Then he said "come and I should let him welcome me properly. He was pointing the gun at me when he said this.

The next thing I heard was a loud bang. This man fired a gun into the air.

I turned around. Started running really fast like the people from my village were right behind me. The people from my village were probably not really chasing me. That is how fast I was running. I was running like I was in a hurry to get away from something. I did not stop to look back at all. The village people were still, on my mind as I kept on running.

The man was yelling at me to come. "No come here " he said. "Let me welcome you properly " I heard him say from far away.

I did not even look back I just kept on running until I got to my house. My legs were really moving fast it felt like my legs were almost touching my back as I was running to my house.

It was as if they entered auto pilot mode.

The moment I walked into my room I fell flat on the bed. I was really tired. My bed felt so comfortable. My room was quiet. It was nice to be back, in my own space lying on my bed.

I stood in front of the mirror. Looked at myself. I am a boy, like me but I did not look very good at that moment. My face was all covered in dust. My shirt was torn. I could not find my slippers anywhere.

All because of one girl. Chai!

What a disgrace!

I had lost all my style my whole swagger was completely gone. My steeze, it was just not there anymore. I felt like I had lost my steeze.

****

The morning I woke up to find Jide and Michael at my place. They were laughing loudly. It was so funny that I thought Jide and Michael might actually choke. I was surprised to see Jide and Michael in my house early.

"Henry! The Great Runner!" Michael teased.

Jide said "Usain Bolt". Then they started laughing again really loudly this time. They just could not stop laughing about Usain Bolt.

I did not say a word.

People told us that Mazi Okoro almost made your spirit go on vacation early. We are talking about Mazi Okoro and what Mazi Okoro did. Mazi Okoro was very close, to sending your spirit.

"I am really upset guys " I said firmly. "That girl has done something bad to me she made people think I am a thief. That girl has made me feel so ashamed she has treated me unfairly. I do not think that girl is a person that girl has caused me a lot of trouble that girl has made me look like I stole something.

Jide said "forget about her" and lit a cigarette. There are a lot of girls, in this village. Princess is still waiting for you. Why bother with a girl who always carries a Bible around like it is protecting her? He said this. They both started laughing really hard almost falling off their chairs.

I did not answer.

I was hurt badly inside. That thing that happened made me want Chioma even more.

I said that I am going to get her. I said it very quietly.

They both paused and turned to look at me.

Not as Henry the Playboy. I will get her as Henry the Brother, in Christ.

Sunday morning came and I was ready.

I did not wear my baggy jeans and designer shirt. No.

I decided to wear a white shirt that was really big on me and some black trousers. These clothes looked really old. I mean the shirt and the black trousers they looked like they were, from a long time ago.

I made my hair look really flat. I looked like I was a teacher for kids but that was okay with me. I had something I really wanted to do my target was very important, to me my target was what I was focusing on.

As I found myself in front of Chioma’s church that morning, I smiled and whispered under my breath