A Life Unheard

CHAPTER 2

JULY, 2017

I trudged through the familiar streets, the memories of my secondary school days still fresh in my mind. Government Girls Science Secondary School, a mere 2-3 minute walk from my house, had been my second home for years. But now, with my graduation behind me, the excitement was short-lived.

The day my results arrived, my heart sank. I had failed both my WAEC and NECO exams. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stared at the papers, the words blurring together in a jumbled mess. Fear gripped me as I contemplated breaking the news to my mother.

Summoning every last bit of courage, I approached her, the words tumbling out in a shaky voice. But instead of comfort or guidance, her reaction was like a slap in the face. "The people who passed, do they have two heads?" she ranted, her words dripping with venom. My brothers, ever the eager audience, snickered and jeered, their mocking faces etched in my memory, I will pass my WAEC AND NECO In one sitting they proudly said .

I felt like I was drowning in a sea of disappointment and shame. My mother's parting shot, "Just pray you pass your JAMB exams," still echoed in my mind as I retreated to the one place I knew I could find solace – my father's room.

The dimly lit space enveloped me in its quiet tranquility. I lay on the bed, letting the soothing sounds of my music wash over me as I immersed myself in the pages of my beloved Petrachris series. The world outside receded, and for a brief moment, I forgot about my troubles.

But the call to Maghrib prayer broke the spell, and I reluctantly emerged from my hiding place. My mother's harsh tone greeted me, "Where were you?" I was in daddy's room, Won't you go and pray you Atheist, I mumbled an apology, feeling like a child again and went to my room to observe my salat.

As the evening drew to a close, my father's return brought a measure of comfort. His gentle words and reassurance that I would retake my exams next year were a balm to my battered soul.

As I lay in bed, the darkness outside mirroring the uncertainty within, I whispered a silent prayer. Tomorrow, I knew, would bring its own set of challenges. But for now, I held onto hope, and the promise of a new dawn, Inshallah.