Sometimes, I wish they all knew that I’d saved the world, that “we” had saved the world. I don’t wish it to be vain, I don’t think I am vain. I mean to make such a statement with a hundred percent certainty would be a paradox, wouldn’t it?

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When I drove into the school compound in my beat-up grey Datsun that chilly and wet Monday morning I had little idea what awaited me in that venerated public institution. I brought the car to a slow stop under the mighty oak tree where I usually parked it.

My mama always tell me say I go make good wife for the man whey go marry me. I believe her. My mama never tell me lie. I be first daughter and second child. My papa too tell me say he will marry me to fine man.

All thirty-three passengers on the bus were strangely quiet, no one talked about how hot the weather was or the recent increase in the fuel price, no one even talked about the new virus that was spreading fast.

I carefully unpacked a section of my bookshelf to get behind it. I have, over the years collected books on various topics and qualities,

I watch from behind my seat as Mrs.Okogbuo goes on and again about the essence of X and Y and I wonder why people bother so much about innocent alphabets.

Today, I find forgiveness. I am at the cemetery, staring at the marble headstone with 'Tolulope Titiloye Akanni, 1982-2015' engraved on it. It is the first time I've visited – the first time I've been able to visit – since Tolu died.

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I started screaming.

Suddenly I blinked and I was in front of a mirror, still brushing my hair (I really shouldn't have settled for low-quality weave). I sighed and walked into my room to get my iPad.

The only time of the year you received gifts was Christmas. These gifts were not preempted by “I will buy you *insert something expensive you don’t like* if you pass your exams at the top of your class.”

I remember the weight of her head on my right shoulder as I stared ahead. My mind in a haze, sleepy yet alert and aware, eyes lit up by the orange lights of the cars in the street.

Jimmy Fahey wasn’t my best friend in London, that was Pat from Cork. Nor did he keep in touch once I followed my wife back to Ireland, though he promised he would. But he was the most memorable of my London friends;

The smile she holds on her lips is like mashed red pepper, it begins to get uncomfortable after a while.

Shola searched through the top drawer again. She ran her fingers through the underwear on the left side of the drawer where she knew Shade kept it. She looked through the second drawer, then the third. Still not finding it, she took a steadying breath.

ọmọ kìí bápèlé ìyá rẹ̀ kó ṣaṣo ró

       a child doesn't see her mother's footprints only to derail from them

No one told us

or compelled us to read,

yet we would sit

Breeze blows over the ocean; gently, softly.

The waves shudder in response, gently,

I discover my shoulder is not too broad

to shudder life's tumor

Lately

been in a rush

He

Got me insane

Mother, we have come

To pay obeisance to the gods left behind

Tonight, a song grows from the tip of my tongue.

Sweet like an aubade on the heartstrings of new lovers.

I always thought that being a creative will feel like being in La La land, actually, I didn’t just think, I knew it because I started my career in some fantasy world.