Going Home

It was a Saturday morning, before dawn, Lanre was already set to leave for Ibadan. She had her bags packed. Her luggage was much, but that’s how it should be. She has been in school for four years and she is finally done with everything. The only thing that will be bringing her back is her convocation.

“Lanre, why don’t you just stay back? If you feel school will be boring, you can stay with us in Enugu”. Ify offered. Lanre gave Ify a tight smile. She didn’t appreciate that idea. If she wanted to waste her time, then she would be the one proposing that, not Ify. But she wanted to set up a beauty parlour. She already discussed that with her mom the previous night. And she already said she would be on her way the next morning, which is this morning.

“Ify, thanks for the offer, but I have to go!” Lanre said. Ify sighed. “Is it because of the things I said to you the other day? I’m sorry!” Ify said apologising. Lanre shook her head. That was not the issue. She has already forgiven that act, and it no longer bothered her again. But she can’t stay. She wants to start up now to establish herself, so that by the time she is going for her youth service and finally decided to do her master degree, she knows she has something at hand.

“Ify take care! I will call you when I get home. And please, I have pushed what happened the other day aside. We are not children, fight will definitely happen, but it doesn’t have to stay. So let’s not talk about that. Let’s wave it away now, shall we!?” Lanre said. Then she hugs Ify.

Ify offered to join Lanre to the park where she will be taking a bus to Ibadan, but Lanre refused. She told Ify that it was not safe for her to go with her by this time and end up returning alone. “Just stay here, ok”. Lanre said. She was acting like the big sister again. Ify smiled, then she hugs Lanre. “I am so going to miss you!” She said tears coming out of her eyes. Lanre almost laughed.

“You want to make me cry as well, ehn? Oluwa, no gree o!” Lanre said, exclaiming afterwards that God won’t let her cry as well. Then they pulled apart. Lanre moved her things out of the apartment with ify helping her out. There was a taxi outside already that would convey her and her luggage to the park.

Soon they finished carrying the luggage and everything was loaded into the booth. Ify and Lanre hugged one last time before they waved each other good bye. Lanre got into the taxi and the taxi driven zoomed off into the dark morning.

Unlike Lanre who was going home already, Ify was staying back because she has some issues during her clearance which she would need to rectify. So she was going to remain in school until everything was resolved, then she would go to home.