I ESCORTED MY GIRLFRIEND

"Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow", I said to my girlfriend (now, ex) as I was about leaving her house. I came around 6pm as my custom was and stayed till 10pm. It was late and everywhere was dark. It was a rural community and the only source of power were generators and solar systems.

I started humming a song as I slowly walked home. Who wants to harm me? A boy from a chosen generation? They dared not. After about five minutes of walking, I reached the main road. The Hausas who opened their stores all night did something different today; they closed early. It was suspicious but I didn't care. I was fearless and convinced that nothing could harm me.

As I walked further, I remembered that a compound in front of me had a dog. I had to go into a nearby bush just to follow the other path. I kept walking till I reached my sister's friend's house. I had to keep my footsteps and voice very quiet as I didn't want her dad to hear me. Yes, they didn't have a fence. It was a rural community; not having a fence was a common thing.

I successfully walked past her house and reached a nearby church. As I kept humming my song and walking through the thin line of path that was surrounded by bushes, I heard something like the sound of a town crier. I had to stop to listen carefully. The sound got louder; it was as if it was walking towards me.

I bent down a bit to see if there was anyone there but I couldn't find anyone. The sound kept getting louder. Just as I was planning my escape, something tenaciously shook the bush and the speedster in me activated. I ran so fast that I didn't feel myself jumping from pothole to pothole.

Everywhere was dark, people had switched off their generators. Just when I saw the solar power from my house, I forgot there was a mango tree with a branch just above my head. "Ouch", I said in pain as I hit the branch. But I couldn't stop now, my enemies were coming. I continued my race till I reached my door.

I vigorously searched my pocket for my key, opened the door and got inside quickly. I locked everywhere; no bolt was missing. I even switched off the light so they won't know I'm around.

I could hear my own heartbeat and my brain was trying to decipher whether it was a spirit or a ritualist. I didn't even care, my prayer now was, "God, don't let anyone bang this door, I'm too young to die".

Yes, I survived till the next morning but my sleep was horrible. I would flinch at any sound. My girlfriend called and I was too ashamed to tell her that her Achille's Heel spent his night running away from something he never saw.

I learnt my lesson; my life before love.