8:45pm(west African time)
September 10th
Emily :"
"here"I said ,as I stretch out my arms over the table to give the last customer a hot cup of coffee.
Today had been a hectic day ,so as the rest of my days here in this big city ,since I left my village and moved Down to this city,it's had been from one odd jobs to another ,determination and pestilence had driven me from my old shell to this bustling city,I needed to work hard I mean very hard to enable me carter for my sick mother and my little brother back home .
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and strolled towards the glass door to turn the notice banner form open to close ,I clean up the tables and chairs,switch off the lights,I normally take on double shift per day so am always the last to leave the shop,I lock the doors and hand over the keys to the security guards ,my house is not far from where I worked,so I can probably walked home ,infact I love walking home ,it's enabled me clear my mind and allows me enjoy the feel of the night breeze.
My life is not as good as some of my friends ,back at home I do see some family's coming together to spend good quality time ,right from when I was a child. I had witnessed a first hand experience of poverty and abuse ,my father never cared for my mother and us ,he Verbally and physically abused my mother,he never cared about us,wether we attended school or if we feeds well.
One fateful night after physically abusing my mother,he left the house and never returned,leaving my mother heartbroken.
My mother engaged in menial jobs to send I and my brother to school and took care of us,but her health was not so great and she was unable to work anymore.and medical bills pilled up.
At 19,I knew I had to leave the village to support my family,I bid farewell to my tearful mother and brother, I promised them that I will return with a better future. I came to this city to meet my friend Natasha my childhood friend ,she offered to accommodate me and share her flat with her,immediately I got my first job i gave her some money to add to the rent ,this my current job is hectic but the pay hardly covers rents,let alone my mother medical bills,when I received my salary after sending to my mother and buying foods in the house,I am left with little or nothing to buy myself some nice cloths ,
I jolted back into reality when my body roughly bruised past a man in the walkway ,
"Watch out kid"he yelled
"Sorry"I waved at him
I walked the remaining journey home with a clear mind .
I opened the door to our apartment and as usual Natasha is not at home,she had gone to her work place .
I settled in,walked into my room and got out of my work clothes,went into the bathroom to clean up,father taken my bath,I put on something comfortable ,I went back into the kitchen to fixed myself dinner,after having dinner,I sat Down in the living room to watch my favorite show,while watching the show,my phone rang ,looking at my phone screen to see who is calling,my heart sank when the caller was my brother ,I slid my hands to the green button and placed the phone on my ear
"Hello"I breathed into the phone
"Emily ,mother is dying "my brother shouted across the phone,
"What !calm down and talk to me "I replied calmly but with fear written on my face
"The doctor threaten to stop mother treatment if we didn't pay up the outstanding debt "he said amisd Tears
I am confused as to what to do,I had nothing on me ,my last month salary was what I used in paying the rent .
"Calm down Ken tell the doctor I will pay up before the week runs out "I said
Where on earth will I get that amount of money from,within a week ,the month just and I do receive my salary by Month end
"Ok Emily,thank you and take care of yourself "
"You too and take care of mama too"I pleaded ,I hang up and a million and one questions was popping up in my head ,
"Where am I going to see 1 million "
I kept asking that particular question as if to get answers from the air ,I cried myself to sleep,just as I did every other nights.
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The next day
September 11th
9:00am(west African time )
Emily:
I had left for work earlier than my normal time,so I missed seeing Natasha this morning.I arrived at the cafe and as usual's there we're already customers waiting to be served,I greeted my colleague and went into work immediately,since morning my mind had been on my mother and how to raise money for her bills,after the early morning rush hours ,I gathered myself and walked to the manager office mrs London,the owner of the shop I worked for, sitting on her office chair and writing down something,she looked up at me when I greeted her "good morning Mrs London "I greeted fiddling with my fingers,
"Good morning Emily "she responded with a warm smile
Great she is in a happy mood so I can shoot my shot "i thought in my head .
"Ma please there is something I came here to asked you "
" yes dear be out with it , so you can go back to your duty post"she replied impatiently
"I need a loan ,a loan of 1 mi…loin naira"I replied looking at the picture on the wall behind her avoiding her eyes .
She let out a loud laugh before replying me
"Are you here to mock me or you been serious right now,if you want to resign there are some easier way to do it rather than asking for some ridiculous amount of money,where do you expect me to get that from,from here ,"she said looking round her office "here ,this shop is been operating on loan from
The bank and I haven't been able to pay up,they have been on my neck over two weeks now "she said with a sighed
"Am sorry mrs London ,just that I don't have any body or any where to borrow from,I though that snice I work here I can borrow and pay back with my salary "
"How much is the salary that can make up for a million naira and for how many years do you think you can work to pay up for it,you see Emily my dear I like you I admire your courage and the dedication you have shown towards your t but am sorry I can't help you dear."
"Alright ma"I replied feeling so sorry for myself and my miserable life ,I turn to leave when she spoke again
"Emily I know what ever that made you leave ur shell to come and ask for mg help will be something so important to you ,am sorry I couldn't help you but you can go to the bank to apply for loan "
"Thank you "
The day went by quickly and I wasn't able to figure out how am going to raise a million naira ,I finally closed from work ,I walked home with a heavy heart,I don't know anybody to ask for help. I can't even reach my father ,he might have a change of heart and help mum,Natasha Is out of the picture,because she is also hustling just like me to cater for her family back in the village ,even if her case is much better than mine ,because her are living together and non of them are sick ,she just supports them with the little she made from her work in the lounge