𝓛𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽

Lagos is one of the busiest cities in Nigeria, and believe me when I say that you don't want to be in my current predicament. I am currently delayed in traffic as I travel from Festac Town to one of my many jobs in Lekki. Not that kind of traffic, you know; in fact, it has been at a standstill for about an hour, which is aggravating since it makes me fear that I will lose my job as soon as I arrive at my destination.

I'm currently practicing "long suffering" next to a middle-aged obese woman who is shoving me against the bus window with her entire body while squashing me like a house fly in the backseat of a commercial vehicle. Oh shit, her sweat has literally penetrated into my sleeves. Can today go any worst? Not to mention the woman sitting behind me, attempting to  quiet her wailing baby. This is how I live my life, every single day and right now, I can’t do anything about my present predicament but grumble as I give you a brief intro about me.

My name is Eno-Obong Ekanem (Gift of God), for short I’m called Eno. I’m from Ikot Ekpene local government, Akwa-ibom state, Nigeria. I’m thirty-one and a single mother of a beautiful thirteen year old girl, Unwana (Bright), who is currently enrolled in a boarding school.

Although everyone in the village labeled my daughter as having been "born by mistake," she was actually the result of a misguided relationship. Can you imagine what happened when I attended a P.T.A meeting while we were still in my father's hometown? My daughter used to attend the Government School, and it wasn't until I attended the meeting there that I learned she had been bullied by her peers and labeled a bastard. I don't want to go into detail about how I reacted, but I was so outraged when I heard it that I was removed from the meeting as a result. Undoubtedly, I had a hot head, but I also was a mother.

Once upon a time, Unwana's father was the love of my life, the entire community thought we were the ideal pair. We got together at our normal rendezvous one night, and he informed me that he was traveling to Lagos with his uncle to earn money so that he may one day return and wed me. He begged me to wait while making all kinds of promises. I was young and naïve and I let him deflower me that night.

 What do you expect? I waited as promised with a child growing inside of me. When my Mother realized I was Pregnant, she took me to Ubong father’s house, there and then I heard the most shocking news, Ubong was already happily married with two kids and was living in Lagos. This meant he already had a family in the city and his travel was the last a final one. Ubong was never going to Lagos to make money and marry me, how did I not see this coming? 

I couldn’t, I was blinded by love. Whoever invented the phrase love is blind was a sadist.

My friends encouraged me to get an abortion, but I praise God for the kind of parents He gave me; they supported me all the way up until I gave birth to my Bright Star, Unwana.

I had to relocate my daughter out of the village to Lagos in order for her to have a better life because of all the harmful tags there. My mother, however, didn't agree since she believed I was looking for Ubong but she was wrong.

Even though being a single parent and raising a child is challenging, I don't mind since she makes me seem young, attractive, and strong for my age, which gives me the energy I need to work five jobs while also taking care of her.

Right now, all I'm looking for is that one big catch that will allow me to quit my five exhausting jobs while still being able to support my daughter and myself. And if possible, we'll relocate to the Island. Big dreams. But if we're going to dream, shouldn't it be big?

I know what you are thinking, but trust me; I’m so over men troubles. All I need is that perfect Job but before I get it, I need to not lose this one I’m managing.

“Thank God, the bus is moving, slowly but, moving” 

757 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖘