THE HEART THAT BITES.

Lagos looked magnificent from the window she sat. The view was breathtaking and Chioma felt both thrilled and glad to have made the decision to move to the city. All her life she was confined to a one-bedroom hut on the outskirts of Nigeria, and she knew no fine buildings nor well-structured roads. All these she came across the novels that were stashed under her mattress since her room was smaller than a cubicle and lacked enough space to keep a lot of things in it. She owned very few clothes and storing them was not a grim task. Despite their unfortunate situation, her family of four children was bonded with love. They prayed, ate, sat, and told tales together. Even though they went to bed not knowing where their next meal would come from, this family of Ezeudu lived and was guided in faith. The staunch Christian home made it a routine to worship in shrines on Fridays. Every night and morning they would kneel down for prayers. There is a living and a serving God, her father would say at the end of each prayer session as he placed his hands on each one of them as a sign of blessings. The school was no issue because education was free in Annata village. Ezeudu sent all his children to study, asking them to learn as much as they could. He wished them well. Chioma was the brightest of them all, and when she was admitted to Lagos University, her father borrowed money to buy a small goat for celebrations. He slaughtered it himself and invited nearly all the villagers to join in celebrating his daughter’s brains. A small goat was barely enough to feed so many stomachs but that did not trouble Ezeudu. He asked his wife to add more water for soup purposes. And so it was known in the entire village that Chioma was leaving to start her studies at Lagos University a vastly known campus to the people of Nigeria. Indeed Ezeude had raised a brilliant girl.

Chioma alighted the bus stance it came to a halt. The tout had a staunch face that sent chills down her spine, and the courage to ask for directions at once failed her. Anyone watching her could easily confirm her being lost. She was like a wondering goat that had sped off from its flock, and now was looking for its way back home. Chioma stood rooted on her spot at the bus station waiting for something she wasn’t sure of. Deep within her, she held a silent prayer asking the Holy Father to provide guidance. This was a moment of frustration and she was on the verge of tears. Even though she was a big girl now Lagos was a new turn for her in her life. Her 18 years of growing up were spent in her small village Annata which did not have such a large number of people, Well-tarmacked roads, magnificent buildings, and the fleet of cars speeding on the road left her in awe.

‘You’ll get lost in the city’, Amalinze her friend had warned her.

Though she knew the truth this statement carried, she wanted to maintain an optimistic attitude. Sure enough, someone was going to rescue her from the turmoil of not knowing where and how to get to her destination. Wiping her tears using the back of her left hand, she stepped on the sidewalk and took a deep breath. Lagos felt different. The air was mixed with a fresh and stale smell not like the village where she came from. Exhaust fumes filled her nose after a lorry carrying building material overspent past her. The passers-by seemed unbothered by her presence, and they moved in haste past her. It was hard to stop any of them for assistance when they acted as if something was after each of them. The pace was un-tolerable and hard to keep up with. Then she saw a vendor who from judging had the mother figure expression.

Walking briskly, Chioma extended her hand to shake that of the vendor. It was her lucky moment for the woman was more welcoming than expected. Immediately she told Chioma to first sit on the stool opposite her shop so that she could attend to the impatient customers. She would then listen to Chioma’s story.

‘Emeka my son will escort you, don’t worry’, mama Emeka assured Chioma smiling broadly at her.

The girl felt at ease and dropped her shoulders to show how relaxed she felt. A young alpha male came to the shop late in the evening and without wasting time the two were introduced to each other. Emeka was good-looking and made Chioma uncomfortable with how he stared at her obviously wondering how naïve she was. Without wasting any more of her time the two left the vendor shop and walked to a matatu stop. University of Lagos was some distance away, and since darkness was kicking in Emeka didn’t want to risk them being mugged. The city was not a safe place more so for new people, he said. Every stranger could be identified at the snap of a finger, and like a hawk, he was pounced on. Chioma was grateful to both parties, and when she finally got to the campus grounds she gave a heartfelt appreciation to Emeka and promised to visit her mother once she had settled. A promise that she never kept.