Chapter 7: What I Lost and Gained

When I be eight, I dey play for park with Musa, na so we jam child traffickers. That time, the park dey full of children, but wahala fit hide anywhere.

Dem target Musa, carry am run. I chase, dey shout for help. My voice loud that day, I remember.

Last last, dem carry me join. Yes, I no get sense that time. I no fit leave Musa for trouble.

Dem carry us go one uncompleted building. Mosquito full the place, cement dust dey fly.

Nobody answer our shout. The compound quiet, like say trouble dey watch us.

But dem feel say I be girl, no too important, so dem no tie me well. Na so I get luck.

I quick use broken bottle cut the rope. Blood stain my hand, but I no care.

As dem go buy food, I free Tunde too.

But as we reach stairwell, dem catch us. Their shout loud, the fear grip my chest.

Tunde fall, injure leg as we dey run, but I force am continue. I drag am, even as blood dey come out his knee.

He tell me many times make I run leave am, I no gree. I dey cry, but I hold am strong.

The traffickers pursue us, we run cross road. My heart dey jump, I dey pray inside me. As we dey run, for my mind I dey pray—God, abeg, no let dem catch us. Make I see my mama again.

One of dem jam car, fly up, body bend like stick, land for my front. The sound still dey my ear.

I scream, Tunde sef fear, but he cover my eye tight.

"Aisha, I dey here." He whisper, voice soft.

Since that day, I no fit talk again. Doctor say na shock, the thing cut my voice.

Tunde know all this. In one way, na him cause my sickness.

Him parents even talk say my family na their family helper for life. Dem swear say dem go always support me.

But see as he take pay me back. The world fit turn upside down, na so life be sometimes.