Chapter 2: Small Rescue, Small Freedom

As I wan just give up and obey mama, na so my aunty—mama younger sister—waka come, pat my shoulder soft soft. Her hand cool for my back, like wet towel after sun. "Amara, after food, follow me go my house. We go watch Christmas movie, sleep for my place."

Her perfume, that sweet vanilla scent, dey comfort me pass words. She rub my shoulder, her eyes dey wink as if to talk: I dey your side.

I shock, I no even fit talk.

Na so joy rush me, my mouth just dey open, no sound dey come out. I dey look aunty like say she be angel.

Mama no even think am: "Amara get plenty homework."

She no wan lose control, her voice sharp like blade. Small silence fill the table, everybody dey look aunty and mama.

"Sister, abeg, today na New Year's Eve. Why you dey rush homework? Even the teachers need rest."

Aunty soft voice dey try break mama wall, her voice soft like night breeze for village, her hand still dey my shoulder. She look mama straight for eye—no fear.

As aunty talk am, mama frown. To submit homework for WhatsApp on New Year's Eve na wahala for teacher own holiday too.

Mama face change small, she look her phone like she dey calculate something for head.

"Sister, Amara never come my house for over half year now. I go carry her and Titi go light banger later."

The mention of banger scatter Titi face, she begin dance for chair. Some small children dey shout, "Me too! Me too!" Even uncle laugh.

Aunty sabi mama well, so she mention banger on purpose. Mama come gree: "Amara dey fear—let her light more banger, make she get mind."

She nod with small smirk, but I know say na excuse she dey find. Everybody burst laugh. Tension for table reduce.

Aunty just nod, but give me one look wey only me understand.

Her look be like: "No worry, na my turn to protect you." My chest relax small, I fit finally breathe.

I get the message: aunty just wan make I rest well this night. Once I reach her house, nobody go disturb me.

I dey imagine soft bed, chilled Fanta, maybe even small chin-chin. Maybe we go watch SuperStory repeat, or dance small to Burna Boy. For once, I fit be myself.

The whole world just bright for my eye. I begin chop the New Year's Eve food well—even that goat meat wey I no dey like before no too bad.

As I dey chop, small smile dey my face. I dey imagine myself and aunty dey gist, dey laugh, no wahala.

I dey watch the clock, dey wait make food finish. But as we wan go, na so mama grab me:

"Amara, you dey final year for secondary school—every day dey important. After WAEC, you fit go aunty house."

Her grip for my arm tight, her voice low but final. All the small joy wey dey grow for my belly just collapse.

I just freeze, dey look aunty with beg-beg eye. She frown but no talk.

Aunty sigh, squeeze my hand small. She try pass strength to me with her eyes. My throat dry. I just swallow, pretend say I strong.