CHAPTER ONE
It was Monday morning, when Amara came out from her room in Port Harcourt to notice that there was no electronic appliance left in her sitting room and home office. She was confused because a night before, she slept with her fiancé; Ezekwe in her condominium and never had any thought that he can do such an appalling act. Amara ran into her bedroom to check on Ezekwe, on getting there she was surprised to notice that he was fast asleep. The motionless lips of hers knows not what to say or do, the air that swept through the room became so hot on her that she felt, she was experiencing the heat produced during a volcanic eruption. Amara subconsciously was pondering on how to present the matter to her friend, neighbours, colleagues and the police.
When she regained consciousness, Ezekwe was wide awake looking at her. What on earth is eating you up? He asked.
Amara! Amara!! What is the problem? What is troubling your heart? He asked
Tears travelled down her cheek just like the liquid from an overflowing tumbler. Ezekwe became curious and asked what the problem really was? If he did anything wrong or have anything to do with her moodiness. She tried to speak but her lips were wide apart but no sound came out through them. The more she tried to hold back the shock the more the pain forces the tears that has already accumulated in her eyes to gush out. Ezekwe stood up from the bed and walked towards her direction. Amara was motionless, the life she once had was just sapped out of her. In this present state, snag is even livelier than Amara because a snag houses living organisms. When Ezekwe approached her, he embraced her trying to console her so as to let out the news that has made her moody.
After a while she regained her ability to speak, just like a dump that just received a miracle.
“Ezekwe! Eeh!” She cried out
My world is stumbling beyond my understanding, am afraid to say this to you but I just have to say it. Ezekwe! I have been robbed!
I am finished ooh!
“Ezekwe! All my life savings, all the stipends I have been receiving in my place of work, the companies records, the money I withdrew to give to my parents, all has vanished in my own very watch. What is here again to live for? I better die and forget that such a thing is happening to me” she lamented
“Amara! What did I hear you say now? Do you mean that while we were asleep, that this building was ransacked by some miscreants?” he asked. Before she was able to respond he found his way to the sitting room and also checked on her home office.
“Ezem yes oh!” she responded after he had left.
In the sitting room Ezekwe nodded his head in accordance with the rhythm from the neighbor’s stereo beat. Immediately he sensed the presence of Amara, who was running down the stair case. He began to scream and cry.
“It will never be well with the perpetrators,” he sworn.
When Amara arrived at the sitting room, she walked straight to the sofa and took the keys to her door and car. She harried to make a statement at a nearby police station 3km away from her residence. At once Ezekwe joined her at the police station.
It was moonlight in Oko, Amara and Ure were in the company of some class friends after their last paper in their W.A.S.S.C.E. (West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination). They all sat around a fire that was fuelled by a fuel wood (Dialium guineense – black velvet tamarind). The smoke generated from the fire spiced up the atmosphere, chasing away the mosquitoes that came to feed on their blood. Every one of them have some experience they want to share with the group about their past exams. The girls enjoyed every moment they spent talking about their secondary school experience.
“Ure, which of the universities did you fill in your UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) Form,” one of the girls asked.
“Well, my parents asked me to apply for the University of Lagos, because my aunt resides there,” Ure said with a profuse smile.
“Ewo! My dear friend will soon become a Lagosian.” Amara said. “Well, I will be leaving for Abia very soon, I applied for Business Administration in Michael Okpara University,” she added.
“So you all want to leave me in this State right”? One of the ebony girl said.
“No, it’s not what you think, we all have our genuine reasons,” Amara said. “Ok, what is your plan here”? Amara asked. “I don’t have much plans for now, just that I applied for Medicine in Nnamdi Azikiwe University,” the ebony girl replied.
“Thank God, we all have our cell phones to help us stay in touch even when we are far apart,” Ure added.
Amara smiled at Ure, and the other girls were just laughing. It was very late that night when Amara and Ure stood up to take their leave. At home, Amara was very happy to have spent an ample of her last days in Oko with her friends. She slept after having her bath.