AGAINST ALL ODDS
EPISODE 2
Emmanuel sat on the narrow bed in his small hotel room, his stomach growling with hunger. He had been searching for a job for days, but every door he knocked on seemed to be met with rejection. His suitcase, once full of hope and dreams, now felt like a burden, weighing him down with every passing moment.
As he sat, the scorching sun beat down on the hotel, making the room feel like an oven. Emmanuel’s throat parched, he longed for a sip of water, but he had no money to buy even a bottle of sachet water. He thought of his family back in the village, wondering how they would cope if he failed.
Emmanuel’s eyes scanned the small room, searching for a glimmer of hope. But all he saw were the peeling walls and the worn-out bedspread. He felt trapped, with no way out.
As the day wore on, Emmanuel’s hunger pangs grew stronger. He hadn’t eaten since the previous day, and his body began to feel weak and lightheaded. He stumbled to the bathroom, splashing water on his face, but it did little to revive him.
In desperation, Emmanuel left the hotel, hoping to find something, anything, to eat. He walked the streets, his eyes scanning the ground for scraps, but found nothing. He approached street vendors, hoping for a kind face, but they chased him away, shouting at him to leave their wares alone.
As night began to fall, Emmanuel returned to his hotel room, defeated. He collapsed onto the bed, his body wracked with hunger and his spirit crushed. He thought of his family, wondering if they would ever see him again. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he realized how far he had fallen.
Just then, a knock came at the door. It was the hotel owner, reminding Emmanuel that he had only two days left to pay for his stay. If he couldn’t come up with the money, he would be thrown out onto the streets.
Emmanuel, with no other options, begged the owner for an extension, promising to pay as soon as he found a job. The owner, a hard-faced woman, relented, but warned Emmanuel that she wouldn’t wait forever.
As the night wore on, Emmanuel lay on the bed, his mind racing with worry. How would he pay for his stay? How would he find a job? And how would he survive in this cruel city?
To be continued…..
Story by Vivi
