AGAINST ALL ODDS
EPISODE 3
The next morning ,
Emmanuel trudged through the streets, 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 heart, once full of hope and dreams, now felt like a burden, weighing him down with every step.
As he walked, the scorching sun beat down on him, relentless in its ferocity. 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 crowded streets, searching for a glimmer of hope. But all he saw were people rushing to and fro, their faces set in determined lines. No one seemed to notice him, no one seemed to care.
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, almost falling to the ground, but managed to catch himself just in time.
In desperation, Emmanuel turned to the street vendors, hoping to find something, anything, to eat. But they chased him away, shouting at him to leave their wares alone. One of them, a kind-faced woman, took pity on him and offered him a few scraps of food, but it was hardly enough to fill his empty belly.
Then besides the woman’s store, I saw a flyer on the notice board. “Work available at the new building site on Ojuelegba Road. Good pay, but hard work.” I ripped off a tab with the contact information and stuffed it into my pocket.
I made my way to the site, my heart racing with hope. Maybe this was the break I needed.
When I arrived, I saw a group of laborers waiting to be assigned tasks. I joined them, my mind racing with thoughts of what I would do.
The engineer, Mr. Ade, assigned me to work on the foundation. I worked hard, but every time I was caught sleeping on the job, my daily pay would be deducted. I couldn’t even meet up with the hotel’s rent after two days of working. My pay was meager, with excuses that I was slacking back at work.
I tried my best, but it seemed like nothing was working out. I couldn’t meet up with my rent, and I was sent out. I came back from the site to meet my bags outside the hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I slowly picked them up, tears in my eyes. I turned and walked out of the old hotel, destination unknown. I wept.
As I walked, I thought of my family, depending on me to send them money. But I had nothing to send. I felt like a failure.
I walked for hours, not knowing where I was going. I just knew I had to keep moving. The sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the city, wondering where to go next.
But as I looked down at my bags, I knew I had a long way to go. I was still alone, still struggling. And I didn’t know when things would get better.
As night began to fall, Emmanuel found himself at a bus stop, huddled among other homeless people. They shared stories of their struggles, and Emmanuel realized he was not alone in his suffering. But even in their company, he felt a deep sense of loneliness, a feeling of being completely forgotten by the world.
The night wore on, and Emmanuel’s hunger turned to despair ,he shifted from where the other homeless people are gathered , 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 group of thugs approached the bus stop, looking for an easy target. Emmanuel, weak and vulnerable, caught their attention. They began to taunt him, calling him names and threatening to beat him up.
Emmanuel, with no strength to defend himself, covered in fear. They beat him up since they couldn’t find any valuables with him, but then a figure emerged from the shadows, chasing them away with a fierce determination.
The figure turned to Emmanuel, and he saw a kind-faced man, with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye. “Come with me, my friend,” the man said. “I’ll help you get back on your feet.”
Emmanuel, with no other options, followed the man, hoping against hope that this stranger might be his ticket out of the darkness.
To be continued…….
Story by Vivi
