Ini in pain (⁠ ⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥́⁠⌢⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥̀⁠)

Yes please let the title fool you and serve as an excuse 👉🏾👈🏾

Heyyy(say it back!!)

Hi my darling, I'm sure you're curious to know what happened to me and how I'm faring because face it, you care about me (don't roll your eyes at me, you know you care). I felt so much pain these past few days and it's a miracle I didn't breakdown. There's this devil called ear ache that knocked on my door and refused to let itself out after the first night, my love I was writhing in so much pain and I cried so hard my little nephew got scared (Imagine seeing your upcoming rich aunty screaming like a baby, lost all my steeze points sigh). I felt like I'd go deaf and some people still have the audacity to say toothache is worse??? Seriously don't say that next to me!!!!!!, but anyways I'm back and betterrr (and I'm attaching this picture cause I can't get over it, sometimes I look really pretty).

It's past one week since I posted “Ini thinks she can write stories” and I can't begin to describe how overwhelmed I was to receive all the positive reviews and love I got from that post, seriously, you made me genuinely happy with your thoughts and I can't wait to hear more from you after this. Yes and by this I mean there's a new part to our storyyyy and I'm so exciteddd (and mostly skeptical) to share.....

Buckle your seatbelts 'cause this is longer than the first, grab your popcorn (or suya if you're like me, shush we listen we don't judge) and let's dive in ♡

Zahra's POV

Clueless people piss me off, believe me, they do. Four jobs in less than a month, and I was kicked out of all of them. My foster parents still think it's wise to get me a new one every time. The last one was not a complete fail (Hajiya Fatima would seriously disagree with this, but honestly, I loved it there). I spent a week at the store, which is the longest I've ever been at a job. The abayas and scarves Mariam Danladi sold at her store were to die for, and if I were still the bubbly little Zahra, I would have probably gotten two or three pieces for myself. I went out of my way and decided to model some of her pieces for free, and in return, this woman called the police on me just because I forgot to ask for her permission before styling them. Trust me, I genuinely forgot (more like I just didn't care, but hey, I'm learning to be more polite), I was just excited to start my content creating journey and who knows I might have gotten my first 1 thousand likes cause let's face the truth, I'm a hot mess.

Let's switch back to the present. Hajiya Fatima is screaming words at me because yet again I've been kicked out of a new job. This time, I didn't even last a day. Sigh, Nigerians really aren't patient people.

"Nuhu, if you open that mouth to tell me she needs help again, you'll not like what I'll do next," I hear her say to Alhaji from my room. I left the door open so I can hear her properly, or she'd call me rude and spoilt as usual, and I really do not have the strength to argue tonight.

"Haba Fatima, this is our daughter we're talking about. She's still our daughter," Alhaji replies. Aside from Ibrahim, my elder brother, Alhaji is the only other person in this house who still believes I have a chance at redemption. Honestly, the man refuses to give up.

"Kai Kai Kai Kai, Alhaji don't even annoy me, don't do that. She's not my daughter, she's your daughter. It's not my own family that died and left a rascal for me to raise. If she insists on killing herself, please, I beg you in the name of Allah, let the girl go! Let her go, Nuhu, let her go! In fact, we can help her organize a goodbye party if she'd like," retorted Hajiya Fatima. I've learned long ago to stop letting her words get to me; these are not even the worst things she has said to me. I get up from my bed to go and shut the door, but my action is stopped by Ibrahim making his way into my room.

"Zahra, seriously?" he questions.

"Ibrahim, what is it again?" I roll my eyes and reply.

"Zahra, who else would lock herself up in a sauna on her first day at the job and attempt to off herself? Seriously, how do you keep finding creative ways to end your life every time? Shey na kink?" he adds the last question as a joke in an attempt to make me laugh, and it works as I let out a cackle.

"You people refused to allow me die in peace now shey your mother said suicide will tarnish the family's image and I've decided to make it look like an accident, una still no gree, wetin man go do." At this point, Ibrahim moves to sit on the bed and I shut the door and proceed to light a cigarette 'cause it doesn't look like he'd leave soon, yes I smoke, shocker?

"No be only die in peace, which kin sister you be sef, shebi you go sha leave things for me to inherit before you kpai, abeg now. Hustle sef and make money for me then you fit dey go, I fit even help you sef since you no wan get sense, idiot."

"Ibrahim walahi you don't have shame, are you not supposed to be the older sibling? But it's me that should leave things for you to inherit, Kai I've not seen your type."

"That one is your business, all I'm saying is make money and wait for my wedding before you go abeg, you know your mother is stingy, na you I dey expect to show workings that day ehn, chill small for me my love, this my current talking stage get wifey potential walahi, I see the future." I let out a loud laugh this time, Ibrahim and his numerous failed talking stages. Why do people even still try to find love in this generation, baffles me to be honest, nothing about the word love sounds enticing to me. Ibrahim gets up to leave and takes my hand in his and pulls me into a bear hug. There's only one thing in this world that soothes me better than Ibrahim's hugs, and that's movie nights with him (and cursing out people on Twitter, but hey, in my defense, not everybody should have an opinion, and I'm becoming a different person, I promise—or not). Basically, Ibrahim is the only person in this world that keeps me going, and oftentimes, I wonder how he does it because I see the pain in his eyes every time he has to talk to me about staying. It breaks me more than I care to admit. I watch as he leaves the room, and I shut my eyes. Then I have this crazy idea in my head, and I know I'll hate it, but I'll do it anyway just for Ibrahim.

I'm going to start therapy.

To be continued…….

Yayyyy a round of applause for Zahra (and mostly for me 'cause you know...., I obviously....., just forget it and clap!) I had this drafted for a while now but it felt inadequate and you know I'd rather put nothing on the table than feed you with a meal that's not up to your taste my darling so I hope this fills you will glee like it did me (low-key think Zahra is my spirit animal) ♡♡

(What's that saying about hats, I think it's tip my hat?, you know what I'll just stick with what I know, sigh life of an olodo) With this I take a bow and drop my pen, till I write to you again my love. Do well to write back to me, I want to know how you've been faring and what you think of our story .ೃ࿐

And if no one tells you today, I love you my dear reader,

now say it back toooo ♡♡.