“I will beat you in this race today!” I shouted.
“You wish,” Yiyi replied, laughing.
The flag went up.
“On your marks… get set… ready… GO!!!”
Engines roared.
We sped off.
Wind in my face.
Adrenaline in my chest.
I pushed harder.
Faster.
I was ahead.
Of course I was ahead.
“Loser!” I shouted, laughing.
I crossed the finish line first.
Victory.
Sweet, loud, perfect victory.
I turned back. Waiting for her.
Then suddenly, 
A truck.
Out of nowhere.
Time slowed.
Too slow.
The sound. 
Metal.
Impact.
Destruction.
Yiyi’s car. 
Crushed.
My body froze.
My legs failed me.
I tried to run…
But I couldn’t see.
Tears had already filled my eyes.
The next thing I remember. 
Hospital.
White walls.
Cold air.
Her parents.
And the doctor’s voice.
“She is dead.”
Silence.
Darkness.
I fainted.
I woke up.
On the floor of my room.
Breathing heavily.
Sweating.
Lost.
I stood up slowly.
Locked the door.
Went to my bed.
And cried.
I didn’t come out.
Not once.
I heard knocks.
My dad.
My brother.
I didn’t answer.
Silence became my companion.
At some point…
I slept.
When I woke up, I reached for my phone.
Messages.
Three days ago.
I froze.
Wait…
Have I been in this room for three days?
“God… I smell.”
I dragged myself to the bathroom.
Took a long bath.
Dressed up.
Went back to my bed.
I wasn’t ready to face the world yet.
So I opened my phone.
Family group chat.
My mom had tagged me.
Posted a picture of herself in some fancy restaurant, smiling like life is soft.
“Guess who is living the life now 😂😂.”
Ah.
This woman will not let me rest.
Then another video.
She was showing off heels my dad bought for her.
Walking with full confidence.
Grace.
Soft life.
Then, 
The heel broke.
I burst out laughing.
Serves you right 😭
Next video. 
She was crying like a baby.
“Ade Premier… it has broken just like my heart for you.”
Drama queen.
My dad replied:
“I’ll get you another one. Glue your heart back together.”
Benson replied:
“You put too much pressure on the shoe. It was crying for help. Thank God it’s free now.”
I laughed.
My mom replied:
“When I come back, you will cry for help too. You think you’re older than me?”
Then she tagged me again:
“Why are you quiet? You’re supposed to support me.”
Then Benson replied, 
“She’s grieving.”
Silence after that.
I switched to TikTok.
Instagram.
Scrolling.
Laughing.
Escaping.
Then suddenly, 
I heard my mom’s voice.
Real life.
Not phone.
“We can’t allow her die in that room. Open the door.”
Ah.
She’s back.
And she has the spare key.
I quickly dropped my phone and pretended to be asleep.
The door opened.
Light flooded the room.
“She’s sleeping. Don’t disturb her,” Benson said.
“Is she not meant to be preparing for the press conference?” my dad added.
Wow.
That’s what you’re thinking about??
“Really? That’s all you can think about?” my mom snapped.
“Both of you, get out!”
Footsteps.
Silence. Then, 
“You can stand up now.”
I froze. How??
“I gave birth to you. I trained you.”
She closed the door.
Walked closer.
“Your room is clean. Bathroom door is open. Window too. Everything arranged. But your slippers, one is facing west, the other east.”
She folded her arms.
“That’s how I knew.”
Detective mummy 😭
Then her tone changed.
Serious.
“Let’s talk.”
She moved closer.
“Yiyi was your best friend. Her mother is my friend.”
Pause.
“If I want to relate to her pain properly…”
She looked straight at me.
“Should I bury you too?”
I froze.
What kind of comfort is this??
“Oh, you don’t want to follow Yiyi?” she continued.
“I thought that was the plan.”
She stepped closer.
“Or should I follow her instead? Since you want to kill me with this behavior?”
My mouth opened.
No words.
“You ran away. Got arrested. Came back. Locked yourself in. Refused to eat.”
She sat on the bed.
Rested her head on my shoulder.
“Let’s all die together then, if that’s the solution.”
Silence.
“Are you not supposed to be comforting me?” I finally said.
“I just did,” she replied calmly.
“And I’m hungry.”
I blinked.
“What??”
“Do you want beans and plantain to comfort yourself?”
I stared at her.
“Is that how to comfort someone?”
She shrugged.
“You’re already comforted. With Instagram reels.”
Ah.
Caught. I looked at my phone.
Still open. She stood up.
“Come. Let’s go and eat. Don’t starve and die.”
I followed her.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Because somehow…
In her own chaotic, dramatic way…
She pulled me back.