Dan lay on his worn-out bed in his cramped, ugly apartment. His body glistened—not from water, but the sweat of a long day with nothing to show for it. He stared blankly at the wall, mind heavy with exhaustion. Beside him, a stack of unsold newspapers lay scattered on a dusty locker, their edges curling as if pleading, “Abeg, just dump me.”
He let himself slip further into the mattress, eyes tracing the slow rotation of the ceiling fan. Its squeaky blades cut through the silence. A drop of sweat trickled from his forehead into his eye, stinging sharply. With a groan, he threw himself upright and headed for the toilet—only to find the tap dry. Frustration rolled over him, but he quickly wiped his eyes on his shirt and scanned the room, muttering, “Abi make I try my luck again… buyers fit lap o.”
He grabbed the newspapers from the locker and bolted into the bustling streets of Balogun Market, Lagos. Cars honked, danfos screeched to a halt, and motorcycles weaved through the chaos. The air was thick with the smell of exhaust, hot food, and determination. Dan flung the papers toward moving cars, chasing every potential buyer with relentless energy.
Sweat poured, lungs burned, and a sharp pang struck his rib, but he pressed on, driven by the need to survive. Hours blurred as he darted between vendors and traffic, papers flying, shouting greetings, offering stories, any chance at a sale. The pain worsened. He stumbled to a curb, eyes scanning for a bottle of water, desperation gnawing at him.
Then, a low voice called his name. Startled, Dan froze. He turned slowly toward a black-tinted SUV creeping along the chaotic street. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by a strange mix of relief and curiosity. His heartbeat quickened.
The vehicle paused, the engine humming, and Dan’s pulse raced in rhythm with the honking horns and shouting vendors around him. Something about this moment felt different—unexpected. His hand tightened around the newspapers, unsure whether he should approach or flee.
And just like that, the SUV’s tinted window began to roll down…
To be continued…