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Derailed 😭😭
Silence descended the large room claiming dominion despite the crowd that crammed themselves in.
I stood in the dock, encouraging my legs to maintain balance as it trembled before the piercing gaze of the inscrutable judge. I stared hard at the smoothly cemented floor, unable to raise my face to take even a glance at the audience, my family included. I had failed them and had become one of the successes of the EFCC. I was sure a higher percentage of the people who were at my hearing were there for some pieces of gossip to take home. Especially the press; with their cameras flashing in my direction every now and then. The real gossip mongers. The headlines of my story would surely be on the cover pages of the newspapers the next day. And subsequently, 'Notorious' would become the adjective coming before my name.
As I reminisced on my jolly past, I realized I should have known who exactly the devil was before dining with him. Perhaps, in my next world, I definitely would not dine with anyone. Not even myself.
****Year 2018***
Being the first child of my parents and gaining admission into the University in one sitting was a feat for me. I had paved the way for my younger siblings to do the same. The national university Matriculation examination could be very frustrating. There were some students who had to write the examination twice or more before they could gain admission into the University. Had my parents been more financially buoyant, I could place a bet with my life that a mini party would be held in my name.
Prayers and advice were rained on me the night before I set of for school. If them all, one stuck in my subconscious mind. It was the words of my father. That was all he said during the entire 'talk-show' that night.
His exact words were, "Chike , don't be carried away by the fantasies you see in the new world you will find yourself. Always delay gratification else you will be derailed by it."
I was determined to make my parents proud and I vowed never to let them down.
A book worm would be a perfect name for me then. Night class , group reading, Front seats ; were all words associated with my lifestyles.
My life routine in my early days in the university was a triangle.
From the lecture hall to the hostel and then to the church and back to a repeat of the same pattern.
Looking for me anywhere apart from this three places was a futile search.
This was my lifestyle until I met Caleb in my second year.
He was the " Eve" that gave me the forbidden fruit which opened my eyes.
I began to see more to life than reading.
I began to notice the flamboyant lifestyles of students; Expensive phones, the pretty curvy ladies , weekend parties , the list was so endless.
I couldn't wait anymore, I wanted to start enjoying while I was still young. After all, youthfulness comes but once.
Making money by all means became my priority. I too wanted to belong. I wanted to 'experience' life.l
" Wetin you gain" by victor AD became my number one motivation.
In a space of just 2 months after meeting Caleb, studying couldn't find it's way to the list of my scale of preference talk more of being at the top. ' Living life' made it to the top of the list.
I became an internet fraudster. It really paid me well .
Who said, "Use long spoon when dinning with the devil"? My candid advice, "don't dine with him at all."
My enjoyment was short lived as it landed me behind bars.
***Present**
The husky and loud voice of the judge jolted me from my thoughts.
"Chike okafor , I find you guilty of the charges levelled against you. I hearby sentence you to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour" .
As I was led into the waiting van, I stole glances at my parents and siblings
Using one word to describe their facial expressions ,it would be "DISAPPOINTMENT"
" it's just a matter of ten years and I would be out" I said in order to console myself.
A little voice in my head asked me a question I dared not ask myself. The very one I had been avoiding since I was led out of the courtroom, " Where do you start from after 10 years behind bars?"
It was then it became dawned to me that, THE TRAIN OF MY LIFE HAS GONE OFF IT'S TRACK, AND MAY NEVER COME BACK 😭
© Ezewrites
Nwafor Collins Chibueze
AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA.
Monday 19th july 2022
I stood in the dock, encouraging my legs to maintain balance as it trembled before the piercing gaze of the inscrutable judge. I stared hard at the smoothly cemented floor, unable to raise my face to take even a glance at the audience, my family included. I had failed them and had become one of the successes of the EFCC. I was sure a higher percentage of the people who were at my hearing were there for some pieces of gossip to take home. Especially the press; with their cameras flashing in my direction every now and then. The real gossip mongers. The headlines of my story would surely be on the cover pages of the newspapers the next day. And subsequently, 'Notorious' would become the adjective coming before my name.
As I reminisced on my jolly past, I realized I should have known who exactly the devil was before dining with him. Perhaps, in my next world, I definitely would not dine with anyone. Not even myself.
****Year 2018***
Being the first child of my parents and gaining admission into the University in one sitting was a feat for me. I had paved the way for my younger siblings to do the same. The national university Matriculation examination could be very frustrating. There were some students who had to write the examination twice or more before they could gain admission into the University. Had my parents been more financially buoyant, I could place a bet with my life that a mini party would be held in my name.
Prayers and advice were rained on me the night before I set of for school. If them all, one stuck in my subconscious mind. It was the words of my father. That was all he said during the entire 'talk-show' that night.
His exact words were, "Chike , don't be carried away by the fantasies you see in the new world you will find yourself. Always delay gratification else you will be derailed by it."
I was determined to make my parents proud and I vowed never to let them down.
A book worm would be a perfect name for me then. Night class , group reading, Front seats ; were all words associated with my lifestyles.
My life routine in my early days in the university was a triangle.
From the lecture hall to the hostel and then to the church and back to a repeat of the same pattern.
Looking for me anywhere apart from this three places was a futile search.
This was my lifestyle until I met Caleb in my second year.
He was the " Eve" that gave me the forbidden fruit which opened my eyes.
I began to see more to life than reading.
I began to notice the flamboyant lifestyles of students; Expensive phones, the pretty curvy ladies , weekend parties , the list was so endless.
I couldn't wait anymore, I wanted to start enjoying while I was still young. After all, youthfulness comes but once.
Making money by all means became my priority. I too wanted to belong. I wanted to 'experience' life.l
" Wetin you gain" by victor AD became my number one motivation.
In a space of just 2 months after meeting Caleb, studying couldn't find it's way to the list of my scale of preference talk more of being at the top. ' Living life' made it to the top of the list.
I became an internet fraudster. It really paid me well .
Who said, "Use long spoon when dinning with the devil"? My candid advice, "don't dine with him at all."
My enjoyment was short lived as it landed me behind bars.
***Present**
The husky and loud voice of the judge jolted me from my thoughts.
"Chike okafor , I find you guilty of the charges levelled against you. I hearby sentence you to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour" .
As I was led into the waiting van, I stole glances at my parents and siblings
Using one word to describe their facial expressions ,it would be "DISAPPOINTMENT"
" it's just a matter of ten years and I would be out" I said in order to console myself.
A little voice in my head asked me a question I dared not ask myself. The very one I had been avoiding since I was led out of the courtroom, " Where do you start from after 10 years behind bars?"
It was then it became dawned to me that, THE TRAIN OF MY LIFE HAS GONE OFF IT'S TRACK, AND MAY NEVER COME BACK 😭
© Ezewrites
Nwafor Collins Chibueze
AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE NIGERIA.
Monday 19th july 2022
