r. Far beyond the roads and the facades of Abule-Egba residents, were people that judged for a living. People that always condemned the others. They looked to Jazzlyn and ca

l sense something off. And he had to try to put that thought to bed, if ever he was going to have enough sleep. Two nights were his max, or else he'd be a walking zombie to school the next day. He climbed into his bed, wrapping a pillow around his ears to block out the noises of shovel and the mutters. He'd realized that Jazzlyn died close to their property and for a while, the screams echoed his ears while he tried to sleep. Till eventually he did. - He was awake, far before his alarm rang. Even if he still had some things in his bags, he'd brought that out and placed it on the counter next to his bed. He always needed that for a typical morning in Tx. A typical morning in Texas? He'd get up as early as six am, and go jogging and as risky as that might sound for a black man his age, the place he lived was very peaceful. At least, the place his uncle lived. After jogging, Ola had to make his breakfast. A combination of bacon and eggs, all the size of half a plate that you'd worry he had an eating disorder. He might actually have, because it was the only way he'd lost half a hundred pounds in a year. He'd use this app to exercise for about thirty minutes and then hop in the shower, just about time to start preparing for school. He'd be done the next hour, and leave with James, his father's brother, who'd drop him off at school on his way to work. They were so close that Ola sometimes wished that he had birthed him. School started a quarter past eight on the assembly where he'd be met with William and Sarah. Both of whom constituted the trio they called a friend group. It was always them. Them, at the classes they shared, them at the lunch table and they imitated others, and teased the fresher's wardrobe malfunctions. They were no bullies, just a bunch of bored, hungry and horny teenagers. Horny, yes. But that was Sarah, having hooked up with half the boys on the football team, except Williams. They had tried, but Williams played more for the other team, don't get me started on them. The point was, mornings were a routine. A perfect one, wake up, jog, eat, exercise, shower, school, back. And that balance soothed his sanity. But all that was about to change as Ola shot his eyes to the ceiling with a terrible headache. He pulled away the covers at the sound of the alarm and looked outside the windows. He couldn't jog, he was terrified as the events from last night still flashed in his head. Like forks bashing into his temples. He groaned, at how disorganized his day had started. He'd barely gotten enough sleep and went straight to exercising. But alas, his network reception lagged. It was typical in this place, he didn't have wifi, just the sim that had only been activated a while ago. He fell to the ground, with the phone, atop his chest as he laid still, his eyes set to the windows as he watched the sun set in time. Gradually. He could already feel the bags around his eyes like he felt the aches in his joint. His door slightly opened and it wedged against his feet. "Olamide" "Olamide, what are you doing on the floor?" Mary peered from the other side as she pushed him away. She emerged from it like a winner of some race, as she stared with disappointment from above. "You know we have an appointment with the school regarding your transfer?" She asked, already in her traditional attire. It was a blue and yellow day, for a tuesday. But the same old gele. He closed his eyes as he whimpered on the grounds. "I don't want to go anywhere" Ola said and

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