‎The early morning breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the familiar sounds of birds chirping and a distant rooster that seemed determined to wake the whole neighborhood.

‎Sunlight slipped across the bedroom wall, revealing dozens of neatly pinned sketches.

‎Bridges.

‎Modern houses.

‎Shopping complexes.

‎Church buildings.

‎Every empty space on the wall held another dream Karo Angela Oghenekevwe had drawn with her own hands.

‎The alarm on her phone vibrated across the bedside table.

‎She stretched beneath the blanket and blindly reached for it.

‎"Just five more minutes..." she mumbled.

‎"Karo!"

‎Her mother's voice echoed from downstairs.

‎"If you no go wake up now, your breakfast go cold o!"

‎Karo buried her face in the pillow.

‎"Mummy, I dey come..." she answered lazily.

‎"You don talk 'I dey come' since five minutes ago!"

‎Karo smiled to herself.

‎"Na true."

‎She finally dragged herself out of bed.

‎Standing in front of the mirror, she adjusted the scarf covering her braids before removing it.

‎She stared at her reflection for a few seconds.

‎Tall.

‎Broad shoulders.

‎Long legs.

‎She sighed quietly.

‎"If to say I small like other girls..."

‎The thought disappeared as quickly as it came.

‎She shook her head.

‎"No time for this."

‎After washing up, she headed downstairs.

‎"Migwor, Mummy."

‎Her mother looked up from the pot she was stirring and smiled.

‎"Vrendo."

‎The rich aroma of akara and pap filled the dining room.

‎Karo inhaled deeply.

‎"Hmm... this smell alone don already bellefull me."

‎Her mother laughed.

‎"You never chop, but you don bellefull?"

‎Karo pulled out a chair.

‎"The aroma fit satisfy person first."

‎Before she could sit...

‎Krrrr!

‎A metallic sound came from outside.

‎She didn't even need to look.

‎She smiled.

‎"Daddy don dey repair another thing again."

‎Her mother sighed dramatically.

‎"I don't know whether your father dey find work or work dey find am."

‎Both of them laughed.

‎Curious as always, Karo stepped outside.

‎Just as she expected...

‎Her father knelt beside the family's generator.

‎His toolbox lay open.

‎Several screws rested neatly on a piece of cloth.

‎He didn't even look up.

‎"You don stand there since."

‎Karo folded her arms.

‎"How you take know?"

‎"I know my children."

‎She smiled and walked closer.

‎"Migwor, Daddy."

‎He finally looked up.

‎"Vrendo."

‎He wiped his hands with an old cloth before pointing at the generator.

‎"Come."

‎She crouched beside him.

‎"Wetin you think say, dey worry am?"

‎She leaned forward, studying it carefully.

‎"The plug?"

‎He shook his head.

‎"The fuel?"

‎Another shake.

‎She remained quiet.

‎Her eyes moved from one wire to another...

‎Then...

‎She noticed a tiny loose connection hidden beneath the casing.

‎She pointed.

‎"That one."

‎Her father smiled.

‎"You see am."

‎"I just guess."

‎"No."

‎He picked up his screwdriver.

‎"You observe."

‎He tightened the loose wire before looking at her.

‎"Most people just dey look."

‎He tapped the side of the generator gently.

‎"But if you calm down..."

‎"...everything go tell you how e take work."

‎Karo listened carefully.

‎Then he added the words that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

‎"Before you touch anything..."

‎"...look carefully."

‎She nodded.

‎"I go remember."

‎Neither of them knew that one day...

‎Those words would save her life.

‎The rest of the morning settled into its usual rhythm.

‎A neighbor called over the fence asking to borrow a ladder.

‎Children in the next compound argued over a football.

‎Someone nearby had already turned their speaker to full volume.

‎Normal.

‎Peaceful.

‎Home.

‎After breakfast, Karo returned to her room with her sketchbook.

‎She sat beside the window, pencil dancing across the page.

‎Architecture wasn't just something she studied.

‎It was something she loved.

‎Every building had a story.

‎Every wall had a purpose.

‎She often wondered if people were built the same way.

‎If everyone carried invisible structures inside them.

‎"Karo!"

‎Her younger brother voice floated upstairs.

‎"check your email! I think the university in america, where u submitted ur admission letter, don send another message!"

‎Her younger brother has her email on his phone, so he saw the notification while playing game.

‎Karo froze.

‎"My email?"

‎Her heartbeat quickened.

‎She wasn't expecting any message today.

‎Slowly...

‎She opened her laptop.

‎One unread email.

‎Her hand hovered above the touchpad.

‎"What if..."

‎She whispered.

‎"What if I no get am?"

‎She closed her eyes briefly.

‎Then clicked.

‎The screen loaded.

‎She read the first line.

‎Then the second.

‎Her lips parted.

‎Tears gathered before she even realized she was crying.

‎"No..."

‎A smile slowly spread across her face.

‎"No way..."

‎She jumped up so quickly that the chair behind her fell to the floor.

‎"Mummy!"

‎"Daddy!"

‎Her parents rushed upstairs.

‎"Wetin happen?"

‎Without saying a word, Karo turned the laptop toward them.

‎Her father adjusted his glasses.

‎Her mother covered her mouth.

‎The room became silent.

‎Then...

‎A joyful scream broke it.

‎"Jesus!"

‎Her mother pulled Karo into a tight embrace.

‎"You get am!"

‎Her father smiled proudly, his eyes shining.

‎"I knew you could."

‎Karo laughed through her tears.

‎"I really get the scholarship..."

‎Her father placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

‎"I tell you say..."

‎"Hard work no dey disappoint."

‎Karo looked at the email again.

‎She had dreamed about America for years.

‎Now...

‎That dream had finally become real.

‎She had no idea...

‎That somewhere, thousands of miles away...

‎Someone she'd never met had already started watching lives like hers.

‎And before long...

‎Their paths would cross.

‎End of Chapter One

‎

‎

‎

‎

‎

‎

‎

‎The days passed faster than Karo expected.

‎What had once felt like a distant dream was now becoming real.

‎Her passport was ready.

‎Her visa had been approved.

‎The university had sent every document she needed.

‎Now all that remained...

‎...was the journey.

‎Almost every evening, she found herself opening her suitcase, arranging her clothes, then closing it.

‎The next morning, she would open it again.

‎Somehow, something always seemed to be missing.

‎"Mummy, I think everything don complete."

‎Her mother looked into the suitcase.

‎"You sure?"

‎"Yes."

‎Her mother reached inside and removed a pair of shoes.

‎"Where your slippers?"

‎Karo scratched her head.

‎"Ah..."

‎"I forget."

‎"I know."

‎Five minutes later...

‎"Karo!"

‎"Mummy, I dey come."

‎"Carry your cream."

‎"Mummy..."

‎"Carry am."

‎She smiled.

‎"I don hear."

‎Another ten minutes passed.

‎"Karo!"

‎She laughed before answering.

‎"Wetin happen again?"

‎"Medicine."

‎"Mummy..."

‎"Carry am."

‎"Mummy, America no be another planet."

‎"I know."

‎Her mother folded another wrapper neatly before placing it inside the suitcase.

‎"But carry am."

‎Karo laughed.

‎"No wahala."

‎Three days before her flight...

‎Her phone rang.

‎📱 Big Bro Calling...

‎She smiled before answering.

‎"Hello."

‎The familiar voice came immediately.

‎"Small Madam!"

‎Karo burst into laughter.

‎"No be only Small Madam..."

‎"...Na Rich Madam now."

‎"Rich Madam?"

‎"Yes o."

‎"So America don change you before you even travel?"

‎She laughed.

‎"I never even enter plane."

‎"So wetin happen?"

‎"I don reach twenty years."

‎"So?"

‎"I no dey small again."

‎"Hmm."

‎"So dey call me Big Madam."

‎A few seconds of silence followed.

‎Then...

‎"Never."

‎Karo smiled.

‎"Why?"

‎"Because no matter how old you become..."

‎"...you go always be my Small Madam."

‎She shook her head.

‎"You too stubborn."

‎"And you too proud."

‎Both of them laughed.

‎After a moment...

‎His voice changed.

‎"I'm proud of you."

‎Karo looked down.

‎"Thank you."

‎"I mean am."

‎"You work hard for this."

‎She smiled softly.

‎"I just pray make I do well."

‎"You see?"

‎"There you go again."

‎"Wetin?"

‎"You always dey doubt yourself."

‎She didn't answer.

‎"Karo..."

‎"If them choose you..."

‎"...na because you deserve am."

‎Her eyes became watery.

‎"I'll make una proud."

‎"You already have."

‎The morning of her journey finally arrived.

‎Before sunrise...

‎The house was already awake.

‎"Migwor, Daddy."

‎"Vrendo."

‎"Migwor, Mummy."

‎"Vrendo."

‎As she reached for an akara on the plate...

‎A hand quickly snatched it.

‎"Ehn!"

‎She turned around.

‎Her younger brother was already walking away, happily eating it.

‎"You thief!"

‎He grinned.

‎"I be thief?"

‎"You carry my akara."

‎"I no see your name on am."

‎She stood up.

‎"Come here."

‎"To do wetin?"

‎"So I fit collect my akara."

‎"Dey play, You too slow."

‎She chased after him around the dining table.

‎Their father quietly folded his newspaper.

‎Their mother continued serving breakfast as though nothing unusual was happening.

‎"If una break one chair..."

‎"...both of una go explain."

‎Neither of them listened.

‎Finally...

‎Karo caught the back of his shirt.

‎"Aha!"

‎"I catch you."

‎He laughed so hard he almost dropped the akara.

‎"Okay, okay."

‎He broke the remaining piece in half.

‎"Take."

‎She collected it.

‎"Good."

‎"I think you don get small sense."

‎"I know."

‎He smiled proudly.

‎"But the bigger piece still dey my belle."

‎"You no go hear word."

‎The whole family laughed.

‎By mid-morning...

‎The compound had become lively.

‎Close relatives arrived one after another.

‎Her closest friends came carrying small gifts.

‎Neighbors stopped by to wish her a safe journey.

‎Church members gathered to pray for her.

‎Someone brought a camera.

‎Pictures were taken.

‎Laughter filled the compound.

‎One elderly neighbor smiled warmly.

‎"So you wan abandon us go America?"

‎Everybody laughed.

‎Karo laughed too.

‎"I go still come back."

‎Another aunty pointed her finger jokingly.

‎"No forget us o."

‎Before Karo could answer...

‎Another woman teased,

‎"And if you see fine oyibo man..."

‎Her mother immediately interrupted.

‎"Leave my daughter first."

‎Everyone burst into laughter.

‎Karo covered her face.

‎"Maa..."

‎Later...

‎As the car carrying her luggage waited outside...

‎Karo quietly walked to the mango tree in the corner of the compound.

‎She had climbed it countless times as a little girl.

‎She placed one hand on its rough trunk.

‎"I'll miss this place."

‎Her father joined her.

‎For a while...

‎Neither of them spoke.

‎Then he asked quietly,

‎"You dey fear?"

‎Karo nodded.

‎"A little."

‎He smiled.

‎"Good."

‎She looked at him in surprise.

‎"If person no dey fear..."

‎"...e fit forget to prepare."

‎He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

‎"Courage no mean say fear no dey."

‎"Courage mean say..."

‎"...even with fear..."

‎"...you still move forward."

‎Karo smiled.

‎"I'll remember."

‎Far away...

‎Thousands of kilometers from Delta State...

‎A young man with striking blue eyes walked into a modern glass building.

‎Another ordinary morning.

‎Another list of names.

‎Another assignment.

‎He had no idea...

‎That one name on that list...

‎Would soon change his life forever.

‎End of Chapter Two

‎

‎The morning air was cool.

‎The compound, which had been filled with laughter only an hour ago, slowly became quiet.

‎The suitcases had already been loaded into the car.

‎Her passport.

‎Her admission letter.

‎Her visa.

‎Everything had been checked at least three times.

‎Her mother still wasn't satisfied.

‎"Karo."

‎"Mummy?"

‎"You sure say you carry your charger?"

‎Karo laughed.

‎"Mummy, I carry am."

‎"You check?"

‎"I check."

‎"You sure?"

‎"Mummy..."

‎Both of them laughed.

‎Her younger brother leaned against the gate with his hands inside his pockets.

‎"So..."

‎"You don finally dey go."

‎Karo nodded.

‎"I go miss disturbing you."

‎He folded his arms proudly.

‎"I no go miss you."

‎She raised an eyebrow.

‎"Really?"

‎"Yes."

‎"So all my biscuits na your own now?"

‎His eyes widened.

‎"Ehn..."

‎She smiled.

‎"I know you."

‎He scratched the back of his head.

‎"I go miss the biscuits small."

‎She burst into laughter.

‎"See your life."

‎He smiled too.

‎Then, before anyone noticed...

‎He quietly slipped something into her hoodie pocket.

‎She looked at him.

‎"Wetin be this?"

‎"No open am now."

‎"Why?"

‎"Just keep am."

‎She wanted to ask again...

‎But she saw the expression on his face.

‎For once...

‎He wasn't joking.

‎She simply nodded.

‎"Thank you."

‎He quickly looked away.

‎"I no do anything."

‎A horn sounded outside.

‎The driver had arrived.

‎Her mother took a deep breath.

‎"I think... time don reach ."

‎The words hung heavily in the air.

‎Nobody moved immediately.

‎It suddenly became real.

‎Her father picked up the largest suitcase.

‎"I go put this for boot."

‎Karo reached for another.

‎"I fit carry this one."

‎"I know."

‎He smiled.

‎"But today...

‎"...make me do am."

‎She understood.

‎She let him.

‎Before getting into the car...

‎Her mother held both of her hands.

‎"You don become woman now."

‎Karo smiled shyly.

‎"Mummy..."

‎"When you reach there..."

‎"Remember where you come from."

‎"I will."

‎"No let anybody pressure you."

‎"I won't."

‎"Face your books first."

‎"I will."

‎"If anything worry you..."

‎"Call us."

‎"I promise."

‎Her mother gently touched her cheek.

‎"I'm proud of you."

‎Tears gathered in Karo's eyes.

‎"I'll make you proud."

‎"You already have."

‎Her father stood beside them quietly.

‎He wasn't a man of many words.

‎"Karo."

‎She turned.

‎"Yes, Daddy?"

‎He looked at her for a long moment.

‎Then he said,

‎"Observe."

‎She blinked.

‎He smiled.

‎"Before you make any decision..."

‎"...look carefully."

‎She nodded.

‎"I'll remember."

‎"I know."

‎Just then...

‎A familiar ringtone interrupted the emotional moment.

‎📱 Big Bro Calling...

‎Karo answered immediately.

‎"Small Madam."

‎She laughed through her tears.

‎"Na only Small Madam I be..."

‎"...I tell u say na Rich Madam or big madam now."

‎He laughed.

‎"So...

‎You don dey cry?"

‎"Who tell you?"

‎"I know you."

‎She smiled.

‎"You know me too much."

‎There was a short silence.

‎Then he spoke.

‎"Listen."

‎"No matter how far America be..."

‎"This house na your house."

‎"If anybody tell you otherwise..."

‎"...dem dey lie."

‎Karo swallowed the lump in her throat.

‎"I know."

‎"And..."

‎He paused.

‎"If anybody stress my Small Madam..."

‎"...call me."

‎She laughed.

‎"You wan fly come America?"

‎"I go trek sef."

‎She laughed even harder.

‎"😂 Dey play."

‎"I'm serious."

‎"I know."

‎The whole family gathered together.

‎One last photograph.

‎Three...

‎Two...

‎One...

‎Smile.

‎The camera flashed.

‎None of them knew...

‎It would become one of the most treasured pictures they had.

‎The journey to the airport was quieter than Karo expected.

‎She watched familiar roads pass by.

‎Roadside fruit sellers.

‎Yellow buses.

‎Children in school uniforms.

‎Small shops opening for business.

‎Everything looked...

‎Ordinary.

‎Yet somehow...

‎More beautiful than ever.

‎Maybe...

‎Because she was seeing it as someone about to leave.

‎As the airport came into view...

‎Karo took a slow breath.

‎Her heart began beating faster.

‎This wasn't just a trip anymore.

‎It was the beginning of a completely new life.

‎She looked out of the window one last time.

‎Softly...

‎Almost like a prayer...

‎She whispered,

‎"I'll come back."

‎End of Chapter Three

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