Chapter One – A Letter Across the Ocean

‎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

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