Chapter Four – A New World

‎The morning sun had barely risen when Karo's family arrived at the airport.

‎Passengers pushed their luggage in every direction while different voices echoed through the terminal.

‎For Karo...

‎Everything felt new.

‎She looked around curiously, trying to take in every detail.

‎Her mother adjusted the strap of Karo's backpack for what felt like the hundredth time.

‎"Karo."

‎"Mummy?"

‎"You sure say you carry your charger?"

‎Karo smiled.

‎"Mummy, I carry am."

‎"You check?"

‎"I check."

‎"You sure?"

‎"Mummy..." Karo laughed.

‎Her father shook his head with a smile.

‎"Leave the girl small."

‎Her mother smiled too.

‎"I just dey make sure."

‎"I know."

‎A few minutes later...

‎A voice sounded through the airport speakers.

‎"Final boarding call for passengers travelling to New York..."

‎The family became quiet.

‎Her mother looked at her.

‎"I think... time don reach."

‎Karo nodded slowly.

‎"Yes."

‎Her father stepped closer.

‎He placed his right hand gently on her head.

‎"God go before you."

‎"Amen."

‎"God go protect you."

‎"Amen."

‎"You go succeed."

‎"Amen."

‎"You go come back with plenty success."

‎"Amen."

‎He gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.

‎"Make us proud."

‎Karo smiled.

‎"I will, Daddy."

‎"I know."

‎Her mother held both of her hands.

‎"When you reach there..."

‎"Remember where you come from."

‎"I will."

‎"Face your books first."

‎"I will."

‎"If anything worry you..."

‎"Call us."

‎"I promise."

‎Her mother smiled proudly.

‎"I'm happy for you."

‎Karo smiled back.

‎"Thank you, Mummy."

‎Neither of them cried.

‎Instead...

‎They looked at each other with the kind of smile only a mother and daughter could understand.

‎Just then...

‎Her phone rang.

‎📱 Big Bro Calling...

‎She answered immediately.

‎"smally, afar,how you dey "

‎"I dey fine"

‎"So you won enter plane now.... big woman!"

‎Karo laughed.

‎"yes oo....na big woman now..."

‎"see your mouth, you don dey form before you even enter America?"

‎"I never even step inside the plane."

‎Both of them laughed.

‎His voice became softer.

‎"I'm proud of you."

‎"Thank you."

‎"Remember..."

‎"No matter where you go..."

‎"...this house na your house."

‎"I know."

‎"And if anybody or anything won stress you..."

‎"...Let me know,I told u before,I go trek come that side."

‎Karo laughed loudly.

‎"😂 Dey play, I don here you."

‎"I'm serious o."

‎"I know."

‎"Safe journey."

‎"Thank you."

‎One more family picture.

‎They smiled.

‎The camera flashed.

‎As Karo walked toward the boarding gate, she stopped for a second.

She turned around.

‎Her parents were still standing there.

‎Watching her.

‎"Migwor..."

‎She said softly without thinking.

‎Her parents smiled.

‎"Vrendo."

‎It wasn't the usual time to say it...

‎But somehow...

‎It felt right.

‎She waved one last time before walking toward the boarding gate.

‎She didn't look back again.

‎Not because she didn't want to.

‎Because she knew...

‎If she did...

‎She might not be able to keep walking.

‎A new chapter of her life had begun.

‎Hours later...

‎The plane touched down.

‎Karo looked through the window.

‎Huge buildings.

‎Wide roads.

‎Endless rows of lights.

‎She couldn't stop smiling.

‎After leaving the aircraft, she followed the other passengers into the airport.

‎The building was huge.

‎Bright lights reflected from the polished floor.

‎People moved calmly from one place to another.

‎No shouting.

‎No rushing.

‎Everyone simply followed the queue.

‎Karo adjusted the strap of her backpack and looked around.

‎"So this na how e be..."

‎When it was her turn, the immigration officer smiled politely.

‎"Good afternoon."

‎"Good afternoon."

‎He collected her passport.

‎"Purpose of your visit?"

‎"I'm here to study."

‎He nodded while checking his computer.

‎"A scholarship student?"

‎"Yes."

‎"Congratulations."

‎"Thank you."

‎He stamped her passport and handed it back.

‎"Welcome to the United States."

‎Karo smiled brightly.

‎"Thank you."

‎As she walked away, she looked at the stamp once more.

‎It was real.

‎She had finally made it.

‎The automatic doors opened.

‎As she stepped outside the airport...

‎A cold wind blew across her face.

‎She immediately wrapped her arms around herself.

‎"Omor..."

‎She laughed.

‎"...this cold na correct one."

‎She quickly brought out the jacket her mother had insisted she pack.

‎As she wore it, she smiled to herself.

‎"Mummy... you sabi."

‎Then she looked around once more.

‎Her eyes sparkled.

‎"Wow..."

‎"...America..."

‎"...finally."

‎The university had arranged transportation for new international students.

‎A woman wearing the university's ID card smiled warmly.

‎"You must be Angela."

‎"Yes."

‎"Welcome to America."

‎"Thank you."

‎The woman helped load her suitcase into the shuttle bus.

‎As they drove through the city, Karo couldn't stop looking outside.

‎The roads were neat.

‎The buildings seemed to touch the sky.

‎Everything looked different from home.

‎She smiled quietly.

‎"So this na where I go start my new life."

‎The university shuttle finally stopped in front of a tall student residence.

‎Karo looked up.

‎"So this na where I go dey stay."

‎A volunteer smiled.

‎"Welcome home."

‎Home?

‎Karo smiled to herself.

‎"No be home yet."

‎She quietly followed him inside.

‎A few minutes later...

‎They stopped in front of a door.

‎Room 214.

‎The volunteer handed her a key card.

‎"This is your room."

‎"Thank you."

‎She took a deep breath before opening the door.

‎Click.

‎The room was bright and neat.

‎One side was already occupied.

‎Books were arranged neatly on a shelf.

‎A laptop sat on a study table.

‎Someone was humming softly while unpacking clothes.

‎Hearing the door open...

‎The young woman turned around.

‎She had light brown hair tied into a ponytail and warm green eyes.

‎"Oh!"

‎She smiled immediately.

‎"You must be my new roommate."

‎Karo smiled nervously.

‎"I think so."

‎The girl walked over and stretched out her hand.

‎"I'm Emily."

‎Karo shook it.

‎"I'm Angela."

‎Emily repeated it slowly.

‎"An-ge-la."

‎She smiled.

‎"That's a beautiful name."

‎"Thank you."

‎After a short pause, Karo laughed softly.

‎"But everyone at home calls me Karo."

‎Emily tried again.

‎"Karo."

‎This time she pronounced it perfectly.

‎Karo's face brightened.

‎"You got it!"

‎Emily laughed.

‎"I've always been good with names."

‎The two girls smiled at each other.

‎For the first time since arriving...

‎America didn't feel quite so lonely.

‎That night...

‎After unpacking her clothes, Karo sat by the window.

‎The campus looked peaceful beneath the evening lights.

‎She slipped her hand into her hoodie pocket.

‎Something small brushed against her fingers.

‎She frowned.

‎"Wetin be this?"

‎She pulled out a tiny wooden keychain.

‎A little house.

‎Her younger brother's gift.

‎She turned it over.

‎Written on the back, in uneven handwriting, were the words:

‎"No forget home."

‎Karo smiled.

‎She gently held it in her palm.

‎"I no go forget."

‎Her phone rang.

‎📱 Mummy Calling...

‎She answered immediately.

‎"Mummy."

‎"You don reach?"

‎"I don reach."

‎"How there be?"

‎Karo laughed.

‎"It fine..."

‎She looked outside again.

‎"But..."

‎"Omor... the cold here na serious one."

‎Her parents laughed.

‎Her father moved closer to the phone.

‎"I tell you make you carry enough clothes."

‎"I carried."

‎Her mother smiled.

‎"Make sure you take care of yourself."

‎"I will."

‎"Face your books."

‎"I will."

‎"If anything worry you..."

‎"Call us."

‎"I will."

‎Karo smiled warmly.

‎"Una too... make una take care of una selves."

‎"We go do that."

‎Her younger brother suddenly pushed his face into the camera.

‎"Afar, so like this now, u don leave me for here , next week, I dey come that side, u hear!"

‎Karo laughed.

‎"😂 I don hear you, Dey play."

‎Everyone laughed together.

‎After saying their goodbyes...

‎The call ended.

‎Silence filled the room once again.

‎Karo stood quietly by the window.

‎The city sparkled beneath the night sky.

‎Everything felt peaceful.

‎New.

‎Beautiful.

‎She smiled softly.

‎"I think I'll like it here."

‎Outside...

‎The cool American night continued quietly.

‎Somewhere else on campus...

‎Unknown to Karo...

‎Someone had already opened her scholarship file.

‎

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