Writers 
1 - 2
• Edosa's •
My fingers trailed the picture frame located on my bedside stand. It was a picture of me and my elder brother, smiling at the photographer's camera as he captured our only decent photograph together.
I could recall what my brother said, loud and clear, as I stared at the dark green, fitted, tailored trousers and white long-sleeved shirt laid out before me. Father was far from happy that I had chosen this as my school, knowing full well he had enough money to send me to the very best institution in the state.
I moved into my adjoining bathroom and locked myself inside. I did not head for the shower immediately; instead, I sat down on the toilet seat, allowing the distant wail of sirens to fill my ears. If it were possible, I could still visibly see everything that had transpired that night.
Knowing I did not have much time at my disposal, I stood up, stripped off my clothes, and stepped into the shower. The water was biting cold, but the heater had broken down recently, so I had to deal with it until Dad bothered to get a replacement.
Once I was done with my shower, I proceeded to get ready for school and then headed downstairs.
Dad stared at me the moment I approached the dining table, clearly despising the fact that I was once again attending a government school.
"What am I going to do with you kids?" Dad uttered in a bitter tone. "One is in jail, and the other has chosen not to have a brain."
"I do have one, otherwise I wouldn't even know how to sit down." I pulled out the dining chair slightly and sat down at my own comfort. I looked over at Mum, sitting close to Dad. "Good morning, Mum."
"You look good in your uniform," Mum smiled warmly at me, which only served to make Dad even angrier. But he knew better than to say anything more, because whatever came out of his mouth would never alter my decision. Everything I was doing, I was doing for them — not for myself.
Would you like to move straight into Edosa arriving at school, or focus next on Kambili under the oak tree with the cutlass?
• • •
"Everyone, we have a new student!" The man who had introduced himself as the class teacher spoke to the room. All eyes fell on me, something I for one did not appreciate. "Please introduce yourself to the class."
I scanned the classroom before speaking, telling them only my name. It was not as though I was obligated to give them full disclosure.
"Go and have your seat," the class teacher said briefly before leaving the room. I stood at the front for a few seconds, analysing where I could sit. I disliked the front seats and preferred to go with the middle or the back. I also did not want too much clinginess, so I had to weigh my options carefully.
My eyes moved to a fair girl staring out of the window. She seemed completely detached from what was happening in the class, making her appear to be the ideal seatmate.
I walked over to her, but refrained from speaking immediately as I tried to figure out why she was sitting alone and not talking to anyone. The girl in question turned to look at me, but the sheer void I saw in her eyes almost knocked the breath out of me.
"Edosa, over here!" It was a bit strange hearing my name being called out. I turned and raised an eyebrow upon spotting a familiar face. Nonso.
I did not particularly want to head over there, but sitting with someone I knew felt better than sitting with a complete stranger. I gripped the strap of my backpack and looked down at the girl, who had already gone back to staring out of the window. "Nice to meet you."
I turned and walked over to the first row at the very back seat, where Nonso was sitting. He cleared some space, and I took a seat beside him and his desk partner.
"What were you doing talking to Kambili?" Nonso questioned the moment I sat down. I slipped my bag into the desk locker provided.
"Kambili, is that her name?" I asked instead, causing Nonso to dismissively wave his hand.
"Her name is not important, dude. She's a killer, and it's been proven. Stay far away from her if you want to live. Just look at her," Nonso gestured, and I turned my gaze back toward the girl he was referencing, still staring out of the window and shutting the entire world out. "No one associates with her for a reason."
"What did she do?" I asked again, curiosity taking hold of me.
"Killed her best friend," the darker boy chimed in. "I'm Peter."
I gave a short nod at his introduction, not bothering to state my own name since he must have already heard it.
Killed her friend.
My eyes simply could not leave the girl, who seemed far more entertained by whatever was happening outside the window than inside her own classroom.
I did not think she was evil.
• • •
I excused myself from Nonso and Peter, though they clearly did not like the idea of me moving around without anyone beside me. It was short break, and I had promised to hang out with them during long break instead.
I moved to a block that seemed completely abandoned and reached into my backpack, bringing out a cigarette pack and a lighter. This was the exact reason why I wanted to be alone, to wallow in my own thoughts.
I placed a stick between my lips and was ready to light it when I felt someone walking past the window. I recognised her with a single glance and quickly slipped the pack and lighter back into my backpack. Anything not to chase her away.
"Sorry," her voice had a raspy touch to it that made it sound beautiful. It carried a quality that made you feel like her remaining silent was a crime. I watched her turn to leave, so I quickly jumped off the desk I was sitting on.
"N-no, you can stay." I was right behind her almost immediately. She did not seem like someone with friends to hang out with, so it felt unfair to watch her leave. Besides, it felt as though this was her space. "I'm Edosa. Edosa Odia. What's your name?"
She remained standing in front of me, refusing to turn and look at me. I watched her stare down at the hem of her skirt and assumed she was simply shy and would speak eventually. But she did not.
"I don't want you to leave. This seems like a place you usually come to," I finally stated what I had earlier deduced. "Why not stay?"
"Don't act like you know me!" I was not fazed by her yelling; I had half expected it. She looked so deeply pained, and after hearing what Nonso had said, it was clear she was not in the right state of mind. "Don't act like you know anything about me! I don't come here often, so you can have it!"
She stormed out of the room, leaving me behind. I could not just let her go, so I rushed to grab my backpack and followed her at a discreet distance without her knowledge. I walked behind her, stopping at a distance whenever she paused to kick aimlessly at small stones on the ground.
I watched as she eventually approached a group of girls with an apologetic expression on her face, prompting me to step closer to overhear their conversation.
"Don't mention my name with your filthy mouth," I moved in just in time to hear the girl in the middle speaking. She was darker, taller than the other two, and somewhat slimmer. "Haven't I warned you never to wear this short skirt to school again?
Hey, you!" the same girl barked, calling over a junior before turning back. "Give that cutlass to Kambili."
"Eddy, let's just give her a warning," chimed in the shorter girl, who had a more endowed figure.
"Will you shut up and mind your business?" the first girl snapped at her companion. "And as for you, go to any thick bush and cut the grass. You can as well disappear in the process, no one will miss you anyway. Idiot."
The three girls turned and walked away. I took an instinctual step forward, fully expecting Kambili to break down crying in the open. I froze when she simply sucked in a sharp breath and let out a bitter smile before walking off toward a part of the school grounds I knew nothing about.
I kept following her from the shadows, genuinely not expecting her to actually head toward a dense thicket. I saw her stop before a massive oak tree and watched as she gently caressed the rough bark with her fingers. She looked sad, so profoundly sad that it felt as though I could physically feel the ache she was carrying.
It would have been better if she had cried. That way, I would have had an excuse to run over, wrap my arms around her, and hold her. But instead, she sank to the ground, staring at the oak tree motionlessly.
