WHAT IF I DID NOTHING?

My keys dropped from my hands without my knowing, with sweat drops dancing on my forehead, I stared into space and slowly whispered the words….” what if I did nothing?”

Two hours ago, I woke up with a strange migraine, strange because I was not stressed and I had been trying to stay healthy. I reluctantly got out of bed and took a warm shower, still not motivated to go to the wedding of my ex, but he was getting married to my cousin so I had to show up so as to avoid being scolded by my aunts, you know African aunties and drama. I wore a pretty dress I got from thrift last week, put my hair in a pony, and wore my best heels. My makeup was light but beautiful as I wanted to look good but not like I was doing too much.

The traffic was another sign that I would have just stayed home, ”forguhsake! why would they do a wedding on a busy Monday morning? thank God I broke up with him” I was frustrated at this point with my face in my hands when I saw a little girl between the ages of 5 to 8 selling plantain chips. ”What in the world! on a Monday morning, this age, who would do such to a little girl who should be in school?” I thought aloud.

”Sisi, focus on yourself, you already have a lot on your plate, you are going to watch your cousin get married to a man who left you engaged for five years when you are not the lord of the rings”, my inner voice was fighting but the little girl’s God was fighting stronger as the traffic got worse and I had no option than to stare at this child from my uber’s window.

I found myself opening the car door, even though the driver was confused, I saw myself walk up to her, I could hear myself ask her about her parents and I could see my eyes look in the direction her pretty little fingers pointed and again I saw myself walk up to the frail tall woman bending over her roasted corn for sell.

”Aunty, you wan buy corn?” were the words that brought me back to reality, and then I started questioning my actions.

We sat in her little shade and I watched Mama Sambo weep uncontrollably unable to express herself, she had failed her six-year-old, her little girl, her pride. We both looked at the six-year-old playing with a little doll.

Would she end up like me? would she ever have a future? would she stay alive for long if left on the street to sell? We have just a week to make up our rent if not we will sleep in the streets, we have no one, we have nothing, just my little girl and I.

I was lost in thought as she spoke, I had a panic attack when she told me the cost of the education and rent. N20,000 for the rent and N5000 was fees for my shoes.

We immediately went to her small house and paid half the rent as I intended to take her to a better space when I received my salary, then we went to a school and made a payment. I have never been thanked the way Mama Sambo thanked me, for just N15,000.

Well, I missed the wedding and have 50 missed calls and 42 messages from my family members but I am glad I did what I did.

What if I did nothing, they would have been evicted and Sambo would have been on the street without education.

It takes little to be of help.