Last updated on October 13th, 2025 at 01:38 pm
I’ve been back home from Hassan’s for a while now. Going to his place was refreshing, but the problems that existed before I went to visit him are still alive, and even though I’ve tried to bury myself in more work, they are not letting up. I got myself into a 3-day photography training which some friends had been planning in Abuja. They had reached out to me, and it had seemed like a good idea, but as the training approaches, I wish I could wiggle out of it.
After working for a bit, I start packing my bags. The event is not until a week, but I’m an early packer like that. I was almost nineteen when I attended my first photography training. I had to travel home from school for the event even though I dreaded going home. On getting home, as usual, Constance was there. She never faced her tutorials enough to pass her JAMB, let alone get into the university. At this point, she was already learning a new skill which I didn’t care to know. She just would never leave.
Per usual, I went into my room, seeing as my parents were not around. In retrospect, I should have stayed with a friend or rented a hotel room. I was in my room all day until the next morning when I had to leave for my training. Immediately I opened my door, Constance was outside, naked. To say that I was shocked would have been an understatement. She’d never tried something that outrageous until then. I remember going back into my room after seeing her. I waited for thirty minutes hoping that she’d have left, then opened the door to still find her standing there naked.
“Constance, what’s it?” I remember asking her. At this point, I had stopped referring to her as Aunty Constance, and not without a pushback from my mum. I didn’t care.
“Can you remember the fun we used to have before you grew this big?” I hated that she kept referring to her abusing me as we having fun. At that moment, I hated her. Instead of replying to her, I grabbed her arm, careful not to touch anything, and shoved her away. Then hurried downstairs.
My parents’ oblivion to something recurrent under their roof was another thing that really got to me. It was as if they didn’t see me. I was angry and resentful that they were barely around enough for Constance to have abused me, but I was deeply hurt that even worse, they seemed not to have noticed. They noticed that I started getting stubborn and throwing tantrums but they assumed I was in my teenage boy phase. It’s all in the past now. Is it though?
Even though I risked having a situation with Constance, the training made such a huge impact on my life and career which is why I’ve chosen to also attend this training as my way of giving back. I cram a pair of shoes into the box before zipping it.
—
I arrived in Abuja two hours ago and I’m hanging out with the event coordinators. We reviewed the talk points and the training schedule during our previous meetings but face-to-face makes it more real and we’re able to spot any omissions. We’re six coordinators, and we each have our slots during the training session, three women and three men. Everyone seems to be in their element here and it instills a wave of passion in me.
Three hours later, and we’re done with the meeting. Satisfied that the trainees will be getting their money’s worth, we shake hands and order our meals. After the good food and a little chat, we head back to our different rooms.
