TwoCents | Blood On Lekki Express-way

Today, I want to do something different.  I want to share an excerpt from my short story titled: “Blood On Lekki ExpressWay.”  Sit back, relax and enjoy.  Part 1:  Emmanuel Oyedele gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the dimly lit Lekki-Epe Expressway. He was driving Ayo's sleek Benz, its leather seats and smooth engine a far cry from the Toyota Camry he had once owned, but had to sell to pay for his late father’s hospital bills. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, a precursor to the life he had been promised. Ayo, his well-connected friend, had set up an interview at Nigerian Breweries Limited for a coveted Brand Manager position, assuring him it was all but guaranteed. Emmanuel had splurged on dinner at The Grill, Eko Hotel, and drinks at the popular night club “Night Owl” situated in Lekki phase one, trying to impress Folake. She was a stunning babe he had met at his church ‘singles conference’ earlier in the year. A buxom, stunning, melanin beauty he was trying to woo, with skin that glowed like polished ebony, smooth and flawless. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the night sky, shining bright with a mischievous glint. Her hair, styled in elegant dreadlocks, framed her heart-shaped face, drawing attention to her full lips, painted a deep crimson. Her smile could light up a room, and her laughter was music to Emmanuel's ears. “This babe fine no be small sha," Emmanuel thought to himself. He glanced at her seated beside him in the passenger seat, and felt a surge of motivation. Her father owned a string of one of the biggest supermarkets in the country and her background undoubtedly intimidated him, but he was determined to prove himself worthy. A decent car, a good job, and he would be on equal footing.   Okay, equal footing was a stretch, but with a steady income, he would at-least be able to treat her to more dates, and shower her with a semblance of the care she was used to getting as the daughter of a big man. He still marveled at how he had caught her eye, wondering what she saw in him beyond his physical appeal – after all, people had always complimented his good looks. This was why he had to nail the interview tomorrow, before she discovered looks was all he had going for him. Fortunately, he also had an inside advantage, thanks to Ayo's influential connection to his direct boss at what he hoped would be his new place of employment.  Ayo's words echoed in his mind: "You're as good as hired, bro. Just show up and collect your offer letter, otan!”The confidence had been intoxicating and Emmanuel had allowed himself to get caught up in the excitement, spending almost all his savings on the night out with Folake. Now, as he drove her home, he realized his nerves had gotten the better of him. The food, champagne and whiskey had flowed freely, and his sight was blurry. He rubbed his eyes, chiding himself for being frivolous with money he didn’t even have just to impress a girl. "Thanks for the outing," Folake said, her voice husky, as they approached her estate and as she beamed at him, he almost forgot he had nearly squandered all his savings ontop woman. Her sexy smile softened his regret over the evening’s extravagance. With a reciprocated grin, he stepped out of the car, and determined to show his chivalrous side, escorted her to her gate. The night air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers alongside the distant hum of near-silent “big man” generators. He pecked her on her cheek awkwardly, and she let him. Oh, how he couldn’t wait to make her his! “Another date tomorrow, right?” He asked, hopeful. He was confident by this time the next day, he would be seated comfortably in his new office, with real cause to celebrate. Ayo had also promised to loan him some cash to tide him over until his first paycheck. Emmanuel couldn't help but feel grateful for his friend's unwavering support since their university days. He often wondered what drew Ayo to him - perhaps it was his unbeaten streak in their friendly games of chess and snooker. Ayo's admiration was flattering, and Emmanuel acknowledged its value; after all, his friend's connections were about to land him a juicy managerial position. He couldn't afford another lavish night, but he would find a cozy, more budget-friendly spot to take Folake. “Cool.” The soft, melodic tone of Folake's voice ignited a fire within Emmanuel, and his breeches suddenly felt a little tighter. This woman! She had a way about her. A femininity that was both soft and dangerous. Dangerous because Emmanuel could feel himself falling hard. He waved her off, slid back into Ayo’s sleek leather seat and drove away, his thoughts drifting back to tomorrow’s interview. Brand Manager at Nigerian Breweries – the prestige, the salary, the security. His present financial struggles would finally be over. The headlights of the car cast an eerie glow on the dark, winding road. The Lekki-Epe Expressway stretched before him like a serpent, its asphalt surface slick with the night's earlier rain. He accelerated, the speedometer needle quivering at 120 km/h. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows and in a split second, his life went as they say “from 0 to 100.”Emmanuel swerved the Benz, but it was too late. A sickening thud shook the car. His heart racing, he slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop. In the rearview mirror, he saw a crumpled form on the road. Panic set in. Emmanuel leapt out, his eyes scanning the deserted expressway. No witnesses. Only a few poorly lit traffic and billboard lights and the distant hum of Lagos nightlife. He approached the body, dread crawling up his spine. A young man lay sprawled on the ground as blood trickled from his forehead, pooling on the asphalt. Emmanuel's mind reeled. What had he done? As he stood there, paralyzed, the man’s eyes flickered open. "Help...me," he whispered. “Take me to a hospital, abeg.” Emmanuel’s head banged as he looked at the crumpled heap of a man lying in the middle of the express. He touched his forehead and wondered at the dampness. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.” Emmanuel's voice trembled as he begged for forgiveness. "Why were you out here?" he thought, incredulous. Why was this man out so late, alone and vulnerable? And what possessed him to walk in the middle of the expressway, where cars sped by? The man's actions seemed to defy logic, unless... unless he'd wanted to end his life. In that moment, the night air became heavy with the weight of what had just happened. Tomorrow's job interview loomed, a make-or-break chance to escape the suffocating grip of poverty that had haunted Emmanuel’s family since his father's tragic passing. The pressure to succeed had been building for years, each rejection and disappointment etched on his face like the scars on Lagos's pot-holed streets. Emmanuel's mind raced as he thought of Nigerian hospitals and their ‘wahala.’ Under-equipped institutions notorious for turning away emergency cases and demanding exorbitant fees when they let one in. But his financial woes, depleted even more from his lavish date with Folake, were the least of his concerns. The police posed a greater threat; they would hold him accountable for the accident, and if the injured man didn’t make it, Emmanuel could kiss his own life goodbye. His heart sank as the man coughed up blood, his labored breathing slowing. Emmanuel scanned the deserted expressway once more, spotting an approaching car in the far distance. With a surge of adrenaline, he sprinted back to his vehicle and sped away, fueled by desperation. He could not afford to be caught. He had to leave here and now. He had never driven that fast in his life, firing the engine away like someone chased by a horde of Tasmanian devils. That fateful night, alone and unseen, Emmanuel fled without looking back – leaving a strange, dead man in his wake and in the middle of Lekki, Epe Expressway.

Other insights from Belinda Chiazor