GOING TO EXERCISE __THE DAY MY SHOES RAN WITHOUT ME__6TH OCTOBER

Going to exercise.

That was what Mama told me at 5am, shouting from the kitchen.

"Amara! If you don't go and exercise, that your big trouser will not zip again!"

I groaned. I love sleeping more than I love jollof rice. But Mama had already opened my curtain, poured cold water on my leg small, and stood with cane.

I dragged myself up. I wore the only legging I have that has not torn. It was tight, my thighs were shouting. I wore big shirt that says "No Pain No Gain" - lie.

I stepped outside. Ojoto cold morning air slapped my face. The road was still sleeping, only one or two okada passing.

I started walking. Just walking. My plan was to walk to the junction and come back and tell Mama I jogged 5km. Who will check?

But as I was walking, I saw something. An old man, maybe 70 years, running. He was not jogging, he was running like a young boy. Sweat everywhere, but smiling.

He passed me and said "Good morning, small madam! Keep moving!"

Shame catch me. A 70-year-old man is running, and I, 24-year-old Amara, is dragging leg like snail.

So I started running too. Small small. My chest was burning, my leg was paining me, but I was running. I ran to the junction, then to the next street, then back.

When I reached home, Mama looked at me sweating and laughed, "Ah! So you can run?"

That morning I realized going to exercise is not punishment. It's a meeting with yourself. It's you telling your laziness "shift".

Since that day, I don't wait for Mama to shout. Every morning by 6am, I and that old man run together. He is now my exercise partner.

And the trouser? It zips now.

IMAGE SOURCE:AI