Memories are a part of us. They may be hidden and sometimes even forgotten but they surface from time to time. My earliest memories and the current are sometimes a jungle mix. I have memories that make me shake my head or get very colourful with my words. Just that moment when you remember something and go, “for goodness’s sakes why?!”
I have plenty of those self-cringe moments where I just go “ah Deraa!” even when I’m in public because that’s how terrible it is. Funny how recalling these things earn me funny looks when I am already reliving the pains of the past. Among many memories that make me smile, there are also those that make my skin crawl.
A memory I can’t ever forget was getting my first ever remote job. I was on a team with a couple of ghost writers and we evenly distributed word counts. I was to submit a minimum of 30k words in a week. I’d be given a particular aspect to focus on and I was paid handsomely weekly. I never thought it was a remote job then, I just knew I was earning enough to help I and my mom.
I’ll never forget how shitty it felt to be called ugly by some stupid fool because I had a condition that completely destroyed my face. I found it hard to go out without using a scarf. Then the day I mustered up the courage to, some kid was let loose.
I’ll never forget the fulfilment that came with getting involved with my country. Campaigning on the right side, attending board meetings and working alongside other agents to fight against tha administration of a drug lord who later rigged his way in.
I’ll never forget getting my phone with money. Buying stuff for the house with my money. Being able to give my mom gifts from my pocket.
I’ll never forget the day a boss of mine thought it was okay to invite me over to sleep with me. It was my day off and I was called in by our manager to come to the office. She pleaded with me to go get the papers we used for work as everyone was super busy. I had no qualms with it but I had to go get them from my boss who was in his brother’s place. I was already uncomfortable being alone with him because he’d made his intentions known when he thought I was drunk.
I tried getting the papers and leaving but Oga was trying to get me to “relax” via alcohol. I pretended to fall asleep to avoid any kind of interaction whatsoever when I felt this man’s fucking hands on my back! Fucking hell!!!!! My skin crawled like it was alive. I had already set an alarm that’ll ring just incase and it rung immediately at that moment. I pretended it was a call from my mom and he immediately released the papers after which I fled like I was on fire.
Safe to say I avoided closed spaces with him and quit not long after. Those are only a few of the memories that still swirl in my head and make me shake my head. I have really embarrassing ones but I’ll not put them here. I have people who are ready to use it as a weapon… LOL.
This is in participation with the Hive Naija Weekly Prompt Edition 57. Feel stuck? Check out our prompt topics and pick any that suits your taste.
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