Tolu's hand shakes as she scans the notice board, the word 'FAILED' blurring before her eyes. The drizzle is relentless, but she does not move, her mind echoing with every sacrifice and sleepless night.
"All gone," she whispers, voice swallowed by the rain. Shoulders hunched, she turns and walks home, the umbrella in her hand left closed, each step heavy with grief and shame.
Tolu's Mother, her face lined with quiet strength, looks up as Tolu enters, water dripping from her dress.
"How did it go?"
Tolu cannot find her voice; she only shakes her head. Her mother sets aside her fabric and pulls Tolu close, arms warm and sure.
"A closed door does not mean the end of the house," she murmurs, her chin resting on Tolu's head. Tolu stands frozen, feeling nothing but the ache in her chest.
Tolu[/@ch_1] lies on her back, staring up at the cracked ceiling. Outside, the rain has stopped, but droplets still fall from the eaves, marking time.]
Tolu's phone glows with messages—congratulations from friends, NYSC plans, smiling faces. She powers it off, slipping further into silence.
"What is my purpose?" she whispers into the darkness. The question lingers, heavier than the rain, and sleep eludes her as hope fades into fear.
Mrs. Adebayo[/@ch_3], a sturdy woman with a warm smile, stands behind a battered wooden counter.]
















