UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 15: NO PLACE TO CALL HOME

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o4BNPGklZ

Chapter 15: No Place to Call Home

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi8RebBHNO

"The deepest loneliness is not being without people; it is being without a place where your heart can rest."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIsC80vz2V

The city continued to move at its usual pace.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX0MT7BWgq

Cars filled the roads.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BBGAgg2gq

Vendors shouted in crowded markets.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV84eyvgJYS

Workers hurried to offices.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqExptP2Tz5

Life went on.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC95qrdRCTZ

But for Tunde, Musa, and Emeka, every day felt heavier than the one before.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2JVadxHzd

Weeks had passed since they arrived in the Unknown Land.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuqPvmq5K7

Yet success remained out of reach.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9PvPxsgGZ

The little money they earned from occasional labor jobs disappeared almost as quickly as it came.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA80FLDVUMY

Food consumed it.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uiE6cCnTt

Transportation consumed it.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7W0djxdgj

Rent consumed it.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxg3hZbfdZ

The city seemed to have a thousand ways of taking money and very few ways of giving it back.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZXsUM61W4

One evening, the owner of the small room they rented knocked on their door.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaY5LP5LTc

The sound immediately made their hearts uneasy.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW8eGkK052

Tunde opened it.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tVtUOlUyD

The landlord stood outside with folded arms.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz5vRPd4K7

His expression revealed everything before he even spoke.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHRwW61zYD

"You owe two weeks' rent."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbKliFEsRn

The room fell silent.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyHS6rc9Ru

The friends exchanged nervous glances.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFUzF0sQQ9

"We just need a little more time," Emeka said carefully.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IyuvUIY21

The landlord shook his head.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGGwjNGnEe

"I've already given you time."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwVyonOgdO

His voice remained firm.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqd1Yu3Rm2

"You must pay tomorrow."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MGmVGjSXO

Then he turned and walked away.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHLM1qf7eA

The sound of his footsteps echoed through the hallway.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q5Duj90Oc

After he disappeared, silence filled the room.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGuKI55E81

A painful silence.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBUZty8H3G

The kind that arrives when people run out of solutions.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOYTd8PDP8

Musa sat on the edge of the bed.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpEyXjnXOg

"We don't have enough."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cT1LTRZzq

Nobody disagreed.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkO8zdeHJL

Because it was true.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3e7rpCB4P

The reality they had been avoiding now stood directly before them.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStI7jwbfiK

They were running out of options.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM02SqSXLk

A Yoruba proverb says:

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmJcxr6GWI

"When the roof begins to leak, every drop reminds you of the coming storm."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ30rLvHYWf

The unpaid rent was not the real problem.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CfCoNJ9HZ

It was simply a warning.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUuvQ4PNp9

A sign of deeper trouble ahead.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbixkiXwmE2

That night, sleep refused to come.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml5wq6fo4c

Tunde lay awake staring at the ceiling.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rHHEDHNI

His father's face appeared in his thoughts.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbdkp5Ri8y

He remembered the old farm.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfregw4NdIf

The smell of fresh earth.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh7xO61FGp

The peaceful evenings in Ajanaku.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErF4IMXj9Q

For the first time, home no longer felt like something he had left behind.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrfNScP9iu

It felt like something he had lost.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArWHCL8gSr

Across the room, Musa sat quietly near the window.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHohbW7Nkym

The city lights flickered outside.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQeCEqwg0W

Beautiful.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjxt2Zlkna

Bright.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwegZU5asy

Cold.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0UqhyVm2a

He thought about his mother.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNpAOaq57r

About the promise he had made before leaving.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFIOT6Tymi

The promise to return successful.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M0kxkqY3l

The promise to make her proud.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cBtn33NWz

What would she think if she saw him now?

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6APOBZyIQ

Hungry.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpcSY1bhSd

Struggling.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DkG9AL7Cw

Lost.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUXA586cQx

The thought broke his heart.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJUWI3xjpp

Meanwhile, Emeka stared at his notebook.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECJJeN598P

For days he had been unable to write.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wt8GrRloA

The dreams that once filled its pages now felt distant.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ifODOsx0

Faded.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVLT3HHup8

Uncertain.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadaC30LJjY

For the first time, doubt entered his heart.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKn81YSyCO

Maybe the city was too big.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPJ53LcvZj

Maybe their dreams were too small.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZtRX82GM0

Maybe they were chasing something that did not exist.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksYBnhWqcJ

Morning arrived too quickly.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6gNqwsT78

And with it came reality.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTGtORC4gs

The landlord returned.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtzZBF5o64

This time he wasn't alone.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRtdNXxE2s

Two workers stood beside him.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOJ9s4MWzs

The message was clear.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qcPTwwwGd

"Have you brought the money?"

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MbuzzFOHT

Tunde lowered his head.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvoqiKAF6h

"No."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKQpDetrVH

The landlord sighed heavily.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqJMLPXsso

Then pointed toward their belongings.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW2nT8Zl8g

"Pack your things."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhrEsIynR6

The words struck them like a hammer.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslRkd7pS6V

Their room.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSVahlNrWt

Their shelter.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy9pGVKCz7

The only place they could call home.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Yj1DF4IL

Gone.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8lE9k0OhJ

Just like that.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv4KXzVs91

Within an hour, everything they owned sat beside the road.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRiz3vZwFT

Three bags.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwEQR2RrvR

Three exhausted young men.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P5DDEjLoT

And nowhere to go.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbzC2Cqi1w

People walked past them.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPazsTPJQRn

Some glanced briefly.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqrE7RXdGt

Most didn't look at all.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr8ZrYHx5T

The city had seen this story before.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtXsYeUI5P

Another group of dreamers struggling to survive.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghU1c2cAJ9

Another group of strangers learning how difficult life could be.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbyrwOo13f

Musa sat on the pavement.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87IYNqFUYW

For the first time since leaving Ajanaku, tears filled his eyes again.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeyUg8Dqej

"I don't understand."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw8W0WEYXw

Nobody answered.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcACsbziF2B

Because life does not always explain itself.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BETHITlpA

A passing elderly man noticed them.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHO60XG35e

He stopped.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOArpcHmXeG

Studied them carefully.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y0G3dIb6g

Then sat beside them.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx63EGpd2ii

"You boys look troubled."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvoNmh82c0

The statement almost made Tunde laugh.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduknbBExOH

Almost.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKD0geE8n8

The old man listened patiently as they explained their situation.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2kYbLIy6c

When they finished, he remained quiet for a long moment.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS4mjChrI3

Then he smiled.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB5kzM11ZO

"You remind me of myself."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh8llcnxAD

The boys looked surprised.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3MC2PmST2

The old man nodded.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6qeqqYKER

"Many years ago, I slept on these same streets."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOwS8s5N3h

Their eyes widened.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkuCq9JWts

"You?"

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo8JQjmDfd

"Yes."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtABXEY2no

The man laughed softly.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRT4nldpPy

"Success has a short memory, but hardship remembers everything."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuODF7BzE8d

The words carried wisdom.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg4K7dPriU

The old man pointed toward a nearby building.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruKHaBkmwa

"There is a shelter there."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnYNGEvzH4

The friends followed his finger.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5bfGsKIRF

A simple building stood several blocks away.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcioePId7DE

"It isn't perfect," the old man said.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi24p1GQJq8

"But it is better than the street."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXzdFAhED5

Hope flickered once again.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXFSo9Kyco

That afternoon, they visited the shelter.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDzASn5kfo

The conditions were basic.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgtWFj90QK

Crowded rooms.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Z2vp9li6

Simple beds.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevl16JlHl1

Shared facilities.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqq0ZqZeLf

Yet to them, it felt like a blessing.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReBgJKs2Qt

At least they would not sleep outside.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72Q9BJTXGa

At least they would have a roof.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP86Ku115qL

That night, as they settled into their new surroundings, they met many others.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOLcvFIzNw

Men and women from different places.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD49bFe3AUT

Different backgrounds.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIvXL4bQ8a

Different stories.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30jSnuepQG

Yet all carried the same burden.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdyY3R5Ukg

Struggle.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwE9sOayKV9

One man had lost his job.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwlWSqhqjs

Another had lost his business.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJAqImnaPn

A woman had lost her family.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSFIO7qPAW

Everyone seemed to be searching for something.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ933BGowfzN

Work.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYquO86dTc

Hope.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOv17eJPUb

Purpose.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9j5NSm7kG

A second chance.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CfmqLaLap

As Tunde listened to their stories, he realized something important.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0doXRZtyez

They were not alone.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGlcLyGmLj

Their suffering was not unique.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk23ZWkjqI1

Many people fought invisible battles every day.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQdtHBryVK

Many people carried wounds hidden behind ordinary faces.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPyo08mwNM

A Yoruba proverb says:

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXteUKlPfMd

"The market is full of heads, but every head carries its own load."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6YvNGaQgX

Everyone has a burden.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yyLxBhyMd

Everyone has a story.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAQTgFZYlC

Everyone has pain.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFw49k8zsI

That realization changed something inside him.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5bSD3gkV1

Late that night, the three friends sat together outside the shelter.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aZTzzfUp2

The city lights glittered in the distance.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Oqdi1ibmT

For a while, nobody spoke.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0xpOCzGMf

Finally, Musa broke the silence.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZJ69Jwds2

"Do you ever miss home?"

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLN9goIFks

The question lingered in the air.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkutqnYt2ho

Tunde nodded.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBjcuM4Ad4

"Every day."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uThro9y54

Emeka smiled sadly.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuVeWSMfBQ

"So do I."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2TujaVjFi

Silence returned.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXMUDsCtGg

But it felt different now.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWk7a4H9gG

Less painful.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d5cR6p5bo

More honest.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFbK9RxyIu

Because they were no longer pretending.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWfLbxiZIR

No longer acting strong.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq0lcCQYLQ

No longer hiding their feelings.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEAdlM2cKI

They missed home.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFnDs8GFB3

They missed their families.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLmxThRNTs

They missed certainty.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZCN3ZEphu

They missed belonging.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUHN1tQlYV

And perhaps that was normal.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62tPV720ec

After all, home is more than a place.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0vHlkn2tB

Home is where people know your name.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7pQLZIdjH

Home is where your absence matters.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt0VfwMq5n

Home is where your heart feels safe.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqwDJuRVEc

Before sleeping, Emeka opened his notebook once more.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6LbtqjOmJ

The words came slowly.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKqE269Xgo

But they came.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh9TGLTaMV

"Tonight we have no room of our own and no place to truly call home. Yet we still have each other. Perhaps home is not always a building. Perhaps sometimes home is the people who refuse to leave your side."

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JUMgw3Upm

He closed the notebook.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgFnZpddsk

The city remained awake outside.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSokg4S5JaZ

Endless.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuBIbhWTb1

Restless.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y3a2h1Xdc

Unforgiving.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f0ZkGVvcV

But somewhere beyond its noise and chaos, destiny was still moving.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ymyemswY5

Still working.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiUzzz763E

Still preparing the next chapter of their lives.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5bB0wqbDb

And though they could not see it yet, the darkest part of their journey was still ahead.

23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajvwDLVRl6
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmcEPy2bO4

ns216.73.216.66da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically