Six months didn't sound like a long time.

But it was long enough for a life to change shape.

It was September now. The rainy season was about to end. Lagos smelled like wet cement and suya smoke again.

My apartment still had the yellow curtains. I had refused to replace it. The plant now had three new leaves. I named it Kemi because naming it felt less scary now.

I woke up at 7 every morning. Not because anyone expectsmed me to. But because I liked the quiet before the generator people started with their noise.

The mornings were mine. I made tea with too much sugar. The cat-sunglasses...