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As I sauntered into the hospital (building), a sharp smell hit my nostril, a mix of yellow-malaria tablet and disinfectant. It filled the air in the reception area, and the people spread across the room seemed comfortable with it, (or didn't mind the smell). As l looked across the rows of people sitting, I sighted mum in the backseat, beckoning at me (to come). Reluctantly, I scrunched my face in disgust dragging myself up to her. As I do so, many or perhaps all eyes turned from the tv face at me. Although I didn't look back, l sensed them.

I sat quietly beside her and heaved a sigh. ????????????'???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????.

"What's wrong?" mum asked

" Ogun. Mo gborun ogun." ( Drug. I smell drug)
I told her.

she slightly hissed and looked away. " Where's your father? " she looked back to me.

" He's coming," I answered uninterestedly

My focus in on what I'll be facing. Uneasiness swirls through me like oxygen flows through the blood. Why won't it? When l have heard worse. Even Big bro, in his words, stated: Omo na pain o!

The memory of this words always killed any hint of courage I manage to have.

I turn to mum. " Mummy, will they give me sleeping pills?

Her expression displayed uncertainty. " Well, you just have to wait till then. They may give you."

In that moment, Dad walked in and joined us in the backseat.
" Shey awon doctor o ti da yin lo won ni?" (have the doctors not attended to you?)
he asked facing mum.

" Rara." (No) Mum replied.

Then, immediately, a nurse beckoned at us " E ma bo"
she told me to stand on a (kind of) weight balance and ascertained a measurement. After jotting few words in her notebook, she asked that we followed her. My anxiety had steeped-up. The time is nigh I knew.

We went through a well- illuminated corridor and when we approached a stairs, the nurse cast a glance at my parents. " You may go. There's restriction to non-personnel. I'll take him from here" At once, a chill zinged down my spine. ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????? ????????????????. Now, I have to face this alone, without mum, without my parents. ( I wanted to cry).

I looked back at my parents. They didn't say nothing. Mum had told me that this is a necessity. ???? ???????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????, I thought. Dad only gave that reassuring smile. And mum, she seemed to pray in her mind. I tried to put on the bravest face I could to keep mum at ease. To show her I wasn't afraid and all will be fine, and she needn't be afraid, too.

I waited for mum to say something —anything, before l proceeded. But nothing came. Although, in some kind of way I couldn't explain, her silence consoled me.

???????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????, ???????????? ???????????? ????????????, ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????????????.

The nurse led the way, and I followed like an obedient cat raiks after its mistress..