That night, NEPA took the light.
One moment the bulb above the dining table glowed weakly yellow. The next moment, darkness swallowed the house whole.
"Yeeeh!" Tobe shouted dramatically. "Kidnappers!"
"Shut up!" Ruth and Kim snapped together.
From outside came the familiar chorus of annoyed neighbors.
"Up NEPA!"
"Bring back the light!"
"Haa God abeg!"
Kim laughed under her breath and reached for the rechargeable lamp Mama kept on top of the fridge. The lamp flickered alive, painting the kitchen walls orange. Shadows stretched across the room like long fingers.
Ruth dried her hands quietly.
Daddy is coming tomorrow.
The sentence kept circling inside her head like a trapped mosquito.
She hated the effect he had on the house.
Whenever Daddy was away, the place breathed differently. Louder. Freer. Mama sang while cooking. Tobi played football indoors until somebody shouted. Kim danced around while sweeping. Ruth herself even slept better.
But when Daddy returned, the walls seemed to stand straighter.
Everybody adjusted.
Everybody watched their tone.
Everybody became careful.
Especially Mama.
Kim carried the last plate to the rack and yawned. "If Daddy is truly coming tomorrow, this house will turn military barracks again."
"Talk quietly," Ruth warned instantly.
Kim scoffed. "See fear."
"It's not fear."
"Then what is it?"
Ruth opened her mouth, then closed it.
She didn't know how to explain it.
How Daddy could enter a room and silence would rush in after him.
How Mama's smile became smaller whenever he was around.
How even the sound of spoons against plates during dinner felt dangerous.
Tobi hopped off the counter. "Last time Daddy came back he brought biscuits."
Kim folded her arms. "And last time rain fell, goat still got wet. What's your point?"
"But maybe he'll bring something again."
Ruth looked away.
Children always remembered gifts first.
Older people remembered wounds.
The front gate suddenly rattled outside.
All three froze.
Another rattle.
Kim frowned. "Mama?"
Ruth checked the wall clock. 10:58 PM.
Too late.
Their mother usually returned before ten unless transport was bad.
The gate shook again, harder this time.
Tobi climbed onto a chair to peep through the window curtains.
Then his face drained of color.
"It's Daddy."
The room went still.
Completely still.
Kim laughed nervously. "Stop lying joor."
"I'm serious."
Ruth's stomach tightened.
Impossible.
He wasn't supposed to arrive until tomorrow.
Heavy footsteps approached the front door.
Then came three hard knocks.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
Not the gentle kind Mama used.
Daddy knocked like somebody announcing war.
Nobody moved.
Another knock thundered through the house.
"Open this door!"
His deep voice cut through the darkness.
Tobi nearly jumped out of his skin.
Kim whispered, "Why is he back today?"
Ruth swallowed hard.
Through the thin curtain beside the window, headlights from a car outside flashed briefly across the room, illuminating their frightened faces for one cold second before darkness swallowed them again.
Another knock.
"Are all of you deaf?!"
Ruth finally forced her legs to move.
As she walked toward the door, every step felt heavier than the last.
And behind her, the rechargeable lamp flickered once.
Twice.
Then dimmed. 🔥