Asma'u tried regulating her heartbeat but she couldn't. It was nice someone wanted to get her out of this hell hole, but having to state what she had done is the hardest thing she'll ever do.

"Listen Asmawu, everyone in a prison didn't come here for vacation. You don't end up in prison for giving charity. No matter how bad it is, you have to open up and tell me" warden Adunni said staring straight into Asma'u's eyes. On normal days, she would have laughed her head off for warden Adunni's mispronunciation of her name. Now, she felt trapped. She looked away. Bringing this up would only make Yaya Ahmed run for his dear life. Words didn't form so she shut her mouth waiting for warden Adunni's decision. "If you are finding it hard to open up to me, I understand. I will find a way around this. You should thank Ahmed for wanting to get you out. He's a kind person" Warden Adunni said folding her hands. She peered at the beautiful kind girl, wondering what she had done that was so bad.

Unknown to them, Hafsat was standing by the door eavesdropping. She was about to go keep the broom she had used for the sweeping when she heard Ahmed's name being mentioned. She quickly hid to listen to what warden Adunni and Asma'u were talking about. When she heard everything, she felt a jab of anger and jealousy towards Asma'u. Ever since she's been with her, people are always trying to help Asma'u. Both of them had blood flowing through their veins. What exactly does Asma'u has that she does not possess. She closed the door waiting for them to disperse before she comes in.

Asma'u excused herself. She went back to the bookshelf, where Cobra and Vivian stood listening to their conversation. Cobra and Vivian didn't pry, as Asma'u wasn't willing to talk about it. Vivian packed 3 northern books for Asma'u. She asked her to send them back through her mother, and she will send more to her. Asma'u thanked her profusely, at least she'll extend her vocabulary with the books. The first time she was brought to the prison, she couldn't even speak a word in English. Communication had been hard for her. Now, she would twist past tense and present tense. All that matters is they can understand her.

Asma'u sat beside Cobra, as she thought about Ahmed and how he might react when he finds out she had stabbed a man to death. The drive back to the prison was a quiet one. Everyone was tired from the house chores. On getting back to the prison, Asma'u quickly took a bath and wore fresh clothes, then she brought out her food and shared with Grace. They didn't eat much from the kitchen that day, having a good home made meal had a way of satisfying anyone no matter how little it might be.

.........................

"I am going to the gym" Ahmed told his mother without sparing her a glance as he was late already. He ran out of the house to the parking lot scared he might be late. Ever since he spoke to Warden Adunni about Asma'u, he had decided to get his best friend Muhammad popularly known as Moh to help out with the case. Apparently, Moh is a lawyer. They've been buddies since secondary school. The plan was they were going to meet at the gym then they would head to warden Adunni's place. She is always at home during the weekends. Bala stood by the driver's side picking his teeth. Ahmed groaned when he noticed Bala had no intention of moving.

"Ina kwana Ahmadii" Bala greeted earning a glare. Ahmed cannot understand why Bala is glued to the driver’s side.

"Morning, can you step aside please. I have a place to go" Ahmed stated eyeing Bala wearily. Bala ignored Ahmed's remark. On queue his mother came out from the house all dolled up, Ahmed checked the time. It is 8:00am, where on Earth is she going this early? "Ummi, where are you going to this early morning?" Ahmed asked frustratingly, unless she's turned to a christain and is going to church, who dresses up this early, on a Sunday morning.

"I am going to Mama Amirah's place. Hand the keys to Bala" she replied curtly adjusting her beautifully patterned white veil. He didn't want to know what she is going there for. The only thing he wanted was to be in the gym with Moh. "We will drop you off at the gym, then come pick you up when you're done" Hajiya Ruqayya said smiling and blinking multiple times. Ahmed became dumbfounded. He didn't want to go to with her. She was only trying to know what he's been up to. While it lasted, he had been happy she's found her business. It took most of her time, and he did whatever he wanted. Why was she back on his case all of a sudden?

"No, use your car. I want to go in my car" he replied frowning deeply.

"But your car is smaller and cozy. It doesn't take much space. We could overtake however we want. The big car on the other hand takes space. I wouldn't be able to squeeze into spaces" his mother complained getting into his car. He wasn't about to drag her out of the car. With all indication, she's made up her mind. He threw the keys to Bala and dropped his gym bag in the booth, then hauled himself in the passenger’s side making sure he banged the door. She needed to know his displeasure. She noticed but she honestly didn't care.

There was absolutely no one on the street. Compared to working days, the road is as free as a bird. They parked the car in front of the gym. He got out, mumbling incoherent words. He opened the booth and started storming to the entrance of the gym.

"What's in your gym bag, Ahmadii?" His mother asked pushing her head through the window. Ahmed closed his eyes for a few seconds taking a long breath to calm himself down. She called it a gym bag for crying out loud. He ignored her. He heard her chuckling along with Bala. With a big frown, he stormed into the gym. Moh was nowhere to be found so he quickly dials his number.

"Bring your car when you're coming. My mother hijacked mine" he ended the call without waiting for Moh to taunt him. He stepped on the treadmill and started working out.

"Ahmadii?" He heard his mother's voice. He turned to her almost loosing his balance. He turned off the machine and stared at her questioningly. She scared the living daylights out of him.

"When are we picking you up?" She asked looking around the gym for God knows what.

"Don't come for me. Moh and I are going to hang out after our work out. I'll be home for dinner Ummi" he said looking at her.  She nodded still scanning the gym. He wondered what she was looking for. She needed to leave now. So, he held her hand and guided her out of the place. He didn't get back inside, not until he saw to it that Bala had driven the car away. Releasing a breath he had absolutely no idea he was holding, he smiled a little before going back into the gym. Moh came in five minutes later; Ahmed was quick to relay his drama with his mother to him. They exercised for an hour, checked beautiful girls out for 30 minutes. Apparently some girls don't go to church, before they left to go freshen up in Moh's family house. To his greatest surprise, Ahmed found his mother there. Moh had suggested them to just bath in the gym then find their way to warden Adunni's house. Ahmed insisted they go home so he could greet Moh's parents. It's been awhile since he's seen them last. They had brunch, took a nap, prayed zuhr and Asr before leaving. Hajiya Ruqayya had left already. She appreciated the fact that her son hadn't lie to her about his whereabouts. She had intentionally come to Moh's house. If she had seen Kemi anywhere around her son, all hell would have broken loose. Bala had informed her about Ahmed's escapades with Kemi.

When they got to warden Adunni's house, Vivian had been the one to welcome them in. Moh kept checking her out as she tried serving them with refreshments before her mother attend to them. It took a swerve on the head to get Moh to take his eyes off someone's daughter.

"Thank you for accepting our request to come see you on such short notice" Ahmed said when Warden Adunni plopped down the sofa. She nodded before turning to Moh who was greeting and asking about her family. After exchanging pleasantries, Ahmed asked her.

"Did she tell you?" Warden Adunni shook her head indicating no.

"That was why I sent for you, she panicked when I asked her. With all indication, she does not talk about it. So, I went for a little digging of my own. It might interest you to know, I couldn't find her file"

Moh and Ahmed exchanged confused glances. How's that possible? No one stays in a prison without being sentenced.

"Doesn't she have a special number or something?" Moh asked being the one familiar with criminal cases.

"I used to think so, but after checking I realized the numbers tallied with the prisoners, no number was skipped....."

"How's that possible?" Moh asked staring at warden Adunni who shrugged carrying the same confused expression.

"I will check again tomorrow. I will ask other wardens questions. I find it strange she has no file in there" Warden Adunni said. Ahmed who had been mute since when they started talking heaved a sigh. He knew this was going to be hard, he just didn't know it will be this hard.

"Thank you so much for everything ma, do contact me if you find anything" Ahmed said dejectedly. Warden Adunni noticed his change if mood immediately.

"Hey, do not stress yourself about it. I am sure we will find her file. After some questions around, I am pretty sure we will get to the bottom of this uhmm?!" She hummed.

Ahmed smiled wearily. After staying for another 20 minutes, they took their leave.

……………….........

Asma'u tossed and turned on her bed in her prison cell. Yet again, she's had another dream. This time around, he was chocking and vomiting lots of blood until he gave up ghost.

"Another dream?" Grace asked startling Asma'u. Grace had woken up on different occasions to find Asma'u seated on her bed. It wouldn't take any sane man long to understand the girl is having trouble sleeping peacefully.

"Yes" Asma'u replied sniffing. The cold is becoming unbearable. Thankfully her immune system isn't weak; she knew she would have fallen sick by now. They had no duvet, blanket or even a wrapper to cover them selves.

"Sorry" Grace said feeling bad for the poor girl. Asma'u smiled even though she knew Grace wouldn't see her. She lay back down. She waited for a while for the adhaan to be called, but it seemed as though the nightmare visited earlier. Asma'u turned to the wall, she wiped a tear when she remembered how happy she was when she was a little girl. Though they weren't rich, her family provided her with almost anything she's ever needed. A small smile crept onto her face when she remembered how she and her friends bath in the river early in the morning  after fetching water for their parents. She remembered her closest friend Zuwaira. Zuwaira is probably a mother by now. She wondered how life had been for them in her village. She wondered how they've been coping without her.

"Mama her portion is bigger and I am older fah" her immediate brother Yaquba had yelled on top of his voice when his mother was dishing their food out one hot evening. Their mother eyed him before hissing. Yaquba angrily left the food without eating it. Asma'u couldn't help but feel guilty that Yaquba wasn't eating so she refused to eat too. Her mother wasn't the type to pamper kids. She ignored both of them, making sure to keep their food in the kitchen. The two kids went to bed without eating. The growling of her stomach woke her up. She could feel spiky pain in her stomach indicating that she is hungry. She left her room, ignoring the fear of the dark she had and headed to the kitchen.

A small chuckle left Asma'u's mouth as she remembered the sight she saw in the kitchen. Yaquba sprawled on the ground eating his food like his life depended on it. Apparently he was woken up by hunger too. Both of them sat on the kitchen floor with their individual plates and ate their food.

She chuckled again remembering her mother's screeching yells about a big fat rat in the house. Her mother went on and on about how a rat had eaten two plates of food. Now that she was thinking about it. She realized her mother knew it was her and her brother that ate their dinner late. With that smile etched on her face, Asma'u slept off, into a quite long dreamless sleep.