Got to the park today &as usual they had doubled the tfare as they do when there’s traffic. As i was about boarding, this guy close to me whispered “sister, please can you help me? I don’t have tfare” At that point, a trailer drove by loudly, giving me the opportunity to look
away &pretend as though i hadn’t heard him. It was a time of the month when i was strung on cash& living on a very strict budget as i had settled heavy unexpected bills. So i wasn’t even in the mood to pay an already doubled fare, let alone for two people. Through my side eye, i
looked at him once more &saw he was embarrassed. I felt guilty &my lips moved of their own will. I gestured for him to get in before me. Only for me to realize he had another guy with him& the intent was to lap him. I felt pity for them. It took me back to when I was robbed
& stranded at 12am & a guy extended N500 to help me get home without even asking. The thing about helping people is that you never know the extent your help goes. It’s a ripple That simple gesture of course may not change the world but it could change one person’s life& make an
imprint forever in their mind. Halfway through the journey, a lady starts speaking frantically into the phone while sobbing. From her end of the conversation, it was apparent her brother had just died& she was rushing home I mused on how the travails of humans are indeed great.
Every single person has a part of their shoes that hurt them. I felt admonished & my own problems seemed pale in comparison to theirs I was broke but I knew i could feed properly & wouldn’t be unable to afford my fare. I introspected on how it was easy to believe i had all the
issues in the world when I was merely inconvenienced for a period A lot of people are going through a lot & I hope wherever we find ourselves, we are always able to extend a helping hand, a crying shoulder, a smile, a word of encouragement to others who desperately need it
