UI Diary

Episode 1 & 2

Clutching my cardigan tighter to my chest, I shivered slightly in the biting cold. I drew my notebook closer as I began to study in earnest. Slowly, I recited the formulas to myself over and over again. With bated breath, I paused a beat and started cramming the formulas frantically. Over and over again, I crammed with an urgency that rivaled a rap beat. After some agonizing minutes, I stretched my back and relieved all the terrible kinks in my spine.

Yawning loudly, I began to walk towards the central library to relieve myself. As I drew closer to the back of the library basement, I could perceive the stench that was common to the place. Urine and fecal wastes. Holding my nose, I ran as fast as I could towards the open plain across the Library car park. Looking around the car park, I couldn’t help but bemoan my fate. The electricity in the whole campus including the Central Library had gone out which had left us students no option than to read under streetlights in the Faculty of Arts Quadrangle.

As my footsteps rang loudly in the gravely silent night, I realized I didn’t bring my phone for torchlight. I began to contemplate going back when leaves crunched behind me. Startled, I shouted into the dark. “Who goes there?”. “Who’s that?”. After what felt like an eternity, I didn’t receive any response. Beyond frightened, I shouted again, “Who is that now?. It’s not funny joor”. Still I received no response. At this I began to question my sanity. I started chanting Psalm 91 silently. Somewhat calm, I retraced my steps. I had only gone about six steps when I felt a touch on my left elbow. Frozen in place, I began to sob. This time it felt REAL. “Who’s there now?. This is not funny anymore”. I waited and no sound was heard again. I prepared myself to run towards the other direction when I ran straight into a wall of chest

Shaking visibly, I felt a set of hands steady me. I shook my hands forth and back as no words escaped my mouth. “Please who are you?. You scared me half to death”

“I’m a student just like you”, came a deep tilting voice.

“What are you doing here by this time?”

“I came to study in the library”

Straining my eyes in the pitch darkness, I tried to see the stranger’s face but all I could peer into was a tall form and a thin beard.

“Alright if you don’t mind I have to go back to studying too”

As I made to leave, he called after me, “Please don’t tell anyone you met me here”

“Why?”, I quizzed

“Because nobody will believe you”

“And why won’t they?”

“Cos I attended this school years ago”

“And?”

“I died twelve years ago”

My legs acted before I could think

Screeching at the top of my voice, I shouted” Egbami o. Oku o”

Crying, I ran to one of the night guards but I couldn’t get out a coherent thought. Ugly fat tears ran down my cheeks as I relived the last few minutes. Running into the Library, I hugged the first person I found.

“Bros Abeg hold me Wella. I just saw a ghost. Hold me Wella. Please I am the only girl in my family. I’m in 200 level please. My life has not even started”

(Comments are highly appreciated)