Ashes of the Phoenix

. The small studio in Ilodé was glowing with life. Sketches hung on the walls like artwork, colorful fab

ldn't sto

er candlelight to walking the Abuja runway," s

dow, forced a tired smile.

he way Tolani avoided her eyes. She couldn't imagine her best fri

dnight and promised to meet

er came the way

43

ed it. But when her neighbor, Mama Bisi, banged on

shop! Your

o

er heart thundering like a storm. When sh

gs gav

ery fabric, every dress was gone. Completely emptied out like it never exis

ammered, already d

ched

in. And again

ew shaky. Pan

re. Some said she left in a black SUV at dawn. Others said she

the truth

d stolen

betrayal, the loss, the shame. It wasn't just about money or clothes. It

wandered Ilodé like a ghost, hiding from q

e the fi

heard a group of students talking excitedly. They

istress Olohun na! Mad oh! Ember

a fr

red silks, the golden embroidery, the fire motif

me? Ember

s her

name was

side Ilodé, the ones her grandmother once warned her about. The wind how

she whi

she do th

ars were left. She thought of jump

ind s

her chest. The air shimmered, and suddenly - a flame ros

he flame step

randm

glowing, she reached forwar

fire is your path. You were not meant

ds lit up with soft fire, glowing with energy she never kn

r just a girl wh

ginning of som

s fire