Ndekwoh Ojen

“That Promise” by Ndekwoh Ojen

It’s a quarter past 8am and Lizzy isn’t up yet. It’s unlike her, the workaholic but today seems different and she can’t tell why. She drags herself out to the bathroom, takes out the test strip to run it again on her urine to be double sure she’s not pregnant. The last time she felt like this was when she became late again and Ralph asked her to see her doctor for an abortion. It was the fourth time and the doctor had warned her about having any more if really wanted to become a mother in the future. She had revolted once and it almost cost ...

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“For Daughters Only” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #42

If you are a woman who has attained the ripe age of marriage but still stuck in your father’s house, and living in a society where only married women are considered responsible, you will understand perfectly my exposition. You will be so uncomfortable from the seeming isolation the society has left you in. Even your very own family will join the conspiracy. Your parents will call very often to remind you how old and close to their graves they are. They will compare you to your age mates who are already settled down. When the routine cal...

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“Strange Friendship; Familiar Ordeal” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #40

She sits there again today; on one of the steps of the pedestrian bridge, as she has done for the past two weeks I started coming here. It’s exactly the same spot she sits as though she has been told sitting on that spot would make life change its countenance from the wicked frown she has always known, to at least a smile, not a laugh. She wasn’t asking too much.Everyday, she succeeds in distracting me in particular, maybe because I allow myself to pay some attention to her or something. As I jog up and down the steps, she would look keenly ...

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“Doggy” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #38

The alarm clock goes off and Jide stretches himself off his orthopedic bed, wishing he didn’t have to work again today. He has been the backbone of a newly established ICT Company he is working with, doubling as the Operations Manager and IT Unit Head. “Oh! I thought I would be resting a little today but for that jerk of a boss who had to call to give additional inputs to that damn document!” Jide curses beneath his breath. With the total lockdown within his city, he doesn’t need to bother about commuting to the office. At least that wi...

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“The Unfriendly Friend” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #37

I awake to see everywhere in the room bright and beautiful and as I glance at the digital clock hanging firmly on the wall across, it reads 10:15am. Doubting it, I grab my wrist watch and it confirms it.“What! I can’t believe I’ve been sleeping for the past 12 hours." I can’t tell how it happened but it did. Maybe they were right after all. I feel much better. I sit on the bed for a while trying to figure out my first task in this new home, and suddenly the thoughts of the events of the last four months start pouring like torrents of a Novem...

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“Time Changes Yesterday.” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #35

I awake suddenly, with my left hand placed firmly below my left breast. I don't quite know the symptoms of a heart attack but I feel I'm not so far from one. I've been experiencing these feelings more frequently for the past four months. I manage to lie back on the bed with just my body while my mind stands at attention like a gallant soldier, trapped in its repetitive and ultimately self-defeating thought arcs.Tom sent me a mail to inform me that he was going to call me up today before coming over. We haven't really met and today is suppose...

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“Memories” by Ndekwoh Ojen

Submitted to Contest #14

Ours was a big old house in the center of a large compound mainly characterized by a quarter of a century old rickety thatch houses that served as homes to the thirteen legal wives of my grandfather. It was a beautifully hand-stoned semi modern house, the first of its kind in the area, with a refetory-like sitting room that never served its purpose. There were never chairs or tables except some old fashioned irreparable motorcycle parts all covered in thickets of cobwebs. Only the elite children lived in the big house with their father as th...

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