Morning light spills through the curtains mrs lawal finds amina sitting at the dining table, eyes ringed with exhaustion
Mrs lawal
(sitting beside her, gently)
Amina, my dear, you can't keep sitting like this all day of course you'll start seeing things.
Amina
(quiet, defensive)
It's not because I'm tired, Mum I know what I saw I'm not making things up neither is anything wrong with me
Mrs lawal reaches across the table, squeezing her daughter's hand.
Mrs lawal
(soft, reassuring)
What you need is a little distraction. How about this this afternoon, we'll go out for a few days Fresh air, fresh food new environment It'll clear your head.
Amina doesn't answer. She just stares at the wall until Mrs. Lawal forces a smile.
A green, quiet retreat palm trees sway, soft music filters through open halls. Guests in white robes sip juice.
Amina tries to settle into a massage chair while mrs lawal closes her eyes with relief.
Mrs lawal
(whispering, content)
See that? already better than that stuffy flat.
Amina nods faintly but when the massage chair hums, she sees her shadow on the tiled floor twitching out of sync with her body.
She jolts upright mrs lawal frowns.
Mrs lawal
Amina, abeg relax please. Don't spoil this for yourself.
Waves crash softly. Children run barefoot on the sand. Amina and mrs lawal sit under a parasol, suya and drinks on the table.
For a moment, Amina actually smiles, letting the sea wind wash over her.
Then she glances down her shadow stretches across the sand but it points away from the sun, like it belongs to something else.
AMINA (hoarse, trembling)
Mum, do you see it? Look look at the sand!
Mrs. Lawal follows her gaze all she sees is sun and sea.
Mrs lawal
(voice firm)
Amina It's only the sun playing tricks. Stop feeding this fear eat something
Remember why we're here and stop overthinking you need to clear your mind.
She presses a skewer of suya into Amina's mouth, though her own eyes keep flicking back to the sand.
Later in the night mrs lawal lies on the bed reading, while amina stands by the window looking at the scenery outside
Suddenly, both the bathroom and the room light switches on by itself a faint splash echoes, though the tap is off.
AMINA (whispers)
You hear that, don't you?
Mrs lawal stiffens but doesn't look up from her book.
Mrs Lawal
Old plumbing. Ignore it.
But her fingers tighten on the page until it nearly tears.
Morning mrs lawal insists on one last walk by the shore. They stroll barefoot, waves licking their ankles.
MRS. LAWAL
(smiling, trying to be light)
Three days of peace. When we go home, you'll feel stronger and relaxed.
Amina doesn't answer she's staring at their reflections in the wet sand her mother's looks normal.
But hers her reflection smiles back at her, wide and wrong, though her own face is blank.
Amina (panicked whisper)
It's here. It came with me.
She grabs her mother's arm mrs lawal pulls away sharply, bewildered and confused
Mrs Lawal
Stop!!! enough of all this even when we're not in the apartment you're still seeing things amina what is wrong with you,at this point you need to stop and stop making it looks like something's wrong with you.If the house is haunted is this place also haunted?
We're going back home you don't actually need any relaxation
Evening they unlock the apartment door. The air is colder than outside, faintly damp.
MRS. LAWAL
(cheerful, forcing it)
See? We've rested. Now we'll come back with fresh energy.
Amina lingers in the doorway, hugging herself.
AMINA
(quiet, tense)
It's still here. It didn't stop.
Mrs. Lawal sighs and ushers her in.
Later that night, amina standing by the balcony while on call with zara
Amina, listen to me you're stressing too much you need to talk to someone properly,you know I've said it before buh you don't just listen
Amina
(whispering)
You don't believe me either.
Zara
I believe you're scared,but maybe talking it out will help. You know I care, right?
Amina doesn't answer she stares outside while lost in thought.
Next morning, mrs lawal sits with tea, carefully choosing her words.
Mrs Lawal
Amina, I've booked an appointment with a therapist. Just one session to start.
Amina's head jerks up.
Amina
(angrily)
You think I'm mad.
Mrs Lawal
No. I think you need someone else to talk to, if you can't talk to me. You're carrying too much inside.
AMINA
(bitter, sobbing)
I tried talking. Nobody listens.
Mom even if nobody believes me you're supposed to believe me mom I'm not imagining anything neither am I mad or crazy I don't need any therapist
Mrs Lawal's moves closer to amina
My dear I want the best for you God forbid my daughter will be mad i just want you to be okay and back to being yourself
That evening, while mrs lawal fetches water, she hears faint laughter her daughter's voice echoing from the far end of the corridor.
She freezes amina is inside the bedroom
At the corridor's end, amina's shadow stands waiting.
Mrsnlawal's breath shakes.
Mrs lawal( panicked)
You didn't see that. You didn't.
She hurries back into the room, slamming the door softly behind her.
Later that night, while amina speaks with zara on her phone.
Amina
(pleading)
Zara, please come just come and stay one night.
Zara
Amina, I can't right now work is killing me. Please, try the therapist. Please,for me.
Amina swallows hard.
Amina (hoarse whisper)
You'll see. You'll all see.
Behind her, her shadow slowly lifts its hand and waves toward the phone screen.
Scratch… scratch… scratch.
The sound grows from inside the walls. Amina bolts upright.
Amina
(hoarse whisper)
Mum,do you hear it. Tell me you hear it.
Mrs. Lawal sits rigid in bed, lips pressed thin. The sound is clear: nails dragging through plaster.
Her hand trembles, clutching her rosary under the sheet.
Mrs lawal(forcing calm)
Rats. Just rats. Nothing more.
But her eyes never leave the shadow standing upright on the wall its head tilted toward her, though Amina hasn't moved.