One advice that constantly save me from casualties

“We have been looking everywhere for you madam, where did you go?”

I was a full-grown adult with the right to freedom of movement, why were they making a fuss about it? And why did that Charity of a girl have to call my older siblings?

Source
I shook my head in annoyance and headed up the stairs of my sister's house after replying that I went to look for where to power my phone since we didn't have power supply for three days at a stretch.

I was almost caving into the demands of slumber when I heard the room door creak open.

“Were you sleeping? Sorry to wake you up.”

I muttered “No problem” and sat up.

“Treasure, I'm sorry about earlier. We didn't mean to embarrass you like that.”

I sighed wearily and rubbed my eyes. I just returned from a very long day and wasn't in the mood for additional stress, so I told her it was fine and made to lie down again but she reached out and touched my arm.

“I want you to learn something from this incident. I know you may be upset with Charity, but it's not her fault. She was really worried about you.”

I sat up when she spoke about my roommate.

“This is not the first time I'm leaving the house and returning late. Why did she have to raise an alarm where there was none?”

“But Treasure, how could you leave the house without informing her of your whereabouts, then return as late as this?”

That same Charity had left the house without returning at all and only called me when she needed extra money for transport the next morning. I didn't call her family members then.

“Big sis, I only went to church to charge my phone. Charity was sleeping when I left and seeing that my phone was completely low, I couldn't call her later. In fact, I didn't plan to go to church, that was my last option.”

“Treasure, no one is doubting you, but your approach was wrong.” She rose to plug in her phone as the power supply was restored. “You would have left a note saying you were out to charge your phone. And when your phone had charged to a certain extent, you should have reached out to her….”

I scoffed; did I need to start reporting my everyday life to Charity now?

“.... if anything had happened to you” my sister was saying “she would be the first person everyone would ask for your whereabouts. Make an effort to communicate next time. It would save everyone the stress of worrying.”

I made a mental note to incorporate that into my lifestyle. However, I learned how important that simple advice was, almost a year later.

I had a spoken word performance in a local church on the 10th of February 2023. Charity was to accompany me so as to make videos of my performance, but eventually, she ended up with a running stomach throughout the day, so I asked her not to worry.

After the program, I stayed back a little to power my phone while pretending to be exchanging pleasantries with the pastor's wife and other familiar faces. It was almost 8 already but I decided to wait some more, “I'll leave when my phone is 50 percent.” I said to one of the ushers who asked why I hadn't left yet.

When I successfully had my phone up to 50 percent, I began my journey back home, alone. I had just gotten to a particular place, famous for its notoriety at night when a tricycle pulled up beside me. I shook my head to indicate that I wasn't going to board it, but someone held me back.

“Treasure, get in” it was my best friend, David.

“What are you doing here?” I was both pleased and relieved to see him.

“I went to your house to look for you, but Charity said you weren't back yet. It's late already and we both know how dangerous this country is, so I decided to come pick you up myself. Especially since your phone is switched off.”

I was amazed.

“So, what if you didn't find me? That too was risky, you know.”

“Charity told me the program was to end by 7:30, I calculated that you would still be around this axis even if you had left the church already.”

I silently thanked my sister for the piece of advice she had given, imagine I hadn't told Charity where I had gone and the details of the program. I still do it to date, telling not just Charity but also the important people in my life where I am, with whom, and what I am doing there.

It has continued to save me from casualties.