Where We Are

This is how it looked on my umpteenth birthday. 

As I sat in a Lagos restaurant by myself, sipping on exotic 'sparkling wine' (that was thankfully not South African!) that I couldn't afford and celebrated a birthday that came too soon, sooner than I had something to celebrate. I had quit my job a month prior to this and completed my notice period a mere 6 days before my birthday. And the eternal optimist inside of me had assumed that in the 30 days since I turned in my notice I would have scored a new job. However, that optimist forgot that this is Nigeria and this is me, with no family connections, no daddy or rich uncle to call in a favor, no friends, and no lovers to hook me up with the intricate network that one needs to score a job in this city. 

So there I was, nursing so much doubt mixed with hope as I sat in that restaurant that afternoon right before they closed their lunch service, forcing a smile for the 'Gram and the record books (how would it be if there are no pictures ever to commemorate the day). By the time they handed me the check, and the exorbitant trumped up charge of the fancied sparkling wine that was still NOT Champagne, I just muttered to myself, "I am so screwed." It had been forever since I vacationed on a budget. More so with so much uncertainty ahead of me, what was life serving me? Challenges with my faux Champagne? Can I turn it back along with the check?

Where we are is NOT Who we are....one can only hope