1 Cold Wind (Prologue)

LAGOS, NIGERIA

Her eyes were closed shut as though she was asleep.

It was raining that morning and the cold wind followed. Michelle wasn't ready to leave the comfort of her bed because of the comfortable weather.

They had been praying for the rain to come for a while now, the sun was always so hot it felt like they shared gates with hell.

Ping!

Ping!

Ping!

Michelle opened her eyes irritated and glared at her brother's phone which was left charging in her room since last night.

She stared at the notifications and her eyes widened in surprise and annoyance.

'My family and I have decided to come to Nigeria for the holidays, As long as your house is always opened to us'

She saw the name of the sender 'Roland'

She knew very well who he was because of the number of times her brother had bragged about his Facebook friend from USA who became his best friend.

Michelle had never seen the guy before and always warned her brother that it was a fake account. Now that she saw this message, she couldn't help the bubbling excitement in her that Americans were actually coming to their house.

"John! Jooohn!!!" Michelle yelled her brother's name. Despite him being two years older than her, he never treated her like other typical seniors and always made feel like they were thesame age. She wasn't scared of what his reaction would be hearing her call him so rudely but she immediately regretted it remembering that her parents were still home.

"Michelle!!!" Once she heard her father's deep voice she muttered regretfully to herself "Should have used my inside voice...."

"Sir?!!" She yelled back before kicking her sheets away, grabbing her brother's phone and running out of her room.

Standing in front of her father in the living room, Michelle stared at her feet guiltily while her father reprimanded her.

"Your brother is two years older than you! I have told you times without number to give him the respect he deserves" Michelle nodded as she listened to her normal routine every morning.

"Daddy just let her be, I don't mind" Johnny came down the stairs and and wrapped his arms around his sister's shoulders. Seeing her brother, her eyes twinkled with hope.

The old man sighed and picked up a news paper to read, he would never understand this son of his.

"So why were you yelling my name so loud? Did you win the lottery?.....Ah!" Johnny suddenly pointed at her angrily "Did you break my phone?!!!"

Michelle rolled her eyes and raised the phone screen to her brother's face.

Unlocking the phone, his thin lips curled into an arc as he stared at it.

"So he finally decided to come"

Michelle stared at her brother surprised, why did he not seem as excited as her.

"So when are you going to tell Mr Thomas?" Michelle said referring to their father.

Johnny looked at her as guilt flashed by his beautiful eyes.

"You should learn to call him daddy like the rest of us do"

Michelle smiled bitterly as she looked away "Its not like he would let me...." she said in a low voice. Johnny patted her head seeing her sad expression which she quickly pushed away.

His lips curled into a playful smile as he said "I dey for you[1]"

Michelle scoffed and rolled her eyes, still she felt warm inside as she finally smiled at her brother.

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NEW YORK CITY, USA

"Are we really going to Nigeria this spring break?!!!" Hearing his sister's high pitched voice, Roland fought the urge to plug in his earplugs.

"Yes..." he said through gritted teeth. This was the third time she had asked him in just one hour.

Their mother noticed the boy's mood and smiled "Don't mind your sister, she's just really excited. Right Janet?"

Janet nodded vigorously before playing with the child in her mother's arms.

"We're going to Africa Leo.....we are going to freaking Africa!!!" Janet pinched the boys cheek causing him to giggle.

"So has your friend replied back? Are we staying with them or booking a hotel?"

Roland sighed "They probably just woke up mom, give it a few hours or so, he would still have to ask his parent's permission and John says his father is really strict"

"Aren't they all....." His mother said to herself before looking up at her son and nodding.

"When did you grow so tall?" The woman couldn't help but ask, staring at the 19year old who was now taller than her by a few inches.

Roland laughed and winked at his mother "This is the consequences of making me eat vegetables"

They both laughed and chatted for a while before Roland left for college and dropping off his sister on the way.

While driving, he finally got the reply he had been waiting for.

'John: My father has no problem with it, when are you coming? I can't wait to introduce you to my sisters.'

Roland's lips curled up as he replied 'Roland: Spring break starts next week, so expect us in 8 days. I can't wait to introduce you to my sister as well, for some reason I feel she lives you more now :-D'

Roland set his phone down and continued driving. Although he didn't show it, he himself was also excited to go to Nigeria. Mostly to meet John in person, the person who became his best friend and confidant, the person who helped him through so many problems and had gone through a lot himself.

Roland wanted to meet him just so he could think him in person.

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I dey for you: Pidgin[2] for "I'm here for you"

Pidgin: A broken English language a few African's speak. It is very common for those who have a hard time speaking correct English.