Chapter 2: The Weight of Expectations
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The transition to junior secondary school marked a turning point. The new school was just a few miles from home but worlds apart in experience. Known for its strict discipline, it was handpicked by his father — a man convinced that structure and order were the only cures for his son’s perceived flaws.
But for a boy already drowning in self-doubt, with confidence hanging by a thread, this new environment wasn’t a solution — it was a battleground.
The towering gates of the school stood like a fortress, warning of the rigidity inside. On his first day, as he passed through them, a deep dread settled over him. The crisp uniform, the military-like schedules, the stern gazes of teachers — it was all too much. Yet, hidden within that harsh reality, his alter-ego Tiny continued to flourish. Tiny — bold, fearless, untouchable — became his refuge.
A Different Kind of Escape
Oddly enough, the school brought a strange kind of relief. He no longer had to fear walking home under the weight of his father’s wrath. Being away from home, even under strict rules, gave him breathing space. In those classrooms, despite the pressure, he could lose himself — in lessons, in books, in ideas bigger than his current life.
The school library became his sanctuary. There, between pages of fantasy and far-off lands, he imagined a better version of himself. A life with purpose. A life with peace. A life beyond fear.
Tiny: The Silent Warrior
On the outside, he was quiet, obedient, just another face in the crowd. But inside, Tiny fought battles he couldn’t. Tiny said the things he was too afraid to say. Tiny navigated the school's complex social codes with a bravery he only wished he had. This duality kept him going — a quiet boy hiding a fierce warrior within.
Friendships came slowly. Trust was difficult. Every connection was cautious, guarded. But even brief moments of laughter and shared secrets were gold — rare glimmers of belonging in a life of shadows.
Pushed to Succeed, Pressured to Survive
Despite the emotional weight, he excelled in his academics. Not to impress his father — but to escape him. Every test passed, every award earned, was a silent step closer to freedom. Still, the fear of failure hovered constantly. His father's expectations weren’t goals — they were threats.
One ordinary day shifted everything.
With just enough money for transportation and a small snack, he made his usual trek home — this time, alone. Lost in thought, he barely noticed the familiar honk of the sky-blue Volkswagen. Fear hit him like a wave. That car never brought good news. And when he saw his father, his mother, and grandmother inside… he knew what was waiting for him at home. Pain.
Small Victories in Secret
By JSS3, the pressure intensified. Junior WAEC loomed, and with it, a long holiday he dreaded — weeks of being trapped under his father's roof. After the exams, he was given the option to learn a skill: dry cleaning and laundry, photography, or computer basics. He chose all three — not for ambition, but to delay going home.
A few weeks in, he dropped the laundry training. Something had sparked in him: a love for photography and graphic design. For once, he had found something he was naturally good at. But he couldn't dare share this with his father. His joy felt fragile — and his father’s words had a way of shattering things.
Weekends remained tense. Sundays were the worst — knowing he’d have to face his father’s interrogation, the subtle jabs, the sharp silences. And yet, week after week, he survived.
The Confrontation
One day, it all boiled over. A confrontation that came out of nowhere — but was years in the making. For the first time, he stood up for himself. His voice trembled, but it didn't break. His words didn’t come out polished, but they came out true.
The aftermath was harsh — like he expected — but something had shifted inside him. He had tasted defiance. He had seen a glimpse of his own strength. And he wasn’t about to forget it.
Becoming
In the silence that followed, he reflected. Maybe he had crossed a line. Maybe he had awakened something he couldn’t put back to sleep. But for the first time, he didn’t feel small. He didn’t feel powerless.
He had cracked the shell.
And as his teenage years unfolded, those cracks let light in.
He still spent hours in the attic, or lost in books, dreaming of escape. But now, the dreams weren’t just fantasies. They were plans. They were goals.
Every hardship became fuel. Every fear became a stepping stone. And every insult — a reminder of what he would never become.
One day, he told himself, he would be free.
Not just from his father’s voice…
But from his own.
To be continued…
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