Dream Count

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes sexual content, drugs, sexual violence and harassment, and racism.

Omelogor is living in Abuja, Nigeria, in January 2020. One morning, she looks out her window and watches her doorman Mohammed interact with a delivery driver. She studies her flowers, too. She feels happy until she remembers what Aunty Jane recently said to her. When Omelogor was back in the village, Aunty told her to stop pretending that she liked her life. She was incredulous that Omelogor still hadn’t married or had a child. Omelogor insisted she was happy, but Aunty wanted her to adopt. Staring out the window now, Omelogor lists all the things she likes about her life, wishing she’d told Aunty there are different ways for women to live.

Omelogor’s butler Philippe interrupts her thoughts, asking if he should take down the Christmas tree and make her breakfast. She dismisses him to answer texts from her father and “scan the news headlines” for updates on Kadi’s case (249).

In the morning, Omelogor is still thinking about Aunty. She tells herself to get up and respond to some of her For Men Only letters but can’t summon the energy.