Have you ever questioned your reality? Have you ever felt like the life you presently live was nothing but a concocted lie? Have you ever had this deep thought that all you’ve experienced – the feel of the air, the taste of sweet wine, the cool evening music, the soft body and touch of a woman, the affluence and influence, luxuries and exuberant life – was all but an illusion?
My name is Dominic Akachukwu Williams, and this is my story. A tale of my doom. A journey into the abyss; trapped between worlds.
I was far gone by the time I realized it; I couldn’t differentiate between reality and illusion. I was already deeply immersed.
It was Thursday, the 12th of June 2099. I opened my eyes to the bright light that found its way into the room where I lay, my helpless body after getting wasted last night partying. I wriggled my body slowly as I stretched and moaned softly to the cracks of my muscles.
Oh gosh! It was a long night and a bad one, as usual.
I was trying to reminisce about the previous night with the anger and disappointment that filled my heart. I still couldn’t believe that I was still such a big loser.
Darn!!!
Those girls really gave me the worst insult of my life. Just imagine Benita, Benita of yesterday; just because she now has a nice behind with a killer shape, she now talks to me anyhow.
Benita… ‘e no go better for you’.
Life has ridiculed me and reduced me to nothing but a joke.
The thoughts of last night were still flashing through my head, and I was about to dive deep into it when my alarm went off.
Wham! Wham!! Wham!!!
I turned to the direction of my clock and noticed it was 9:45 am.
Oh shit!!! My interview!
I jumped off the bed like a basketball in the hands of Michael Jordan about to dunk.
Oh Lord! How could I have overslept?
I hurriedly changed into the clothes I had prepared the previous day; a pair of black pants, a sky-blue shirt with a navy blue tie, and a black jacket.
I just hope I make it before they begin.
I dashed off to Maddison Enterprise, a consulting company dealing with blockchains, marketing, and real estate.
I had applied for the position of an assistant marketing officer a fortnight ago.
I strongly believe that this time, I will be given a job. This particular one will compensate me for the previous 32 attempts I had made just in the name of a job.
I arrived at the Enterprise at exactly 10:50 am. I was already an hour and fifty minutes late for my interview. I noticed the gate was locked as I tried to make my way in.
“Excuse me, please!”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
A man in his late fifties replied with a wonderful smile on his face.
“Please, my name is Dominic Akachukwu Williams. I am here for the interview scheduled today.”
“I am sorry, Mr. Dominic. I cannot help you. The interview ended 10 minutes ago, and all applicants have left the Enterprise.”
“Ahhh!!! No! No!! No!!! What kind of thing is this? What have I done to village people?”
I muttered in disdain. This was all my fault. Why did I choose to party when I had an interview the following day? A party that profited me nothing.
“Excuse me, Sir!”
I called out to the security man, with hopes and pleas that I might be allowed to try out.
“Please, Sir! I beg you, I encountered some issues I didn’t prepare for. I need this job, sir, please help me.”
“Mr. Dominic, I am sorry, it is not up to me. I am only following the instructions given to me.”
I hit my head on the gate as hot tears flowed down my cheeks. Who did I really wrong in this life? Why has life decided to scorn me and fill my entirety with bedlam?
I was still at the gate blaming myself and still pleading with the security man to let me in when I heard a female voice adjacent to the gate calling out to the security man.
“Baba Moshood! Baba Moshood!!”
“Yes, ma’am?”
The security man answered abruptly and turned towards her.
She was neatly and corporately dressed in a black suit and a navy blue shirt that partially revealed her shapely figure.
“What is going on there?” She inquired.
“Ehm, ma’am, the young man at the gate was insisting I open the gate for him for the interview.”
“What interview?” She snapped, looking in my direction.
“Did you not tell him the interview ended 15 minutes ago?”
“I did, ma’am, but…”
“So what is he still doing here?” She cut him off.
“I knew this one was a baggage of trouble,” I thought to myself as I heard her raise her voice. She was now approaching the gate where I stood, helplessly like a prisoner awaiting judgment for embezzlement and murder.
“Yes, Mister, what are you still doing here after you have been told the interview ended long before now?”
She asked me, scanning me from head to toe, looking for evidence to condemn me.
“I… uh… I am sorry, Ma’am. I was pleading for a chance to come in and have the interview. I was delayed by…”
“Hold it there!”
She snapped at me, stopping me abruptly as she raised her right arm.
“What incompetence! Is this what we want to employ here? A person who cannot keep appointments? Just imagine the audacity, the impetus, the temerity to solicit for a chance to come in.”
“Look, young man,”
She called out, walking a bit closer to me, adjusting her spectacles.
“This is Maddison Enterprise, and here, we do not condone nonchalant and incompetent attitudes. I will only say it once: leave here right now before I call the police on you.”
“Ahhh! Madam, it hasn’t gotten to that.”
I pleaded as I took a step back. This woman is really mean. All these young ladies who get high positions will be behaving anyhow.
“Ma’am, please consider me.”
“Consider what? Take yourself far away from here before you infect us with incompetence.”
I left the area dejected. Another day, another interview, another try, and another failure. How long would I keep going through this?
I lost my parents at a young age and was raised by my uncle who managed to see me through my education before he met his demise with his entire family just before my graduation. I have no siblings or any other relatives willing to offer assistance.
I have been roaming the streets of Lagos in search of a decent job. I have practically applied to every company in Lekki, Shomolu, Idimu, Okota, Mushin, Isolo, and even the airport. Yet, nothing to show for it. I was eagerly waiting for this one and prepared heavily for it, only to miss it because of last night’s partying.
I felt defeated and headed home. What else could I do? Let me go home, finish my remaining garri, and hope on Stevo, the only guy who helps me with food or some cash
when he can.
I was walking home and enjoying my gala with sachet water I bought with my remaining #100. The water was even given to me for free. I noticed a sign along the road, just close to M & M Hotel & Suites along Allen Avenue, Ikeja. It was written ‘Escape… your desired dream world.’
I was puzzled for a moment trying to understand what it meant as this was the first time I’d seen this. I have always taken this way to places for interviews, but I’ve never seen this sign before. I stood in front of the sign pondering; I don’t even know why that drew my attention or why it made me stop. While I was yet done wallowing in confusion, a sweet, gentle voice which could only be described as angelic brought me back to reality.
“Hi, are you here for a session?”
I looked over my shoulder as I hung my gaze on this slim but radiant young woman standing at the door to the building.
“Ehm, sorry, I am not. I don’t even know what this is.”
I muttered slowly as I couldn’t fathom the beauty of the creature before me.
“Oh, I see.”
She smiled as she took a step closer to me and offered me a handshake.
“My name is Amanda, and this is Escape… your desired dream world. It’s a place where you can escape the troubles of this world. We put you in a fantasy world through our machine, and you experience the kind of life you want to live for the allocated time you’ve paid for.”
“Uh… sorry, I don’t quite understand.”
“It’s alright, sir. Let me show you the way to our facility.”
She held my hand and turned towards the door. I sheepishly followed, not knowing where we were going, what she had explained earlier, or what this was all about. All I could think of was this beautiful young woman speaking sweetly to me. This was something that had never happened in my life.
