I carried my mum's hospital bill on a loan app and lied to her about where the money came from

Two years ago my mum had a fibroid surgery scheduled in Akure and the hospital needed ₦380,000 upfront. I had ₦90k in my account. Consulting had gone dry that month. So I did the thing every Lagos person does when shame meets urgency, I opened a loan app.

The app gave me ₦300k at some interest rate I did not read properly. I told my mum my office paid a bonus. She cried and thanked God. I sat there smiling at a woman who was praying for a bonus that never existed while a 40 percent interest clock was ticking on my phone.

I carried that loan for 11 months. Every alert that entered, half went to the app. I stopped buying the small small things I liked. Nobody knew. My younger cousin still thinks I am the one who has money. Shey you dey see am? The people we dey suffer for no dey ever know the real price.