Grandma made me promise to carry Femi out of Mushin. I kept that promise for 4 years.

My grandmother was dying in Mushin when she held my hand and said "Tope, no leave Femi inside this place. Carry am out." I was 19. Femi was 11. I said yes.

Fast forward. I'm doing content, small PR gigs, sending money home every month. Femi is in a decent secondary school in Surulere. I'm paying. School fees, uniform, lesson teacher. Everything. I'm not rich o. I'm eating noodles so Femi can eat rice.

Then last year, Femi starts missing school. I find out he's following some boys in the area. Cult boys. I screamed at him on phone. He hung up on me.

I travelled to Mushin that weekend. Saw him with the boys. My heart just scattered. I dragged him home, cried, begged, threatened. He looked at me and said "Aunty Tope, you no dey live here. You no understand."

I froze. Because he was right. I left. I made it out. And I was trying to pull him out from Lekki with money and prayers.

He dropped out two months later. I stopped sending money. I couldn't keep funding a boy who didn't want to be saved.

But I still hear grandma's voice. "Carry am out."

I don't know if I failed her or if Femi has to want it himself. Maybe both. God dey. But that promise still sits on my chest every night.