The 2AM call that made me borrow money from a campus loan shark

It was 2am in my first year at UNN. My phone rang. My sister's number. I almost didn't pick because who calls at 2am except bad news.

"Emeka, mama has collapsed. They're taking her to the hospital now."

I sat up on my bunk. My roommate was snoring. I had 1,800 naira in my account. That was my feeding money for the week.

I called my father. Number not reachable. I called again. Nothing. I called my uncle in Awka. He said he was also broke. Everybody was broke.

By 4am I was standing in front of the hospital in Enugu with my sister. They said they needed deposit before they could start treatment. I didn't have it.

There was this guy on campus. Everyone knew him. He lent money but the interest was crazy. I called him at 6am. He said he would send 50k but I must pay back 70k in one month.

I said yes. I didn't even think. My mother was lying there.

They treated her. She survived. But for the next one month I ate once a day. I stopped buying data. I sold my small phone. I paid that man back every kobo.

What I learned: poverty is not just about money. It's about the shame of not being able to help when your own blood needs you. It's about the things you accept because you have no choice.

I don't blame my father. I don't even know where he was that night. But I know one thing: I never want to be that helpless again.