Lagos property

Zaynab Obabi

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Zaynab Obabi

Sunday 21 December 2025

Four minutes

So take me near the salted oceans

spare me sixty seconds

to wrench this thing from my throat

the taste of ocean on my tongue,

burning, like two lovers set on fire

Give me a minute

let the water rinse

what’s left in me.

Sixty soft exhales

salt clinging still to my chest

and a moment of silence

all I needed to know was this:

It's hard

yes

but

you can do this.

Zaynab Obabi

Sunday 21 December 2025

Lagos property

Her eyes stared pitifully
at the hem of my dress,
sweeping Lagos clean.

"I almost didn't recognize you," she said,
her nipples pressing through silk,
her legs brushing close,
threatening my hijab
as she reached for a hug.

"What is this?" her thumb
held my veil... like nothing.

I bit myself hard,
blushed,
while the response
rose like buns in oil,
sizzling gold and round.

That "this"
is freedom.