RECLAIMED - by Ic

Thursday 13th August 2026. 10:00 AM. Sitting down in an air-conditioned men’s boutique located in Sapele market, the urge to get something for myself grew strong. You see, I haven't bought a new dress for myself in years. Too ashamed to admit it, I had spent the past 4 years wearing hand-me-downs from my mum's closet or had dresses sewn from leftover fabrics from my dad's tailored clothes. Nothing new. Nothing that screamed the growing sense of fashion I craved to express. Just church gowns (not the pretty ones ) and a few bubu gowns, which were okay because at least I could wear them to school. Sigh. Nothing satisfactory. "Chioma to Earth, Chioma to Earth!" my friend Bolu called out, bringing me back to reality."What's going on with you?" he asked."Oh, nothing. Do you by any chance know where I can get something to wear in this market?" I replied."Yes, there are some shops we can go to. Let me just pay the guy so I can get this jacket." I sighed, knowing fully well I would have to endure watching Bolu bargain back and forth with the seller for at least 15 minutes. Unexpectedly, he paid the seller within 5 minutes—for my sake, I suspected. Apparently, I have this habit of expressing my emotions facially. I may not say a thing, but it always shows. It has its perks, I suppose. Stepping out of the shop, I immediately felt the sun trying to fry my soul. The heat was unimaginable but I had a craving to fulfill. Luckily, we stumbled upon a shop that seemed to sell primarily female wear, judging by the mannequins at the entrance. Would I find something I liked? Would it be overpriced?I really hoped not, because my budget wasn't heavy like that. Anyways, I spotted the seller. Stepping forward, I asked him if he had any dresses for sale."Madam, I get! Sit down first, make I show you." I accepted his offer with gratitude, entered the shop and made myself comfortable. Glancing around, a couple of hanged dresses caught my attention—one especially. A red bodycon dinner dress with a nice golden brooch-like detail on the front left waist. It looked exceptionally lovely. It might just fit me, I thought to myself. I called the seller's attention to it and he let me try it on. Few minutes later, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, completely unused to seeing myself look so breathtaking. I'm really self-conscious. Most times, my body type attracts the wrong kind of attention from men, which is why I usually stick to baggy outfits or unflattering dresses from my mum's closet. Plus, bodycon dinner dresses weren't exactly encouraged at home. In fact anything that defined my shape wasn't fully approved. One particular Sunday, I wore a lovely white dress that clung to me like a second skin. It was so pretty that I didn't mind. But the second I walked out of my room, I was shouted at to go and change. Words like " See how you are dressing like an ashawo" floated through the air. That was years ago, yet it still affected me. Maybe I shouldn't buy this dress , I thought. But something inside me refused.I am beautiful.I'm practically glowing.This is me.So why should I hide myself? I have no reason to drop this dress just because some people won't approve.I am completely allowed to step into my confidence and express myself like this, regardless of any ugly judgment I may receive. Moving with that energy, I turned to the seller and asked for the price. "Madam, the dress na 22k." (22 thousand naira).Je-ho-vah22k? I immediately shot Bolu a wide-eyed look that screamed 'Help mee'My entire budget was 10k and there was no way I could cover the rest.Seeing my panic, Bolu stepped in. With a series of expert counter-offers and a lot of " abeggg ," the seller brought the price down to 20k.I quickly brought out my 10k to pay my share but before I could even start stressing over the rest, Bolu pulled out the remaining balance and handed it to the seller.I looked at him in surprise. In response he just smiled and said, "It's fine, Chioma. I saw the way you looked at yourself in that mirror...you really loved it.

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