EPISODE 5: The Escape
One dawn, much earlier than her usual CU devotion routine, Maimuna woke up quietly.
Everyone else slept.
She slipped out of her bed.
Took her Bible — to maintain the perfect cover.
But instead of heading to the hockey pitch, she moved behind the ablution block, to the poorly lit back area where the fence sagged slightly.
No CCTV cameras installed.
The mabati sheets there were loose.
Almost inviting.
She squeezed through.
Her slim body slid out silently.
Once outside, the darkness swallowed her navy-blue uniform.
She walked down the murram road calmly, like she had done it before.
Not a soul saw her.
At the roadside, next to the highway, she waited for a matatu.
The moon was bright.
And then…
A young woman approached — soft-spoken, with a coastal accent and a friendly smile.
They had never met.
But she greeted Maimuna warmly, holding a medium sized-bag in her hands.
“Let me buy mandazi from that kiosk,” she said, pointing to the only open, dimly lit shop across the road. “Please hold this for me, just for a moment.”
The young woman smiled gently and handed Maimuna the bag.
It felt strangely warm… heavier than it looked.
She crossed the road quickly, disappearing into the weak glow of the kiosk.
Maimuna waited.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
A matatu approached, headlights sweeping over the roadside dust.
It slowed as it reached the stage, the conductor tapping the door and calling for passengers.
Maimuna didn’t move.
She couldn’t.
The woman hadn’t returned. The matatu’s headlights faded as it pulled away, leaving Maimuna alone under the cold moonlight.
Something about the weight of the bag…
the warmth…
the silence…
Curiosity pushed harder than fear.
She slowly unzipped it.
The moonlight fell inside—
And there, wrapped in a small cloth, lay a baby.
Still.
Silent.
Motionless.
Before she could breathe, the kiosk lights flickered…
And the woman was gone.
Next episodes
Maimuna: The New Girl | Episode 1 & 2
Maimuna: The New Girl | Episode 3 & 4
