Found At The Traffic Signal.

The traffic light had been red for what felt like for ever and I was already tired, if there is one thing that can test my patience it always Lagos traffic.

Cars were everywhere, the keke riders were squeezing into spaces that didn't exist and some drivers were pressing their horns like that would make the traffic light turn green.

"Omo, this traffic is wicked o," I said.

Sarah, who was sitting beside me, didn't even look up from her phone.

"You complain about traffic every time we go out you know."

"Because traffic deserves to be complained about ehn."

She laughed.

"You think the whole city should stop moving whenever you are on the road."

I shook my head.

"See this girl."

The signal was still red.

Street hawkers were moving between cars selling water, snacks, chargers, and things nobody planned to buy but somehow ended up buying.

Then suddenly Sarah sat up.

"Wait."

I looked at her.

"What?"

"I think that is my handbag."

I frowned.

"What handbag?"

"The one that woman is carrying."

I followed her finger.

A woman was crossing the road carrying a black handbag, at first, I did not understand what she was talking about, then her eyes widened.

"My handbag!"

I turned sharply.

"What?"

"The one that got missing last week."

Now that got my attention.

Sarah had lost that bag about a week ago after we went to a restaurant, we searched everywhere for it but never found it, inside the bag were some of her important documents, her ID card, and other personal stuff.

"You sure that is your bag?" I asked,

"One hundred percent sure."

The woman kept walking,

Sarah started looking very nervous.

"Cohlson, do something."

I blinked.

"Like what?"

"Go after her."

"How exactly?"

She pointed.

"Use your legs."

I laughed.

At that exact moment, the traffic light turned green and cars started moving, the woman was already getting farther away from them.

And without thinking too much, I quickly parked by the roadside.

"Oya, let's go."

We both got out immediately.

"Madam!" Sarah shouted.

The woman didn't hear.

"Madam!"

This time she turned around.

"Yes?"

Sarah walked up to her.

"Please, where did you get that handbag from?"

The woman looked at the bag and then looked at us.

"This one?"

"Yes."

For a few seconds she just stared at us.

Then she smiled.

"Interesting."

I exchanged glances with Sarah.

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.

"I found it."

"Found it where?"

The woman explained that her younger brother had found the bag close to a restaurant entrance the previous week, Sarah immediately started describing everything inside the bag.

The documents.

The notebook.

Even the little keychain attached to the zip, The woman nodded.

"It's yours."

Sarah's face changed instantly.

"No way."

"Yes."

Then the woman handed it over.

Just like that.

No argument.

No stress.

Nothing.

Sarah opened it immediately.

Everything was still inside.

Nothing was missing.

"Omo!" she shouted.

I could not help laughing,

I honestly was not expecting that outcome, these days, when something gets lost, most people automatically assume it is gone forever.

The woman smiled.

"Not everybody is a thief."

Sarah quickly shook her head.

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

The woman laughed.

"I know."

She introduced herself as Amina, and we spent a few minutes talking, apparently, she had been hoping the owner would somehow show up one day, she just did not expect it to happen at a traffic signal.

As we walked back to my car, Sarah was still smiling, "You know something?"

"What?" I asked.

"If that traffic light had changed earlier, we would never have seen her."

I paused,

She was right,

One delayed signal,

One random glance through a car window

One extra minute

That was all it took

Life can be funny sometimes.

We got back into the car and I started the engine.

The traffic had cleared and the road ahead was finally open.

Looking at Sarah holding her recovered handbag, I laughed.

"You know, for once, I am actually grateful for traffic."

Sarah burst into laughter.

"Please say that again."

"Why?"

"So I can record it, nobody will believe you said it."

I laughed too.

And honestly, she was probably right.

That was probably the first and last time traffic ever did me a favour.

_{Image Credit: Chatgpt}