Wet Food Shelf in Predawn Market Stall

Frost coats the metal wire shelves of a refrigerated unit standing in the dim predawn of a fish bagging counter near Ado Ekiti. Warm string lights cast a yellow glow on rows of plastic bags filled with wet food, their surfaces slick with condensation. The air inside the stall feels still, but the cold has already settled on the floor, creating muted, gray reflections of the lights. Each bag is packed tight, sealed with white ties, stacked in neat, heavy columns. A few droplets of water run down the plastic, merging into small puddles on the shelf. The metal edges of the fridge frame the display, sharp and cold against the soft, hazy light.