Chapter 9: The Last Stand

He throw me back for that bed.

His hand strong, he carry me like feather. Before I fit talk, I don land for bed again. My wrapper shift.

"Hm, you use medicine for me—no know say I sabi medicine?"

He dey laugh small, but his face still strong. My heart dey fear. E be like game for am.

If wetin just happen na gentle, this one na real wahala. He bite my neck hard.

The pain real. I nearly shout, but my pride hold am.

"E dey pain."

My voice small, almost like whisper. But I no cry.

Him face hard, but him hand soft small. Him mouth still dey harsh:

He dey talk like person wey dey vex, but his hand dey pet me. I no fit understand this man.

"Ngozi, no think say you fit run. Anywhere you go, I go find you come back."

Na warning. My body chill. I know say e mean am. My stubbornness calm small.

Obinna na pikin wey dem dey pamper since. Nobody dey talk no to am. Maybe na me be first, na why him vex dey hot.

Since small, dem dey call am 'Odogwu Obinna.' Na me be first person wey challenge am, so e no gree rest.

"I get important work. I go carry you back house in three days."

He dey talk like king. My own be to obey.

"And after we return?"

My question soft. I dey wait answer, my heart dey jump.

He still dey bite, no stop: "As e suppose be."

Na promise, na threat. I dey reason am.

My voice cold:

My mouth dry. I dey try hold tears. I no want wahala again.

"You go be prince consort, I go be side chick? You wan enjoy many women, abi?"

My pain dey voice. I dey hope say he go reason am, see say my heart dey break.

I no know why, my mind just scatter.

All the frustration, all the pain from home, from compound, from Obinna attitude, all gather for my chest.

"Obinna, I no go be side chick. My mama, before she die, tell me make I no ever be side chick."

Na her last words. I dey hold am like prayer.

I no even get mind—