Chapter 10: Failed Remedies

Her mama, Aunty Li, carry am go all the big hospitals. Dem see many doctors, try all kind medicine, but nothing work. As e no get headway, she try native way, go meet many babalawo and prophetess. Most of dem talk say na spirit lover—ghost wey dey find her life.

You know, for Naija, if hospital no work, next stop na prayer house or babalawo. Every week, dem go new place—Suleja, Shagamu, even Benin. Money fly, nothing change. E get one time, prophetess pour holy water for her head, but nightmare no stop. Mama dey cry, pikin dey weak.

Dem do ritual, burn white cloth, but the nightmare just worse. She begin sleepwalk, no even know dream from real life again. Many times, she almost jump from building.

Neighbours dey watch her like film. For compound, people dey talk say dem go run if dem see am for night. Mama begin lock window, tie bell for her leg, just to hear if she waka. But still, the thing strong pass them.

Recently, Ngozi sleepwalk again. She write one address for paper: Okeji County, Odo-Ofu Bridge, end of Umuagu Hill Road. Aunty Li check am for phone, shock—map show say na Umuagu Hill Cemetery.

When Aunty Li show me the paper, I dey reason say maybe the girl dey remember somewhere from childhood. But her eye no lie—she talk am from dream.