Chapter 8: Ngozi's Nightmare

The person wey dey suffer na one girl, Ngozi, early twenties, just finish university, now she dey hold her mama tight. Her body weak, face pale, big black for under her eye.

She dey shiver, her hand cold like well water for Harmattan. If you see am, you go pity. I dey look the girl, dey remember my own daughter that time wey malaria hold am for five days. Fear of losing pikin, e dey break back.

As she talk, e start three months ago, just after Easter. She begin dey dream about one strange man. At first, she think say na because she want boyfriend—wetin dey her mind for day, enter her dream for night—so she no send am.

You know as e dey be for girls wey just finish university—pressure dey everywhere, friends dey marry, some dey find work, some dey chase abroad. The dream just be like play for her until wahala start.

For her dream, she and the man dey together well. Dem travel, go out, but she no ever see the man face clear. She just feel say the guy young and fine. After some time, the man ask if she gree to be with am for real. As the dream dey sweet, Ngozi gree sharp-sharp.

She laugh small as she talk am, but e sound hollow. Even for wahala, memory of sweetness dey sometimes remain. But na after she gree, her face change; eyes turn red, mouth dey shake.