Chapter 1: The Coral Bead Goodbye

After I got engaged to Olumide Okoye, I just dey jam one babe after another—every time, e go talk say the woman no mean anything, na just small play.

Sometimes, the way he talk go be like say I dey do too much, as if I suppose dey thank am for being 'honest.' But na so e dey for some men wey get money, dem go feel say dem fit run things anyhow. My church friends go dey talk, "Ifunanya, na so men be, just close eye, pray for am." Their voice dey echo for that hot Sunday after service, where fan no dey reach back row. But inside me, the wound dey gather small small.

Until my birthday reach.

Olumide get one phone call, waka commot. Na that time another woman waka enter, no shame.

As e be, I no shock again. E pain, but the pain don old, like wound wey don scar—e dey there, but I don learn how to dey live with am. The hall, full of pink and gold balloons, just dey look empty for my eye.

Omo, I just tire.

I remove the coral bead bracelet wey Olumide once use him own hand wear me, and I slide am onto the woman’s arm. My hand dey cold, sweat dey my back, but I no gree show am. The bracelet dey shine for her dark skin, the red coral beads catching the light from the chandelier above. She look me, her eyes wide, like say she dey dream. Even my own hands dey shake small, but I steady myself. Na so I dey feel, as if I dey drop heavy load for ground.

The assistant come warn me, “Madam, if you do this, oga go vex.”

Vex? Which kind vex pass the one wey dey my chest since? E voice carry that kind fear wey you go see for pesin wey don dey work for oga wey no dey smile. He even step close, as if e wan use body block my movement, but I just sidon for my spirit. Na today I know say fear no dey do me again.

I just smile, turn, and waka comot.

My smile na the kind wey no reach eye, but I give am anyway. As I dey walk out, the cold AC breeze hit my back, eyes full ground, but na me get my leg. My slippers dey tap softly for the marble floor as I waka pass the guests, some dey whisper, others dey look away.

Na because I hold onto the Mrs. Okoye position for so long, na im dey pain Olumide pass.

The shame and stubbornness just dey mix for my chest, but e no dey push me back again. I remember all the times I force myself to smile at family gatherings, all the prayers, all the pretend joy. Na the holding tight wey dey cause the real wahala.

As expected, Olumide no even come find me.

His pride too strong. I fit even picture am for him mind, say, 'let her go, another one dey wait.' But I no be another trophy for him shelf.

He just break the coral bracelet in front of everybody and talk with cold face, “If Ifunanya no wan be Mrs. Okoye, plenty people dey wey wan am.”

Him voice na ice, but the beads wey scatter for the ground sound louder than anything. Some women bend, pick the coral beads, maybe say na for luck. One small pikin even pocket two, her mama just eye am, no talk. Everybody dey pretend say dem no see the disgrace.

But for a long time, I no hear say Olumide marry anybody else.

Omo, the gist run round town, but na silence dey follow am. E no dey show for event with new woman, e face just dey more hard than before. People begin dey wonder whether Ifunanya cast spell for am, but me, I just dey try catch my breath.

Until I jam am again for auction.

He still dey carry shoulder like before, force the expensive bracelet wey he just win put for my hand.

He look me like say nothing ever spoil. The hall dey bright with big men and madams, but as he press the bracelet for my wrist, my spirit just dey cold. Some people dey look, some dey whisper, but I just dey smile the kind smile wey person dey smile when wahala tire am.