Chapter 3: Mirror Tears and Fake Smiles

2.

[The babe just see the real gist, abeg make she wake up fight back!]

[Go tear that useless guy to pieces!]

But I no rush go confront anybody. I turn, waka calmly go back downstairs. After I almost vomit for toilet, I look the woman for mirror. I never sleep for days, my eyes red, my face don haggard finish. I carry water wash my face, use towel clean the tears.

Na so I dey look myself—eyeball red like person wey drink ogogoro overnight. My cheek don sink, lip crack. I remember when aunty Uju dey say, "No let man wahala kill you o! If man mess up, powder your face, wear better cloth, waka like nothing dey happen." But for now, na tears and heartbreak remain for my face.

[As expected, even after she know the truth, she still hold am for chest. E dey pain me, abeg.]

[She love am too much. She hear say dem still go marry, so she dey swallow the pain.]

[I feel say she dey plan big move, she no wan scatter everything yet.]

I come out from my room. Tunde hand me two tissues, look me with pity: “Sister-in-law, abeg, no let this thing finish you. Morayo no go like see you dey like this for heaven.”

I look Tunde, my chest dey tight. Na so dem dey lie for face, dey stab for back. I watch am, my eye no blink. For this Lagos, person go dey smile you for front, dey plan your downfall for back. My voice low, but my spirit dey shout: Just talk true, make I rest.