Chapter 1: The Visa and the Betrayal

The day my husband's visa got approved was the same day I find out say dem don ready package am go abroad for five-year work assignment.

E pain me reach bone. My heart dey do gbim gbim, like generator wey no wan start. I just dey look am with that kind stare wey fit burn person skin, but because people dey house—our two children, him mama and papa—I just swallow all my vex. If no be say I dey respect myself for front of elders, I for don scatter ground that day. Na so I come dey press my lips, dey squeeze face, dey pretend say e no pain me like that.

It wasn’t until the night before he travel that I finally catch am alone.

For my mind, I dey rehearse how I go start the talk, but my heart dey beat like generator wey no get enough fuel. Na so I just dey wait make house quiet small, make I see when I fit corner am.

I pause small, wipe my palm for my wrapper, eye glance go the family photo wey dey wall. Na memories full my mind—how we dey smile that time. My chest dey tight as I face am.

The first thing wey he talk be, "I fear say you go try stop me. If I miss this chance now, e fit no come again for my life."

Him voice just dey shake small, but he try package. As he talk am, I fit see say he don already make up him mind. Na my mind dey boil. Even the way breeze enter room that time, e be like say harmattan dey my chest.

"So wetin you want make I do? You wan make I just carry two children for head, plus still look after your papa and mama?"

I cross my arms, face am direct. I just dey try make my words cut reach bone, because the thing dey pain me well. Person go dey plan life together, another person go just move anyhow.

"Abeg, Morayo, just bear am. Think say you dey do am for me, for the children. Once I come back, everything go change. At least, dem go promote me to deputy manager. As I dey abroad, I go get fifteen days holiday every year—I promise I go try come see una. As for salary, both the company for here and the one abroad go dey pay me."

He come dey use sweet mouth, like say na groundnut seller for market. But me, I don tire for all those promises. For this Naija, we sabi say story full ground, but action dey scarce.

No matter how I beg am or try talk sense into am, the next morning, sharp 7 o’clock, the man still waka comot house go start him overseas assignment.

Na so him shadow just waka go, and the compound quiet like say something big just leave. I just sit for parlour, dey press my phone, dey look clock, dey wonder how my own husband go just waka like that.

The first message wey land for him phone after he reach na my divorce agreement.

I no even let am rest for him new abroad land before I send am that message. I just dey tell myself, make e dey clear, say this one no be play.

And the first message wey reach am when he return to Nigeria five years later na my wedding invitation.

I no gree waste time. As him plane touch ground, na so I show am say my own life don move too. Na only God know the kain shock wey enter him body that day.