Chapter 4: Gifts and Old Wounds

Suddenly, tension crept in, but the First Lady only smiled and waved it away.

'Nothing—just women’s talk.' Her fan flicked open and closed, ending the matter.

'But you, how come you get time to come today?' she asked, raising an eyebrow at Obinna.

Obinna had come to say goodbye. There was flooding in the north along the River Benue. The local officials were useless, and the relief money had been chopped at every stage. Less than a tenth actually reached the river. All through the house, people whispered about the greed of politicians and the stubbornness of the water.

His Excellency was angry and sent Obinna to supervise the work. He’d be leaving soon. The house felt emptier just hearing it.

The First Lady said nothing, but after the party, she handed me a package to deliver to the East Wing. I knew she didn’t believe I’d really let go. Her eyes lingered on me, searching for the old attachment.

The lights flickered in the hall. Since our last fight, I hadn’t spoken to Obinna for days. Now, face to face, neither of us knew what to say. The silence was thick, heavy as harmattan dust.

Obinna reached for the package in my hands, then passed me a box, his face blank.

'Take it.'

I opened the box. Inside was a fine coral pendant. The red beads glowed in the soft light, almost exactly like the one Hauwa broke.

Obinna’s voice was gentle, like he was speaking to a small child.

'It’s just a pendant. Was it really worth fighting over?'

Obinna had seen that pendant before. When I first came to Makurdi, the noble girls bullied me. They called me a bush girl from the north and took my coral pendant to mock me.

Obinna took it back for me and said:

'If anybody bully you again, just beat them back.'

When he saw I was still scared, he blushed and added quietly:

'You’re the future Crown Princess. If anything happen, I go cover you.'

But when I finally did as he said, he was the first to scold me. The memory now tasted bitter.

Looking at the coral pendant in the box, my hands and feet went cold. My fingers trembled as I touched it.

Chidinma, beside me, gasped, her voice shaky:

'Your Highness...'

I didn’t let her finish. I forced a smile, swallowing every feeling:

'Your Highness is right. It’s really not worth it.' My voice was steady, but inside, rain was falling.

As I clutched the new pendant, my heart heavy, I wondered if Obinna would ever see the girl he once promised to protect—or if she was already gone.