Chapter 4: Shadows and Sacrifice

That day, everybody talk say Musa don really forget me.

Nobody remember the love wey hold us that year.

Last last, na im dey marry, but e no be me.

Everybody think say Musa go wait for me forever.

Everybody dey wonder about Halima, the babe wey fit make Musa fall like that.

I know say Musa no wan see me, so I comot for reunion early.

For outside, I waka slow for gutter edge, sidestep puddle. My shadow long for ground, my slippers dey slap sand, my heart dey heavy like sack of garri wey rain beat. My mind dey run back to those days, when Musa dey laugh anyhow, call me "my Ify baby."

On my way go house, my friend send me Halima picture.

For the photo, Halima look innocent. Dem say she dey smile, dey form baby—na that type Musa dey like.

My friend ask, “Ifeoma, you no see say Halima smile be like your own?”

“You sure say Musa don forget you finish? E no dey pain you?”

I breathe, keep quiet, after long time I smile: “No matter again. I no send.”

I no want wahala with Musa again.

For my mind, I dey pray make peace find me. Na only God fit heal heart wey dey bleed inside.

I tell myself, e no go ever know—I born our pikin, hide am from everybody.

That pikin dey sick, e dey near die.

Sometimes, I go just sit for night, look my pikin face as e sleep, dey wonder if e worth am to keep that secret. Na only me and God know wetin dey pain my chest.