Chapter 5: Names and Distance

Because of the wine, sweat dey my body all night. I open window.

Cold breeze touch my face, clear my head. I remember say Tunde no always warm to me.

When we first marry, na Third Daughter Olumide he dey call me. Never cross line.

‘Wife’ or ‘Amarachi’ no fit comot for his mouth. Mama visit, complain say I make marriage cold. Even if he no call me dear, make he at least call me wife.

Third Daughter Olumide...

No be family name. Na wall.

Every time he call me that, e be like warning—no cross line.

I no argue with Mama, I no tell Tunde. I believe say every time he call me Third Daughter Olumide, na reminder—no love, just agreement.

Later, one day, he just call me Amarachi. Since then, na Amarachi he dey call me.

First time I hear am, my heart jump. Name get power, e break wall, e turn us to real couple.

Tunde.

I let the name settle, take deep breath. First time I hear Miss Ifeoma name for Tunde mouth, I know—

Nothing dey for us.

The way he call her name—soft, tender, no cover. Na that day I begin prepare to let go.