Chapter 9: Replacements

Once man don satisfy, e dey easy to talk to. I try im patience, talk say I no wan see Maryam again. My voice small, but e firm. Next day, I see Maryam dey cry, dey pack box. I begin wonder wetin Suleiman really dey think.

He no be man wey dey listen to me like this. Plus, no be Maryam be im real babe? If I no fit figure something, I dey ask am direct. I no dey fear im face again, I want answer.

But he just squint, ruffle my hair, the way he dey use take brush me off: "Zainab, you no go ever be anybody replacement." See? Fine talk na their work. As long as he no want, he no go ever talk true. Na me dem dey use play.