Chapter 7: Bitterleaf Night

Even though e sweet me as I give Zainab back, my mind still dey pain me.

The whole talk dey inside my chest like weight. Sometimes, person go form hard but deep down, wahala dey bite. I reason say, e no go bad if I just focus on myself. I sabi say me and Musa Ifedolapo no dey the same level—background, money, everything. E pain me as dem rub am for my face.

That night, I no too touch the sleep companion doll, just go sleep.

I just wrap myself for wrapper like eba, dey turn for bed. Sleep no gree come. Rain dey fall for outside, but my mind still dey hot.

For my ear, Musa Ifedolapo mind dey complain:

[Why Kamsi no rua me today?]

[Body dey somehow.]

[Wetin I go do, e be like say I wan cry.]

Cry?

True?

Man tears na woman medicine o.

My body just dey tingle small.

If to say na ordinary day, I for run go rub am quick. But I just dey bone face.

I sharply sit up for bed, wait tire—no Musa Ifedolapo cry. After some time, I just hear am for e usual cold mind:

[Maybe Kamsi don tire today? She never move at all.]

[Small pain dey, but e no too bad.]

[Kamsi, good night.]

E voice sound small like pikin wey dem deny gala. My heart shake, but I just carry face.

Abeg, e no get gist. I fall back for bed. Even the sleep companion doll I no bother to hug.

For Naija, sometimes small heartbreak dey taste like bitterleaf. You go first squeeze am before e sweet. But this one, e bitter no get end. I hug my pillow tight, dey wish say love go ever sweet for my side.