Chapter 6: Muddy Pits and Unforgiven Truths

Next day, one strange ring appear for Musa finger.

Spirit wedding ring no be small thing. Black like charcoal, e shine pass gold. People dey notice.

Whole company begin talk.

From gate to office, na so so gist. Gossip dey spread like Harmattan fire.

"Mr. Musa ring no be wedding ring o."

Aunty Peace for reception dey whisper. She dey suspect spiritual matter.

"True, I never see black wedding ring before."

Oga Friday dey check ring with phone torch. Na news for office.

Only Musa padi, after e hear, just knock table, dey vex.

Musa bestie dey para. E knock table, dey shout: "Musa, this thing no pure o!"

"Musa, you don craze?"

E voice loud, e no care who dey hear.

"How long Ifeoma don die? You still dey loyal? You forget wetin she do you? She almost kill you!"

If na village, dem for say na juju. Musa friend dey fear spiritual attack.

"If your head no correct, abeg go see doctor!"

Advice wey no dey help, na so e dey throw. E love Musa, but e dey tire.

True.

If I talk true, that time get as e be.

That time, I nearly kill Musa.

No be small thing. Na story wey neighbours still dey yarn till today.

Some years back, we no too get wahala.

Then, na normal wahala. Small quarrel, big laugh. We dey manage.

We travel go see client for Ibadan, na landslide catch us for one pit.

Ibadan trip—bad luck follow. Rain fall, ground open, we land inside pit, scream join.

Ibadan mud dey stubborn—na only God know how we take survive. Musa push me up, tell me make I go find help.

The guy show hero spirit. E push me up first, tell me: "Ifeoma, abeg, run go call people. No look back!"

But I no return.

After I climb up, na so I run. Fear catch me. Before I know, day don turn night, rescue people come late.

When dem rescue am, forty-eight hours don pass.

Two days plus, Musa dey inside hole, cold dey bite am, wound dey bleed.

Him right shoulder wound from another landslide, till today e no fit sign paper with right hand.

E shoulder still dey pain. Up till now, e dey sign left. That wound no ever heal.

Me, I just sit for rescue tent, dey drink malt, dey hold new contract.

I no even look back. Na business I dey reason, not Musa. That day, I no sabi value of friendship.

From that day, me and Musa just dey drag like say we no go rest till one kpai.

From rescue day, wahala start proper. Me and Musa dey drag war, eye no dey meet.

I just sit down behind Musa friend, tilt head, call: "Husband, see as your friend dey hate me."

I dey throw small shade, dey remind am say I get ring for e hand, even if na spirit own.

Now wey Musa dey wear ring, e fit see me anyhow, anytime.

E fit call me, gist me, even for work. Spirit connection strong.

Musa no talk.

E dey mute. That one pain me pass insult.

Him friend just hiss, slam door, waka.

Musa friend no get time for spirit. E waka commot, dey pray for Musa.

I waka near Musa, make face for friend back.

I dey stick tongue, dey do mumu face. Small childish joy.

"No mind am—na jealousy dey worry am."

I dey assure Musa say e get person for spirit side.

Musa no answer, just dey look him right hand.

E dey study ring, as if say e dey find answer for inside.

"Ifeoma, fit tell me why you no come back for me that day?"

E voice soft, almost break. For first time, e ask wetin dey e heart.

I just keep my smile, answer like say I don talk am tire. "I hit head for rock, faint."

I repeat the lie. My spirit dey dodge truth, shame dey catch me.

Musa dey rub ring, eyes dull.

E dey feel pain, but no dey shout. E just dey wait for me to talk true.

"Okay, make we leave am."

E no wan push. E gree rest. But pain still dey.

"Musa—"

I try explain, but e hand wave me off. "No need."

E pull ring commot. "I get work. Abeg, comot."

E drop ring for table, face me for last time, then waka. My heart just cold.

Spirit ring cold for table—love, regret, and wahala dey wait for next round.