Chapter 10: Bitter Leaf

Amaka na that type wey people dey call good wife and mother. She dey do everything well, never vex. Even when she catch me and Morayo for parking lot, she no shout. That night, her eye just full surprise. But when I reach house, she still cook, wait for me for sofa.

Her hand dey shake small, but she just dey arrange fork and knife well. That time, I wan ask am: you no love me at all? Which woman go see her man with another woman, still act like nothing? But she no talk. She just watch me wash hand, serve me food.

Morayo talk, "She don see. If you no talk about divorce today, I go break up."

I no fit hear that kind thing from Morayo. So I tell Amaka the truth. That meal na the most fear I ever get.

I no fit chop well, my hand dey sweat. "Make we divorce, abeg?"

I ask Amaka. Her hand with spoon just pause small, then she gree. Amaka no even ask who the woman be, or when e start.

"Let me know when you don write divorce agreement. Tonight, sleep for guest room. Remember put plate for sink."

After food, Amaka enter bedroom. Before she go, she look the plates, remind me. Before marriage, we agree: she go cook, I go wash plate. Later, I tire, buy dish rack, so after food, she just put am there. She never vex. Even for divorce.

Her silence dey loud that night. My heart dey heavy, but I swallow am like bitter leaf. I no know say the taste go linger.