Chapter 1: The Bitter Truth

In my former life, as a member of the review committee, Tunde Olayinka blocked my promotion for ten whole years.

Back then, the pain dey fresh like pepper for my chest, because this man wey suppose stand for me, na him use him own hand dey hold me back. That kind betrayal fit make person question the meaning of loyalty. In the corridors of the institute, people go dey greet me, dey nod, but I know say dem dey pity me for back. Na so life be.

He said:

"As my wife, you need to avoid any suspicion."

His voice that time get that cool, official tone. If person no know am, e go think say na sense he dey talk. But me wey know how e dey behave for house, I just dey look am. Sometimes, for this Nigeria, na your own people dey draw you back pass enemy.

"It's only the second year, you still get chance."

That year, I even dey find small hope inside the matter. I think say maybe next time e go work, but deep down, I sabi say some people dey use hope take tie person like goat.

By the fifth year, he told me,

"Morayo, you suppose give younger people more opportunity. If the old ones no step aside that year, how we for enter the research institute so easily?"

Him get this way wey he go talk, as if he dey reason for everybody, but e dey protect him own corner. Na so e dey for Naija—sometimes, na your own person go tell you make you shift so others fit shine, forgetting say you sef get dream.

In the final year, when I knew say if dem no promote me I go have to step down, I begged him with everything in me.

Tears no gree dry for my eye that night. My body dey shake, voice dey quiver as I dey kneel beg. For Naija woman, especially wife, to humble herself like that—na big thing. But e no shake am.

But the next day, the first name wey appear for the promotion list na the woman wey he dey cherish for heart since—him office darling.

This time, the man wey dey always form dignity and righteousness…

He use all him connections scatter my name from the list again.

Inside endless regret, na so I vex die.

Na vex wey choke, like say something heavy dey press my chest. I no fit breathe, my whole life just dey flash for my eye like film. How I take waste everything for person wey no send me. People for neighborhood go dey talk, 'Eya, na so life be.' But dem no go ever understand.

When I open my eyes again, na the day I go collect back my promotion application I land.