Chapter 1: The Slab and the Secret

As I steadied myself, the air was still thick with dust, the Harmattan breeze slapped my cheeks, making my eyes water. The ground still dey shake small under my feet. My hands shook, not just from fear, but from that silent ache wey dey come when your heart know say wahala don land. Sweat trickle down my back, mixing with the fine red earth wey dey stick for my skin. I look Tunde, then the heavy slab, then back at am. For somewhere far, cock crow—like say the day self confuse.

Suddenly, WhatsApp status updates and random comments begin flash for my mind eye.

[The side chick still doesn’t know that the person trapped under the other end of the slab is her own mother. If she lifts it, she’ll block her mother’s last breath.]

My head begin buzz, like say ancestors dey send me coded message through all these WhatsApp voices. The lines dey scroll for my mind, sharp like sun wey dey shine for broken bottle. I even glance over my shoulder, as if I go see people dey whisper about me under mango tree, everybody dey dissect my next move like say na their own.

Meanwhile, Tunde still dey push me.

"Abeg, help me lift am quick! If anything touch Ifeoma’s dog, just forget say wedding go happen. I no dey joke."

The thing land for my chest like cold water. I see the serious for him eyes, the way Naija men fit play with threat but this one na real—he mean am. My chest tighten, my heart dey beat kpokpo with fresh fear wey dey make leg heavy.

1

[This is it. The mumu side chick is about to sacrifice her mother.]

[The guy no even know person dey under. Later, guilt go finish am, he no go fit face the girl again, na so engagement scatter. Na him punishment be that.]

[Thank God o, in the end, our main babe and the guy go heal each other. So sweet~]

I just stand dey look all these WhatsApp comments wey dey roll for my mind like film trick.

I blink, confused, my lips open as if I wan talk, but nothing come out. Even the air heavy, like say the whole street dey wait to see if I go do good girl or mumu. My hand dey shake, my mind dey split—half for here, half for that other world wey people dey watch dey whisper.

I begin wonder if na double I dey see.

Maybe na the dust, maybe na fear. But that moment, e be like say I dey there and I no dey there, like say I dey watch myself from outside, like when market women dey gossip your matter just loud enough make you hear.

The collapsed place after the tremor na Tunde family house for Ibadan.

The red mud wall don crack, dust dey swirl for the compound. The old mango tree for yard don snap, leaf dey everywhere like green confetti. Tunde mama wrapper still hang for the line, untouched by all the wahala.

One big concrete slab dey press down, na only one side person fit lift small.

The weight of that slab no just dey press ground—it dey press my conscience, my relationship, everything wey I think say I sabi about right and wrong.

Tunde dey clear blocks for the right side, engagement ring for him finger don scratch from all the digging.

Him fingers rough, callused, dey shake as he dey remove debris. Sweat dey pour for him face, mix with dirt, and that ring—wey he promise me with—now don dull, no shine again. I remember the first time he put am for my finger, him hand steady, him voice gentle.

He still dey urge me, "Why you dey dull? Ifeoma Pomeranian don dey cry under there for twenty minutes. Abeg help me!"

Him voice loud pass the noise, dey cut through my hesitation. Every word na slap, dey remind me say to am, time dey run for wetin e value—even if I no gree.

I hear am. Under the rubble, the small dog dey whimper—weak, e dey cry.

E sound like small pikin cry—soft, desperate. My heart squeeze for a moment, but another sound—one wey only daughter fit notice—make me shiver. The air get iron and dust smell, and inside that noise, na only me fit hear the plea.

But what about my mama?

My hand start dey shake. For a moment, I wan shout but my throat lock. I remember the way she pray for me last night, her voice soft like pap. Her laughter, her food, her prayers wey she dey whisper every night for my head.

I stagger go the other side, press my ear for the slab.

The cold concrete scratch my skin, but I no send. My earring dey dig my cheek. I hold my breath, dey try hear anything—anything at all—wey go show me say I no dey craze.

I dey hope say the WhatsApp comments na just lie.

I dey tell myself na only my mind dey play trick, say social media spirit no fit reach here, say fate no fit wicked reach like this. I whisper one prayer, "God, abeg, make e no be true."

My mama suppose dey Osogbo. How she go dey here?

She call me just yesterday, dey laugh about new market woman wey she meet. No reason for am to dey here, inside this wahala, under this slab. My mind dey run, refuse believe the impossible.

But I hear am—a dull knock from below.

E faint, like old clock heartbeat, but I know that rhythm. I sabi my mama stubbornness, the way she go knock, knock, knock—even if her knuckle dey bleed. My leg weak.

Very faint, but e shake me reach bone.

The world tilt. I press my palm for the slab, dey hope say my heartbeat go reach her. Something old pass between us, like say ancestors dey push me make I no let go.

"We no fit lift am." My voice dey shake, my face white as I look Tunde, fear catch me. "My mama dey trapped for this side!"

The words rush out before I fit hold am. Tears dey blur my eyes, world dey go soft for the edge. I look Tunde, dey beg am to see wetin I dey see.

[Wetin dey happen? How the side chick take know?]

[But the Pomeranian na comfort dog o. If e die, wetin if she enter depression again?]

The WhatsApp voices buzz again, their judgment dey sharp. I mutter under my breath, "Na life matter, not gossip." I want make dem hear say this one pass ordinary gist.

I think say Tunde go rush come help as he hear.

But instead, he pause, brow dey fold, eyes dey look Ifeoma. That moment, I see say our life don too entangle—even emergency no fit clear air.

To save person or save dog—he suppose know which one get sense pass.

For Naija, life sacred, but sometimes feeling dey block sense. I dey wait make he choose, dey hope my pain go move am.

But the girl beside am, Ifeoma, suddenly change face.

Her lips dey shake, eyes don red. She catch my gaze, quickly look away, dey press her bleeding hand for chest. Her body dey quiver like plantain leaf for rainy season.

She cover the wound for her hand, look like she wan cry. "Sister, abeg, I know you no like me. I swear, I blame Tuantuan for that thing wey e do for your wedding gown. But abeg, no use this chance take punish am, na."

Her voice small, like small pikin. She look Tunde, dey beg with eye. For one second, e be like say na only three of us dey, each dey carry our own wahala.

I vex and confuse, my throat tight with frustration.

My fist clench, nail dey enter my palm. Words dey my mouth, hot and sharp, but I swallow am, no wan give her reason to play victim.

Ifeoma na my boyfriend neighbour younger sister—

Na the kind girl wey aunties dey call green leaf—innocent for front, but get plan. People like her dey act like water, soft, but fit drown you if you no look well.

And complete green leaf babe (pretender).

She dey always pretend, dey hide behind shy smile. My spirit no ever settle for her side—now I see why.

Last time, I follow Tunde go collect my custom wedding dress.

Suppose be happy day—lace, laughter, Auntie Ngozi dey pray, tailor dey fix last stitch. My mama even send voice note, dey bless us.

She see am, begin hold Tunde arm, dey form cute. "I wan wear wedding gown too. Brother, abeg, let me snap picture inside."

The way she talk am, you go think say she still be small girl, no be woman wey suppose know better. Tunde look me, half smile, no wan offend anybody.

My face change sharp sharp.

Jealousy prick me, hot and sharp, make my cheek dey burn. Tailor assistant even cough, as if she too feel the tension.

Ifeoma act like say she no notice, dey pout. "When we small, you talk say you go marry me. Now I just want one picture inside wedding gown, abeg."

Her words hang for air, sticky like ogbono soup. I roll my eyes, but she keep pressing, ignore my discomfort.

Tunde smile like mumu, turn ask me.

He scratch head, eye dey beg. "Babe, she just dey play. Abeg, let her snap small." He want peace, but peace dey cost.

I force myself talk calm, explain say gown na custom, if Ifeoma wear am, e fit lose shape.

I talk gently, but voice dey shake, anger dey hide under. "Ifeoma, abeg, this gown na my mama prayer, na only me suppose wear am first."

Ifeoma freeze, her eyes red, she run.

She no talk, just waka, sobbing dey echo for corridor. I almost pity am, almost.

Next day, she bring her Pomeranian come.

She waka enter compound, dog dey follow, smile stiff. Her eye dey sharp, dey watch me.

Nobody dey look, and the dog pee for my white gown.

E deliberate, the way only people wey get wahala dey do—quiet, sneaky, hope say nobody go see. But I see am, my heart break small.

Tunde remember that one too.

I see am for him eye now—the way he no fit look me for eye, like say my anger na small pikin wahala.

He think say I dey vex because of that—

He think say na grudge I dey hold, like say my pain na small thing, like say I no fit forgive dog. He never sabi how deep the wound reach.

That I dey block am from saving the dog.

For him mind, my action no get anything to do with love or fear—na just jealousy. Some people dey reason say every woman pain na drama.

He lower voice, dey impatient. "How you take become this petty? Na now you wan dey form?"

Him words sting, each one na slap for front of people. I jaw tight, dey try hold my pride.

My head dey pound. I grab him wrist, try pull am come my side.

Desperation make me bold. My grip tight, my voice dey loud pass all the noise, my body dey shake as I dey try make him see sense.

"I no dey play with you. I no care about wetin happen between you two before. I just wan save my mama quick quick!"

Tears dey burn my eyes. My voice thick with fear, the one wey make person forget pride. I look am, dey beg, "Tunde, abeg now!"

But after just two steps, he grab my wrist instead.

Him finger dig my skin, eye dey burn with anger. The force make me stagger, but I hold my cry.

Tunde grip tight, almost break bone. "Sade, you never cause enough wahala?"

He glare at me, words sharp like knife. My heart dey hammer, my mind dey spin with confusion and vex.

He force my chin face Ifeoma. "You know say she get depression. Must you drag attention now and make her lose Tuantuan?"

He talk am like judgement, not question. Like say my pain na nothing, like say na me be villain. I swallow hard, blink tears away.

Ifeoma look me, wan talk but hold back, then finally talk: "If you still vex, after Tuantuan rescue, I promise to stay far from you and Brother Tunde."

She sniff, voice low, body dey shake. Villagers dey watch, begin murmur.

After that, she no fit hold tears, start cry. "Tuantuan na innocent. Please, no hurt am again."

Her sobs full air, sharp like broken bottle. She hold Tunde, small body dey shake. I feel the weight of everybody eye for my body—blame, suspicion, pity, everything.

[No cry, small sister. The side chick should just hurry and save the dog, then let her mama waka go.]

[The dog don dey with her for five years and na her comfort during depression. E even get trapped while trying to save am. If na me, I go save the dog too.]

The WhatsApp comments dey cut me like razor. I mutter under my breath, "Na my mama dey there!" I even glance back, as if person dey hear me.

My head dey burst. Wetin dem dey talk sef?

My thought dey fly, my eye dey blur. I dey near madness, torn between wetin everybody want and wetin my heart dey shout for.

That’s my mother!

The words echo for my mind, pass any accusation or plea. My mama, the woman wey give me life, my only family.

My voice dey shake with panic and fear. "Abeg, I dey beg you, just believe me this once, biko."

I kneel, dust dey rise, hand join for prayer. My voice raw, desperate, words dey tumble. "Tunde, abeg, hear me. Na my mama, biko!"

I kneel down, almost dey beg, tears and dust dey mix for my face as them fall.

The earth cold, dey bite my knee, but I no care. I press forehead for ground, let my tears soak red soil—maybe God go hear.

"Tunde, my papa don go. My mama raise me alone. I no fit lose my mama!"

The words jam for my throat, heavy with memory. My voice dey shake, but I force am out, remind am of wetin loss mean.

My papa na soldier.

He wear him uniform with pride, boots always dey shine. Neighbours dey salute am every morning, children dey run after am shout “Oga soldier!” I remember am dey whistle old army song, laughter dey echo for our small house. Na my hero.

When I small, he dey carry me up and spin me.

I still remember the feeling—like say I dey fly, world dey blur, him deep voice dey rumble for my ear, "My Sade, you go reach the sky."

Later, for flood time, he carry people like that.

Dem talk say he save plenty people that day. People still greet me for market, dey talk how he carry them cross water, him strength na shield.

At the end, he tire, flood carry am go.

He disappear quick—one moment pillar, next moment na just story and memory. Town mourn, but na my mama cry pass.

My mama nearly cry blind. If no be me, she for follow my papa.

She dey sit by window for night, dey whisper prayer to darkness, her tears quiet but plenty. She tell me once, "Na only you hold me here, Sade. Na only you."

She raise me alone, give me double love.

Her love like sunshine—warm, never fail, even for hard day. She fill empty space with laughter, dey remind me say I be enough.

She say she just want make I grow well and live well.

No matter how poor, she no let me lack. She dey pray for my food, anoint my head with oil, bless every step. I remembered how Mama go kneel by her bed every night, whispering ‘God, cover my pikin with your blood.’

I no fit imagine if anything happen to my mama.

The thought make my heart stop, breath hang. I squeeze my eyes, wish I fit swap place, even if na one minute.

How I go continue?

Future dey blank, cold, no road. I clench my fist, let determination harden inside me.

Tunde grab my collar, drag me up.

Him hand rough, grip no dey pity. He pull me stand, face be like storm—anger and confusion mix.

Confusion dey him eyes as he ask, “So, you wan drag who suffer pass with Ifeoma?”

He look me like stranger, words sharp, meant to wound. For a second, I wonder if I ever sabi am at all.

My mind blank. "Wetin?"

My own voice shock me—weak, shake, lost. I stare am, dey find the man I love.

He bring out phone, show me Ifeoma childhood picture.

He push phone for my face, dey scroll old photo—Ify at ten, at fifteen, always dey hold that dog. Him thumb dey shake, jaw tight.

Him voice heavy. "I no wan talk before, but Ifeoma enter depression after her parents accident. I promise to protect her."

He talk am low, like say he dey confess. I see guilt for him eyes, the way he carry old promise.

"But later I choose you. That’s what you owe her... Ifeoma only get Tuantuan as companion."

The words heavy, awkward. My chest tight, but I no turn face. Love dey always like this?

I step back, suddenly I no sabi the person wey stand for my front again.

For the first time, I see Tunde true—stuck between two women, no fit choose, no fit talk truth. My heart dey pain as I realise am.

He so confused about wetin really matter—why he come to me self?

I remember all the times he promise to stand by me, say I dey come first. Now, faced with this, he dey shake.

Every word na guilt for another person. If he marry me, e mean I go dey pay Ifeoma back for life, dey let her get her way?

E be like trap—life wey my happiness dey always come last. I clench fist, fight urge to shout.

The WhatsApp comments dey mad.

[The guy finally talk about him feelings. Choosing to marry the side chick dey make am feel guilty for our small sister.]

[When the side chick try wedding gown, na her own marriage you dey think or na the main babe sadness?]

[This guy no get sense, abeg look back at the main babe’s loving eye. You fit spend your life with her too.]

The voices dey loud, judgment dey heavy. I wan cover ear, make dem stop, but e just dey echo for my mind, dey fuel my pain.

All these words and dust nearly drown me.

I feel like I dey suffocate, air too thick. The world dey spin, I dey try hold wetin matter.

I hold back sob, shout, "So wetin? Because she dey pity, I suppose trade my own mama life for her dog?"

My voice break, sharp, raw. The truth too heavy to hide again.

Tunde frown deep, spit, "You too stubborn. Even dog get sense pass you. You just no wan see Ifeoma happy."

The words burn, each one betrayal. I bite lip, taste blood, but I no back down.

He no believe me, drag me go right side, give final command. "We go talk about your mama after saving the dog. I no get time for your drama."

He drag me rough, grip dey bruise. Eye hard, no see my pain. I let am drag me, my spirit dey break.