Chapter 5: The Send-Off

This marriage alliance na correct thing o.

Palace people dey greet me like queen, cooks dey rush serve me food, maids dey call me "Princess Sade" with respect.

As I commot king’s chamber, I hug king’s command dey waka, dey smile anyhow.

I dey dance small for corridor, dey tap my foot like market woman wey win lottery.

As I dey waka, I see Musa stand for one side, face strong, eye dark.

He dey like iroko tree for harmattan, cold, stubborn. I dey fear, but I no show am.

Fear catch me small, I turn run, but Musa catch me sharp.

His hand strong, but e no pain me. I just surprise as I see say his eye red.

"You sabi wetin marriage alliance mean? Nobody even remember you before, why you gats put head? You think say na play?"

His voice low but heavy. I dey look ground, but my mind dey fly.

He hold my wrist, drag me go king’s chamber, like small pikin wey dey vex.

For corridor, I dey see palace people dey look us. Some dey gossip, some dey pity me.

"Come follow me see His Majesty, talk say you no wan go do marriage alliance."

My leg dey drag, but my mind dey strong. Nobody go fit change my mind today.

"No."

I shake off him hand. "I wan go do marriage alliance. I no wan stay here. I hate you. I hate this place."

Tears full my face, my chest dey pain me. For my heart, I dey think of my mama, all the days wey I dey suffer.

"You dey go marry Third Princess, why you still dey find me?"

My voice crack, but I talk am. Palace corridor cold, my body dey shake.

Tears dey fall from my face. I talk with shaky voice,

All the pain, hunger, shame dey pour from my eye. I no fit hide again.

"Nobody here care for Sade. Sade wan commot, go far, no come back again."

I talk am from my soul, like person wey don carry burden for years.

Musa shock, open mouth, but no talk anything.

He stand like tree wey thunder strike. His mouth dey open, but no word come out.

As he dey look lost, I quick shake off him hand, run back as fast as I fit.

My feet dey hit ground, dust dey rise. I run pass palace dog, pass old nanny, enter my new palace.

As I see my new palace, I forget everything.

New room, better bed. My heart dey jump, I wan lie down, make all the wahala end.

The palace no dey let wind enter, no rats or snakes inside, and plate of coconut puff-puff dey table.

I rush chop, smile full my face. I close my eye, dey thank ancestors say my life don better small.

As I lie down for soft couch, I sigh again,

As I close my eye, I dey wonder—wetin dey wait Sade for this new palace?