Chapter 1: Light for Dark

I be one small wife wey nobody dey send for chief's compound.

As I dey waka for inside the big compound, e be like say breeze dey pass me without greeting. Even if I dress fine, carry myself with pride, nobody send me. Sometimes, the way the senior wives look me, e dey like cold water for body. But I dey always find small corner wey I fit rest mind. The smell of fried akara and burning firewood dey mix for air. Na so I meet one fine young steward, wey dey always show me gentle smile—even when life hard. For this compound, na him dey give me small light for dark, the one wey nobody sabi.

But for inside that same compound, I keep one fine young steward for my side.

Sometimes, when sun dey set and all the other stewards dey run up and down, na only Auwalu dey steady for my side. E sabi how to bring cool water, how to arrange my mat, even how to talk small joke wey fit make person forget trouble. My heart dey always beat small when e near me, and I begin dey treat am like my own. For compound wey nobody send me, na only him dey make me feel say I still be somebody. E dey special, and for night when breeze dey blow, e shadow go long for my wall, like say e dey protect me for dream.