Chapter 4: Escape and Loss

She must have noticed I still dey there, because she even throw sheep dung at me.

The hot dung land for my arm, I gree wipe am, my face twist, but I no shout. For my mind, I dey tell myself say maybe na protection she dey try.

“Go!”

Her voice crack, like old woman wey don lose everything. Even the sheep stop to bleat, as if them too dey fear her.

“Okay, if you no go leave, na me go die... so I no go feel your presence again...”

Her words heavy, like curse wey dey hang for air. The threat real; for her voice, I fit hear truth. I dey wonder if na only my presence dey give her pain, or if na herself she dey fight.

She talk am finish, she really wan run go jam her head for the stone block.

I see as she move quick, almost trip. My heart fly, sweat break for my face despite the cold. The way she dey rush the stone, no be play. My legs move before my mind, fear dey drag me forward.

I jump up quick. “I dey go... I dey go now...”

I shout, voice loud pass sheep cry. I dey beg with all my strength, tears finally fall. My hands dey shake, leg weak, but na her life I dey try save. For my heart, I dey pray say my words go hold her back.

Mama no fit die. If she die, na true true nothing go remain for me.

I dey imagine life without her—no voice, no song, no warmth, only silence and cold. For my mind, I dey talk to God, beg am make He no allow am die. If na to suffer, make we suffer together.