Chapter 12: The Knife and the Blood

At the same time: My finger wey dey shake touch the knife trigger. With one sound, knife shoot out, stab my belly. Blood rush out. Everywhere quiet for my ear, then next thing, one sharp whisper almost scatter my brain. “…” I almost faint that moment. I no know how long after, I wake up for cold sweat. I look the mess for ground, blood smell choke my nose. At the same time, outside my room, knock land for door: “Junior brother, you dey? Four days don pass.” “Wetin dey happen? Something happen?” “Normally, just three days person dey reach Spiritual Awakening—junior brother, open door.”

The knock dey heavy, like judgment. I dey struggle to stand, to answer, but my body weak, sweat dey soak my mat. I dey wipe blood, dey pray say the thing wey dey my belly don die for good.