Chapter 9: Spirit and Flesh

All the hell money Tobi Junior buy almost finish.

The fire big, the smoke dey rise, even the old gateman come check say wetin dey burn.

By now, Baba Orun go don receive am—maybe e go call me back early.

If Baba Orun see this plenty money, e go hail Tobi Junior, maybe dash am one spirit cow for dream.

I think small, then talk, 'You fit gist me how Tobi take dey these years?'

I wan hear the full gist, maybe e go help my spirit rest.

But before Tobi Junior fit answer, I hear low voice for back.

Voice deep, like thunder wey wan fall.

'If you wan know, why you no ask me direct?'

Na so breeze blow, spirit cold enter my body.

Me and Tobi Junior stand, turn see say na Tobi return.

E dey stand for corner, hand for pocket, face strong.

For streetlight, e just dey look me.

E eyes dey shine, I no fit read am well.

I no know how much e hear. Instinct just make me wan hide behind Tobi Junior.

I dey do like small girl wey do bad thing. Shame catch me.

Tobi Junior see am, shift body block me, but no stop me.

E dey act like junior lion, but I fit see say e still dey fear.

Tobi dey look, pain flash for him eye.

Na quick flash, but I see am. E still dey reason old memory.

'Who allow you burn hell money for my compound?'

E voice deep, e no dey smile.

'Sorry, uncle…'

Tobi Junior try explain, but Tobi no answer am, just waka come my side.

E step reach front, eye sharp, nose dey flare.

E dey look me well, but e dey talk to Tobi Junior.

E no wan show say e dey reason me, but the focus dey there.

'Musa just call. Your best friend get accident, dey hospital.'

The news shock Tobi Junior. E shout, 'Jesu!' rush grab phone.

As e hear, Tobi Junior rush find him phone, call, but nobody pick.

E dey shake, finger dey fumble for phone. I dey pity am.

E wan rush go, then remember say I still dey there.

The boy loyal. E no wan leave me for Tobi wahala.

I just smile. 'Go check your guy. No worry about me.'

I wave hand like mama, make e no delay.

Tobi Junior look Tobi, hesitate, then beg, 'Uncle, abeg, no drive her commot.'

The boy dey plead true true. E no wan make Tobi do anyhow.

…

As Tobi Junior commot, Tobi grab me, drag me inside house.

E grip tight, e breath dey rush. I dey follow am, dey fear small.

As door close, e no waste time—e start to tear my cloth.

Na spirit and human struggle. I dey try hold cloth, but e hand strong.

Fear catch me, I cover my chest, beg, 'No do am, Tobi, I dey beg…'

My voice dey shake, my eye dey red.

But e no hear. E just pin my hand for up, tear my collar, expose my collarbone.

E dey search for something—maybe mark, maybe memory.

Cold breeze touch my skin, I just dey shake.

The breeze no be ordinary breeze. Na that kain cold wey dey follow spirit waka.

I wan struggle, but Tobi just pause.

My heart dey beat, I dey sweat. I dey pray say e go remember.

Na then e eye land on that red mark under my collarbone.

Na the mark wey only Tobi know, the one wey I get since childhood. E dey try confirm whether na me, Ngozi, be this?

E finger dey tremble as e touch am. E eye wet, e mouth dey open small. For that moment, na only old love dey room.

I see flashback for Tobi eye—our happiest day together, when rain dey fall, we two dey inside, dey laugh for floor, no wahala, just love. As Tobi finger touch my mark, spirit and flesh begin dey mix—who go survive this kain love?