Chapter 6: Exile

For day, I waka Lagos street.

I blend for Balogun market crowd. I watch people dey price, dey laugh, dey live—me, I dey float like ghost for my own city.

For night, once dark, I return hotel sleep.

I keep head down, hoodie up, eye for ground. Nobody send me. Life dey move on, with or without me.

I stay hotel one week, mama no call me back.

Everyday I dey hope for message, apology, even "come house." But her phone just dey silent.

Money finish.

I send mama WhatsApp—

Na so I see she block me.

The notification pain pass slap. I stare phone, dey hope she change mind, but nothing.

For noon, I sit hotel lobby, dey think.

Stomach dey protest. Receptionist look me with pity. I wish say ground go swallow me.

From far, I see fine man and fine woman stand for indoor garden.

Dem resemble magazine people. For second, I think say I dey dream.

Man tall, back face me, I see broad shoulder.

Suit sharp, shoe dey shine. He stand like king for ground.

Woman slim, long dress, face dey smile up at man.

But I only see half her face.

I shake head, wan see better.

But these days, headache dey worry me, everything dey misty.

E make the scene look like dream.

I carry phone snap picture of that beautiful moment.

But I forget off flash, shutter sound loud.

Light blink, man turn sharp, gaze like cutlass.

Dem both notice me.

Man jaw harden.

He look vex. Woman—my sister—look away, smile vanish.

The look wey he give me no friendly at all.

I shrink for chair, wish say I fit melt for plastic.

I watch as two of them waka come meet me, fear dey beat drum for chest.

Each step loud, heavy. I squeeze phone, hand shake.

Until Obinna and Chisom stand over me, dey look down.

Their shadow block light. I small pass myself.

“Kamsi, wetin you dey do here?” Obinna voice still cold.

His words cut. I no fit look am.

I look Chisom, too scared to talk.

She narrow eye, lips tight. No warmth for her face.

Obinna stretch long hand.

“Give me your phone.”

I quietly hand am over.

No point argue. He always get way.

Strangely, he sabi my password.

He tap screen, finger dey move quick. I watch, surprise. Even me, I dey forget code sometimes.

Even me, I no know wetin those six digits mean.

I try family birthday, none match.

Obinna find the photo, eyes narrow dangerous.

Lips tight. For moment, I think say he go break phone.

“Why you snap picture? Kamsi, you dey try do Chisom bad? You still dey try harm am?”

Voice low, accusation heavy. My hand dey shake. I look Chisom, she just dey glare like say I be cockroach.

I shake head quick, almost cry.

“No, I no do am.”

Voice weak, almost whisper. I want make dem believe me, but I know dem no go.

I know my sister better than me.

She always be the star. Even now, stand beside Obinna, she be untouchable.

Me, I ordinary, I no dey fight her for anything.

I dey content for her shadow, dey hope for small love.

But mama say I once show for her new TV show launch wear formal.

Reporter say I resemble my sister, but our spirit different.

Sister noble, pure.

Me quirky, pure, kind.

Dem say my acting range wide.

So the lead role wey she get, na me dem give.

In the end, I no act too.

But my sister lose her chance to be top actress.

So my sister vex, hate say I dey steal shine, hate say I no let her get peace.

No matter how I explain, nobody believe.

That time, everybody face me. Family take turn show disappointment.

That suffocation—

Na nightmare.

I no wan face am again.

“Please, believe me, I no do am.” I hold Obinna sleeve, beg.

I feel fabric, cool. I look up, tears for eye.

He frown, talk:

“Kamsi, you still dey pretend? You no ever lose memory, abi?”

His words pain pass slap. I open mouth wan talk, but nothing come out. World spin, I nearly faint for hotel lobby.