Chapter 4: Paper Pass Blood

As I just step come out lab, my phone ring.

I almost no wan answer, but I know say wahala fit dey the other side. Na Naija, news dey fly like mosquito.

As I answer, my mama-in-law voice dey cry:

Her voice carry pain, but I still no gree trust am. I wipe my face, listen.

"Ngozi, Olu... Olumide don go. Doctor say you must sign to confirm the body. Abeg, come quick."

I hear people dey shout for background, like mourning dey scatter everywhere.

I answer sharp sharp, "I dey come, Mama. Abeg, look after yourself and Papa."

I press end call, but my hand dey shake. I try gather myself. For this life, even phone call fit turn your destiny.

After call, I calm myself, drive go company.

My leg dey tremble for pedal, but I keep face strong. I know say I must act fast — if not, dem go use lawyer carry everything away.

I print out equity transfer documents, rush go hospital.

The girl for reception look me with pity, but I no smile. I collect my files, brush past security, no look back.

Na me and Olumide start the company after university. We hold 40% shares each, the rest 20% share among five other investors.

We struggle from nothing, use our youth build empire. If to say I no wise, everything go waka comot from my hand like wind blow garri.

For my last life, Aisha come funeral with lawyer. Na there I hear say, before we marry, Olumide don buy remaining shares for back, him own reach 60%.

The betrayal sweet for her mouth, bitter for my chest. I grip my file tighter, mind dey calculate move.

Once Aisha born and inherit Olumide shares, na she go control the company.

That thought dey burn me like fire. I grit my teeth, swear say this time, dem no go fit run me street.

For hospital, ward full of relatives dey cry.

Tears everywhere, some dey kneel, some dey shout "Kai!", others dey speak in tongues. Na Naija burial, drama dey always full ground.

As I enter, my mama-in-law rush slap me. "Why you late? Kneel down!"

The slap land, hot, for my cheek. My eye water, but I still hold ground. Room freeze, even the small children stop dey play.

Crying for the room stop, everybody dey look me, dey wait for drama.

Women dey adjust wrapper, men dey rub chin, everybody dey expect Ngozi to scatter.

I swallow pain and anger, bend head, talk, "I dey rush, na so accident jam me. Na why I late."

I press my wound, but no let tears drop. For this Naija, dem go use your weakness mock you.

Na then people see blood for my knee.

Women begin dey murmur, some dey point. Pity enter the room, tension reduce small. Old men dey nod, like say dem understand my struggle.

One elder talk, "Her knee don wound already. No force am kneel. And you—how you go slap person when you never hear her side?"

The man voice deep, e get respect for community. My spirit lift, even as pain dey my body.

My mama-in-law shock, then change topic quick. "Na worry make me do am. Abeg, sign to confirm body. No delay my pikin."

She collect herself, eye still red, but e clear say embarrassment dey catch am. Room calm, everybody dey expect wetin go happen next.

After I sign, I lie for Olumide body dey cry, follow am reach mortuary.

I touch his face, whisper prayer, beg God to forgive him. My tears real this time, even mortuary man drop head, dey sigh. Grief heavy for air.

Body must stay there overnight, next day dem go carry am burial ground.

That night, rain fall, thunder dey shake window. Some elders stay round fire, dey drink palm wine, dey talk story. I no sleep, my eye dey red till morning.

Doctor talk gentle, "Sorry for your loss. Family no fit enter here."

He pat my back, voice low. Nurse give me tissue, I thank her, but no fit talk.

As everybody dey go, I look doctor with tears for eye. "Doctor, I no see my husband before e die. Abeg, give me five minutes with am."

My voice crack, hand dey shake. Doctor look me, pity show for him face, then he nod, walk away.

Doctor hesitate, then agree, waka go stairwell.

He check camera, then signal nurse to look away. Small kindness dey for Naija, even inside wahala.

With my back to camera, I hug Olumide body like I dey say goodbye, but my hand bring out equity transfer document from my cloth. I carry Olumide near stiff finger, dip am for blood from my knee, press am for signature line. His hand cold like iced fish, but I press am well, make blood mark the paper.

I pray under my breath as I do am, beg God make my hand steady. I finish, wipe tears, adjust my wrapper, put document for my bag.

As I finish, I call doctor, comot quick.

I no look back, just dey thank God for second chance. My heart dey race, but my spirit dey calm.