Chapter 6: No More Silence

Last last, the whole wahala turn to say na me dey jealous Halima talent. People dey whisper, dey talk for my back, dey point finger.

Musa look me, wan talk but stop. He shake head, mouth tight.

Tunde carry Halima come meet me.

Dem say na to apologize, but na to show off. Halima dey act, but her face dey glow small.

Halima still dey form pity, wan hold my hand. I dodge: "Ah!" My body shift, I no want her touch.

Musa frown, face cold like fridge, warn am: "She talk make you no touch am." Musa voice hard, everybody freeze.

Her hand finally shift, Tunde come stand for her front: "Aisha, abeg no too much. Halima ready to apologize. Wetin you still want?" Him voice low, but he no look me for eye.

"Apologize? Even if she kneel beg, I no go forgive." I sign am strong, face dey stone.

I look Tunde with cold face, small laugh for my mouth: "From today, we don finish." My chest dey heavy, but my face dry.

"No worry, I go find proof say na me write this song. She no go fit chop am like that." I make sign, my finger sharp, my eyes dey red.

Everybody dey talk say mute person suppose just bear pain, no talk. Na the usual wahala for Naija—dem expect make you swallow anything as long as you no dey make noise.

But me, Aisha, even if I no dey talk, I no go swallow pain. I go fight reach the end.

And I no go let anybody force me swallow am. For my mind, I dey swear, even if wahala dey come.

Truth be say, I no born mute.

I fit talk before.

Na accident make me lose my voice.

Or better, na sickness.