Chapter 3: The Ghost Bride Awakens

Suddenly, my heart stop.

Pair of embroidered shoes appear for my front.

My sister dey move.

Na midnight be this?

Because I dey doze, I no know how time pass.

Those shoes dey on top the bed, where I fit see.

I swallow, cover my mouth, no make any sound.

I watch as the shoes touch ground.

My sister wear embroidered shoes, her toes sharply pointed, her whole weight on big toe.

The way she dey walk strange.

Her knees no bend. Every step, she tiptoe high, leg straight, only toe touch ground, then move forward, heel no touch ground at all.

For our folk tale, na so dem say ghost dey waka—no dey bend knee, like masquerade for festival. Na sign say dead no dey carry body like living.

As I dey watch, everywhere just quiet—only my own breath and heartbeat dey ring for my ear.

Even though my mother lose daughter, she no come check. She just wait outside, dey dream of millions, no know say ghost bride dey inside.

My sister sit for old dressing mirror, pick comb, gently dey comb her hair.

Her hand dey slow, hair dey fall for ground like black thread. She dey hum small song—na lullaby mama use sing when we small. The thing cut my heart. "Sleep, pikin, mama dey for here... Sleep, pikin, no cry tonight..."

I relax small, because the mirror dey in front of me, and my sister back face me, block me from the mirror. She suppose only see herself, no me.

But then, my sister suddenly turn her head.

I freeze in fear.

Her head twist all the way to her back, eyes straight on me.

That moment, I look the mirror—and see say no reflection of her dey there at all.

Cold breeze blow enter the room, lamp light begin shake. My whole body dey shiver as I close my eyes tight, dey beg say, "Sister, abeg, forgive me."

But her cold hand land for my shoulder, and her voice—no be for this world—whisper my name.