Chapter 6: Strawberry Cake and Stubborn Tears

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Somto get autism, so e no fit run the family business. My stepfather no wan make the big company fall for him nephews hand, so e begin value me, him daughter-in-law, well well.

Na so life be for Naija—who go carry family name must dey strong. Since Somto no dey fit run company, the next option na me. My stepfather begin dey greet me well, dey call me for small meeting, dey ask my mind. Na new power I begin taste. But power dey come with wahala.

First few weeks, work tire me sotay I dey collapse for bed every night.

Na true wahala. I go return home, shoe in hand, body weak, mind just dey float. Sometimes I no even bath, na just fall for bed, sleep catch me like thief. The thing tire me, but na good tiredness—like after you chop pounded yam.

One morning, as I dey change Somto cloth, I no even get time to dey do my usual wahala—I just waka commot after breakfast.

No time to dey drag matter. I just help am fix button, straighten collar, then I waka go. I forget all those small small teasing. I dey late for work, and bus dey wait for gate. Na so life be—when money matter enter, love and wahala fit pause.

For afternoon, for family WhatsApp group, I see picture wey my mama post—Somto vex, break my antique vase wey worth millions.

That group chat dey always hot. As I see picture, my mind first skip a beat. That vase na my pride, na only me sabi the worth. But as I see the fragments, I fit almost smell the dust for phone.

Anger just rise for my body.

I grip my phone sotay my knuckle white. I wan type vex message, but my mind dey hot. I dey imagine how Somto take throw the vase—na by mistake or na anger? My head dey buzz.

But as I see my stepfather ask for group: 'Somto injure?' my mind come calm.

Na that question cool my body. My stepfather no send the vase, na only Somto health e dey reason. E pain me, but I learn small—family first, property after.

Vase wey worth millions no mean anything. For my stepfather eye, nothing pass him pikin.

For Naija, na so e suppose be. No matter how big your property, if pikin injure, everything pause. I feel small shame for my anger. That moment teach me say I never really understand family.

Me sef come act concern: 'Somto, e scare? Make I come house come pet am?'

I type am with small soft voice, as if say I no just vex before. For family chat, you go always package your words. I add small emoji join, make the care show. E shock me how power fit make person soft.

I wan cry, but I just chop chin, dey type 'LOL' for group make dem no see my pain.

Power dey sweet, but health na number one. After I don work overtime pass half month, headache just dey worry me everyday.

I begin value sleep, begin dey miss old lazy days. Na so adulthood be. No matter the level, if health no dey, enjoyment no go last. The headache make me humble. I dey pray make weekend reach, so I fit rest small.

But as I close eye, I dey fear say tomorrow wahala fit big pass today.