Chapter 4: Forgiveness No Be for Everybody

I submit Chuka new talk to court. As law talk am, dem suppose send the case back to police for another investigation.

Criminal police come meet Chuka for cell, I sit down by him side.

Dem dey find evidence.

Dem need proof say na Mr. Auwalu send am. Chuka talk dey count, but dem need real evidence.

But after all the question, Chuka no get anything to show say Mr. Auwalu do am.

Mr. Auwalu just call am for work, talk am for mouth, promise money.

Only camera for the site dey for crane.

So, no text, no call, no message.

No written agreement.

No camera catch dem.

Police and me just look each other, nothing we fit do.

We dey think say Chuka too simple—to kill person just because of mouth promise.

Police just start to check Mr. Auwalu directly.

……

As police dey check Mr. Auwalu, I no just sit down.

For criminal case, letter of forgiveness from victim family na gold for court.

So I go meet Musa wife for police guesthouse.

She be simple village woman. Her daughter dey nearby, dey read book. She just dey wait.

After I explain, she just look me, tears for eye, cover face, quiet for some seconds, then shout:

She grab glass from table, hold am for air, then break am for ground.

As she break am, she shout:

"Ahhhhhh!"

My body dey shake, I use my file block myself, dey fear say she go attack me.

But after the shout, she no touch me, she just cry scatter.

"My pikin just lose papa. Now you dey find letter of forgiveness? I no even know how we go survive. You want make I forgive devil wey kill my husband? Impossible!"

I no even get anything to talk.

If na Nollywood, I go be the bad person.

And no be even better one.

I wan make Musa wife forgive, but nothing to give her.

I even dey vex for myself.

But as Chuka lawyer, I must try:

"I dey sorry for Musa, but as you see, Musa dey worry Chuka for site—that na the wahala. If you no forgive, dem go kill am. He be just twenty."

I see say Musa wife dey try hold herself. She stand, carry my file, waka go door:

"I no go forgive. He make my pikin lose papa. I want him life! Abeg commot for here, no come back. I no go ever write forgiveness letter."

She use wrapper clean her face, then point at me like market woman vexing for customer. I wan try again, but she carry another glass, ready to throw me.

I run comot.

My shoe nearly fall for stairs. As I dey run, my heart dey pound, but I understand her pain. Na Naija woman, her world just scatter.