Chapter 5: Market Days and Moving On

As expected, Tobi didn’t come back last night.

The morning greeted me with cockcrow and the hiss of boiling kettle. Early the next morning, as soon as I stepped out, I heard the neighbours gossiping.

"Wahala happen for Palm Grove Estate last night—a man use him bare hand block agbero knife for him wife. If only my husband fit brave like that!"

People gathered near the junction, their wrappers tied tight against the cold, voices rising and falling like market women arguing over tomatoes. "Dem say blood full ground like zobo!" another woman added, her eyes wide with excitement.

Their laughter mixed with the scent of fried akara and the distant clang of metal pans.

Sure enough, near noon, Tobi returned, his hand bandaged. I wasn’t home and didn’t know how bad the wound was, nor did I care. Before, even a small scratch on his finger would make me worry all day. I really cared about him before.

Now, I just noticed the way the bandage peeked out under his shirt sleeve, and turned away. I was done wasting my prayers on a man who couldn't see me.

When Tobi first took me in, I paid rent by doing chores, though I wasn’t very good at it and he often helped me. Later, as my hands became rough and used to work, I got better, and all the chores became my responsibility.

Sometimes, after a long day, my back would ache so much, I would cry silently into my pillow. But nobody saw those tears. Everybody just saw a woman who worked quietly and smiled at the neighbours.

After eating, I changed my clothes, grabbed my small purse, and went to the market. The system said that after my mission, I could take my lover back with me. System talk say if I finish my work, I fit carry my so-called lover go back—like say na shopping mall I enter. I bargained with the system to swap my so-called lover for local goodies instead. The system agreed.

'Better I go home with kuli-kuli and kilishi than with a man who no get sense,' I thought, chuckling to myself.

I made a long list in my head—even my faraway third aunt was included. After all, if I didn’t spend the money, I couldn’t take it with me. Better for my third aunt to enjoy it than for Simi to benefit.

I could already picture her face when the boxes arrived—'Ah Anu, God go bless you!'

Not far off, I saw some area boys standing in the alley. I greeted them—"Baba Danjuma"—and paid my protection money. Tobi was always busy with office work, and the rest of his time belonged to Simi. Of course he never saw how hard I worked just to survive.

One of the boys nodded and waved, pocketing the naira notes. 'Madam Anu, you dey try o.'

While he spent the night with Simi, I slept with a kitchen knife under my pillow, never daring to sleep deeply. If even Simi’s area wasn’t safe, how much more ours?

Some nights, the rats would scurry behind the cupboard, and I'd hold the knife tighter, praying daylight would come quick.

"Anu..."

Suddenly, Tobi’s voice called out behind me.

His voice was softer than usual, as if he just realized I could vanish at any time.