Chapter 1: New Wife, New Wound

On my twelfth birthday, my papa carry one woman enter our house. That hot afternoon, sun dey roast our zinc roof, and for far corner, market women dey shout, "Tomato! Pepper!" The sound float enter our compound, join with the sweet smell of akara frying from next street.

She fine no be small—her skin smooth like well-pounded yam, shine for afternoon sun, still dey young, stand gentle beside my papa as if she dey find where she belong. Another small girl dey her side, dey eye me with fear, adjusting her wrapper like person wey no fit relax for strange place.

She call me "sister." Her voice low, just dey tremble. Tomisin, her pikin, press body near her mama, hold her wrapper tight, eyes dey dodge ground—like pikin wey no wan greet elder. I no talk, silence just full the air, heavy like rain cloud wey wan burst.

Na then Aunty Morayo look me well, talk, "You be Ifunanya, abi? Just as Mr. Zechi describe you—very likeable." Her voice soft, dey try sooth my spirit. Her Yoruba accent mix with Ibadan calm, make everything mellow small. My papa flash her grateful smile, the type wey man show when e feel peace for him heart.

Half month after Mama remembrance, Aunty Morayo—thirty-two years—and Tomisin, wey be twelve, move into our family compound for Ibadan. Neighbours dey peep from window, dey gossip, but nobody fit talk am for public.

Fear dey grip me that period. I ask Papa, "You go still love me for future?" My voice thin like broomstick, dey wonder if new woman go make am forget me.

He just smile, touch my head like elder dey bless pikin. "Of course."

I rush ask, "You go forget Mama?" My chest tight, the question dey bite me inside.

He pause, then sigh, adjust him cap, "How I go fit forget her? But Ifunanya, papa really like your Aunty Morayo. Try understand me, abeg. Tomisin just another person wey go dey chop for our table. I promise, nobody fit pass you for my heart."

I no answer, just hold him hand tight, dey search for assurance. My mind dey pray say make this new woman no scatter everything. As I grip him hand, he notice my heart dey shake. As I dey grip Papa hand, I no know say this new woman go change everything. My mind dey fear, but my mouth lock.