Chapter 2: Destiny No Be By Force

E take me small time to realize say I dey audition set for "Palm Breeze."

I blink sotay my eye begin pain me—set light dey shine, crew dey move wire, everything dey familiar like say na yesterday I do am last.

And say I don come back to life.

Na so I stand gidigba, heart dey pound, dey try remember who I be, why I dey here. This kain juju? Dem fit use person destiny play like this?

For a while, I just confuse—why dem bring me back?

To talk true, my last life sweet well well, I no even get any real regret.

I no get bitterness for chest, no beef with anybody. If person ask me before, I go say make God just allow me rest, but e be like say the ancestors get other plans.

For career, I shine as actress, even win African Movie Lifetime Achievement Award.

Trophy dey my shelf, magazine covers full my parlour. My mama go carry am show neighbour, dey tell dem say, “Na my pikin be this o!”

For family, even though we be DINKs (we no born pikin by choice), my husband—Mr. Nnamdi—love me pass anything for this world.

Neighbours go dey gossip say we dey do shakara, but we no send. Our compound know peace because love just dey flow like suya oil.

We meet because of "Palm Breeze," two small people for the industry wey rise together reach the top.

Back then, nobody rate us. Now, if you talk movie for Nigeria, na our names go pop first.

Everybody dey talk say we be legendary couple, genius meet genius, love story wey no dey finish for Nollywood.

Our gist dey everywhere—blogs, TV, even for local pepper soup joint, dem dey argue who love pass.

If I get one regret, na say we work too hard when we young, and Mr. Nnamdi die at sixty.

Time just waka pass, we no even notice. E pain me say we no chop enough enjoyment, no travel reach Seychelles as we plan.

Before he kpai, he hold my hand tell me, "You be my muse for life."

That moment, I no fit talk. Na only tears dey run my face. My hand dey shake, but I no gree leave am.

I cry scatter, hold am tight: "If another life dey, I still wan love you."

That one na my truth. For my soul, I know say na him or nobody. I talk am loud make all the spirits hear.

Mr. Nnamdi smile, then close him eyes go.

Na that kind smile wey dey gentle, as if e dey sure say we go jam again. I kiss am for forehead, hold am sotay nurse need drag me.

Not long after he die, I too follow am, sorrow just carry me go.

No medicine fit heal heartbreak. My body just give up. I no even struggle—my spirit dey ready.

When I open my eyes again, na here I land—

I see fluorescent light, smell paint for audition hall, my body still dey shake.

This year, I be nineteen, still dey National Film Academy as second year, just about to start my real acting career as female lead for "Palm Breeze"—the start of my shining journey.

I see my young hand, soft like agege bread. I feel old memories and new fear mix inside me.

I still no know why dem bring me back, but after I calm down, I just accept am.

This life, na another chance. No need dey fear—after all, who no wan chop two meat for pot?

Life sweet like this—why I no go live am again?

I wan make better jollof with my own hand this time, enjoy each spoon.

"He dey come, he dey come! Director Nnamdi don land!"

Person voice cut through my thoughts, excitement dey waka round like NEPA light. Some dey adjust wig, some dey arrange script.

"He wan announce audition results!"

The tension fit cut yam. Even the air begin get weight. My mind dey race, but I still dey reason say nothing fit shake me.

Person shout, everywhere just quiet like say dem press remote.

All the noise just pause. Everybody dey hold breath, hope say na dem name go enter history today.

I raise my head, my eyes dey follow the young man wey dey waka come.

Na the walk get that director pride—steady, focus, small smile wey hide for corner mouth.