Chapter 4: A Mother’s Coldness, A Dangerous Night

Grandma the Queen Mother and Papa Oba no like my mama, Madam Ifeoma. But now, because of me, dem manage show her small love.

The air for Ifeoma’s chamber dey always cold, even when sun dey hot outside—like shrine wey oracle don abandon.

Mama hug me, her body warm. I feel say she love me small. But e get as e be.

After Grandma and Papa waka go, as I dey sleep, I hear woman dey talk for herself:

"I nearly die to born you. Why you no be prince…"

That pain for her voice, I hear am. I fit feel her chest dey rise and fall. Tears dey drop for my small back like rain wey no gree stop.

Night. One person sneak come cradle, drop one baby wey dey wrap for aso-oke wrapper inside.

I shock wake, open eye see strange baby wey get kola-nut birthmark for ear. I wan cry, but person cover my mouth with cloth. The hand cold, cloth get palm oil smell, as if na market woman hand.

"Bisi, wetin you dey do?"

Thank God, Queen Ifeoma wake catch her maid, shout for am.

Bisi kneel, bring out letter from wrapper:

"Na Chief and Young Master send me. The little princess too weak, she fit no last. Make we bring the healthy cousin girl enter palace."

"No worry, Your Majesty. All newborn dey look alike. Nobody go notice."

No, abeg, make dem no swap me!

I wave hand, dey try make my mama pity me. I shake small leg, tears full eye, voice choke for throat.

Queen Ifeoma read letter, her voice dey pain: "Ah! Na only this pikin I get—how I go let una carry am?"

She nearly tear letter, hand dey shake, but her eye stubborn like stone.

"Your Majesty, Chief and Young Master still dey cell. If anything happen, na only cousin girl go remain for bloodline. You and His Majesty fit born more pikin later."

Maybe na this talk move her. Mama quiet for long, then close eye, sigh. Her hand cold for my back, she no fit look my face.

"Find her better family."

My heart just heavy, like say something grip am, I no fit breathe. I dey struggle, try shout, but pain heavy pass my strength.

So, to be abandoned still dey pain, no matter how many times e happen. Spirit pain deep, even small pikin dey feel am.