Chapter 11: Bitter Choices

After we come back from trip, my body just dey weak. Food no get taste.

Everything dey bitter for mouth. Even jollof rice scent dey fill air, gele dey shine for every woman head, but for me, taste like sand. My mind dey heavy, my body dey float.

At first, I no reason am.

I think say na stress. Maybe malaria or wahala from all the travel. I just dey manage.

Till I start dey vomit for no reason. Na then I know say wahala dey.

My stomach dey turn, vomit dey come anyhow. I dey fear, dey count days, dey hope say na just normal fever.

I sit for chemist bench, hand dey shake as I dial Femi number.

My hand no dey steady. My head dey spin, sweat dey my palm. People for chemist dey look me with side eye.

Beep… beep…

I dey count each ring, dey hope say e go pick quick. My heart dey race.

Three times, no answer.

I dey vex. My mind dey boil, but my body weak.

As I wan drop call, Femi finally pick, voice impatient: "Wetin happen?"

E dey sound angry, like say I disturb am. E no even ask if I dey okay.

For background, I hear cloth dey rustle, and Sade dey form sweet: "Take am easy…"

Na that one pain me pass. Sade dey giggle, dey act like say e get power. My pride dey die small.

The thing wey I wan talk just hook for my throat. I swallow am.

I bite lip, dey hold tears. No fit talk. Voice dey crack.

I no talk, just cut call.

Na only option I get. No point dey beg person wey no send your pain. I dey shake, tears dey drop.

Then I dial another number wey I sabi for heart.

That number, I don cram since that old wahala. My only hope.

This time, person pick sharp.

"Amina?"

The way the voice calm, I feel small hope. I wan break down, but I hold myself.

"Faith Hospital. Maternity. Abeg come sign form for me…"

Words heavy for my throat, but I force am out. I just need one person to stand for my side.