Chapter 1: The Eve of Loss

On the eve of my big wedding, Ozioma—the bamboo spirit wey I raise since I small, wey dey follow me like shadow for compound—turn to my exact copy and, just with one cold finger, poke my chest.

For my village, dem dey talk say bamboo fit house spirit wey dey protect pikin. But I no know say my own spirit fit turn against me.

My body no even struggle—her finger cold like morning dew wey never see sun, just press me gentle. For that moment, na like say time freeze. My spirit just comot, float for air, dey watch as she dey arrange herself inside my skin, her smile sly like cunning lizard wey just chop fat fly.

She use cold finger press my eyelid, twist am slow, like person dey pluck snail from shell. Pain bite my soul, my scream choke for spirit throat. She remove my right eyeball, the one wey dey always shine when sun dey set, put am for necklace wey dey her neck like say na gold. As if e no mean anything. My scream no reach anywhere; na only spirit go hear that kain pain. Then, she straighten her back, adjust my wedding dress, and waka go outside like queen wey wan collect throne.

Papa, mama, my brother... none of them notice say no be me.

Even when I float pass them, shout their names, beg them with all my spirit, their eyes dey dull, dey shine only for Ozioma. Papa dey laugh, mama dey arrange gele for her head, my brother dey snap picture like say happiness na rice wey dem dey share.

But only him—when she bend her head like shy bride—the soft light for him eye disappear, come make am even scarier than how him dey normally look.

As she bend her head, dem call am blushing, but Timi own eye just cold. Timi eye no blink, e dey drag long like person dey count change for market. E no smile, e just dey measure her face like tailor. The smile wey dey always struggle for corner of him mouth melt, remain face like harmattan night. My spirit fear as I see am; I know say trouble fit dey hide inside quiet person eye.

My own wedding dey happen, but na my spirit dey watch, powerless. Who go save me if even my own blood no see truth?