Chapter 4: Family Blindness

Next day.

Sun never rise well when Ozioma wake. She dey arrange hair, use my perfume, wear the wrapper mama buy me for market. The air get that kain jollof rice smell, pepper still dey hang for house.

Ozioma wake early, dress well, go study.

She dey use the same way I dey walk—left leg first, small limp—just as my own. Na so she carry my textbook go sit for parlour, dey pretend say she dey read. She even dey hum that my favorite church chorus, as if e go complete the disguise.

Timi don already dress. As he see her, him smile deep.

For spirit eye, e look like say him dey act too. But that smile deep, e reach him eye, but na only surface. My own Timi, for real life, no dey smile that kain smile unless e dey plan something.

After dem drink hangover pepper soup, both of them go greet Timi papa and mama.

The smell of uziza and goat meat pepper soup still dey kitchen. Na tradition—after wedding, family must chop pepper soup make hangover clear, make love dey sweet.

For my mind, the two elders always treat me well.

I remember how papa-in-law go always drop kola for my table, say, ‘Chika, chop this one for wisdom.’ Old madam go bring me fanta, dey ask how my mama dey.

Especially the old madam, she no dey hide her smile when she see me.

She dey use two hand hold my face, press my cheek like ripe mango, dey pray for me. I dey miss am.

Now we be one family, the two elders just dey happy, dey tell Timi make e take care of “me,” like say dem wan pamper me as their own pikin.

Dem dey talk soft, dey pour blessing, dey pray make our marriage last. My spirit dey float, dey gather all the sweet words, dey jealous small.

Ozioma just dey act like me, dey talk soft, but her eyes dey always follow Timi.

She dey do as I dey do, dey answer ‘yes, mama,’ ‘thank you, papa,’ but the way her eye dey follow Timi no be the way I dey look am before. Her own na hunger—my own na hope.

I know say she like Timi.

The thing obvious. Her body language dey show am—even spirit go notice.

But just one night, her love don strong well well.

I dey wonder, na human love be like this? Or na spirit own strong pass?

She no fit hide am at all.

Even as she dey talk, her hand dey find Timi own. She dey play with him finger, dey laugh anyhow. My own body dey vex, I wan slap her but hand no reach.

“Na true, mama. Your son go treat Chika well.”

Her voice sweet, dey drag for air, like say she dey sing for market women.

Timi hold Ozioma hand, him finger just dey touch the scar for her middle finger.

The thing make my spirit jump. Na only Timi and me know how that scar take enter.

The thing small, but I catch hope, shout for Timi.

For spirit, I dey shout, ‘Timi, you see am? You remember? Na me get that scar!’

“Timi, you notice am, abi? That scar—na when I be six you injure me. You know say no be me, abi?”

Hope dey my chest, dey beat like bata drum. If Timi remember, e go scatter everything.

I happy.

Tears wan fall for my spirit eye. At last, person go recognize me.

But Timi face no change; him eyes still dey dark, calm as ever.

E just dey look Ozioma, as if nothing shake am. My own hope come dey shake.

“Husband remember how this scar take happen?”

Ozioma just show her right hand, palm open, small moon-shape scar for her finger.

She dey display am like trophy. E pain me.

I shock.

How she take know? E mean say she don study me well. Fear wan kill me.

“I remember well.”

Timi voice flat, but e clear. My mind scatter. Which kain remembering be this?

Timi face relax, no dey tense again.

Like say e believe say na me dey there. My hope begin shake like pap for bowl.

He hold Ozioma hand strong, promise, “From now, I no go ever let my wife get hurt again.”

Him tone dey low, but the word dey carry weight. Na that kind promise wey woman dey hear, dey feel say e mean love.

Ozioma just shy, bend her head, dey smile.

She dey act like say she no believe her luck. I dey vex, I wan throw something, but nothing for hand.

But as spirit, I see clear—Timi eyes just cold suddenly, even more scary than before.

I know that look. Na the same look he give the man wey insult am for okada that year. My spirit dey tremble.