Chapter 3: The Engagement Wahala

I no go lie, my body don tire, but Naija spirit no dey gree. I waka reach one five-star hotel—dem dey do engagement party.

Na that kind Eko hotel where dem dey do big party, full of rich people and better food smell wey fit wake dead man. DJ dey blast Burna Boy, aunties dey dance skelewu, fried plantain smell dey mix with expensive perfume. People dey greet, 'Eku orire o!' like say everybody be family.

But as I see Tobi face for poster for entrance, I freeze.

E be like cinema, my heart cut. Na my Tobi, smiling for poster with one fine woman. My leg weak, I just dey look as if e go disappear. I remember the first time Tobi smile for me, that dimple wey dey make my heart melt.

Tobi dey do engagement with another woman.

My chest just tight. Na so my whole spirit begin dey tremble, but I try keep face, form say I dey alright.

Well, I don die for five years. E normal for am to move on.

No be say I no sabi say life go continue. For Naija, if pesin waka, you go still do remembrance, but everybody gats move. Still, e pain me.

But still—e no suppose forget to dey burn hell money for me.

E get as e be. I just dey reason, 'So, na only live people dey matter?'

E no go ever understand how things dey cost for spirit land.

If you know wetin dem dey charge for small enjoyment for there eh! Even common cow tail soup, na big spirit currency.

No be Tobi family get money? Even small from all their business for here fit make me dey enjoy for afterlife.

Dem dey run one big import-export company, own plenty filling station. Small one dey enough for me.

I remember as I die, dey shake for pain inside his arms.

The memory dey clear like say e happen yesterday. Tobi dey hold me, his tears dey drop for my face. My heart dey break, but I gats talk my mind.

Tobi just dey cry, while I use last energy talk my final words—

'For the fact say I die for you, abeg, every year dey burn me plenty hell money.'

Na the only thing wey fit give me rest. I no want reach spirit land make dem dey use me shine.

I be orphan, date Tobi for years, no marry—I really fear say after death, I go broke.

For Naija, if you no get family, who go remember you? I just dey pray say Tobi no go use me forget.

At last, as I see am nod, I close my eyes rest.

That nod save me. I die with hope.

Now, just few years later, e don get another person, and dead people don turn story.

People dey talk say, 'When person die, na story remain.' But I no believe say na so my own go quick fade.

Vex catch me, I wan rush go inside confront Tobi, when I hear clear male voice behind me.

The voice strong, like person wey get small authority. Na so I turn.

'You dey find me?'

I no know say the real wahala just dey start.