Chapter 5: The Last Goodbye

I knock soft, like person wey no get strength. Her voice sharp, but she open door.

Na respect, na duty. I fit waka go, but I choose to do am well.

Her mouth open, hand pause for air. She dey process wetin she hear.

She dey try balance tradition and opportunity. I dey see am for her eye.

I talk am clear, voice sure. All those years na small pikin play. My mind dey made up.

She purse mouth, nod head, but I see small relief for her eye. Maybe na burden leave her mind too.

She dey try act like elder, but the thing no pain her as much as I think.

She raise hand, surrender. She dey play elder for peace, even though she don already release me.

Her voice come low, like person wey dey accept fate. She dey look me for eye, but her mind dey far.

I dey look her, dey remember all the years wey I dey beg for her love. I dey vex, but not for her—for the girl wey I be.

The bitterness dey bite me for chest. Na Ngozi wey dey beg, dey wait, dey hope. That girl dey pain me.

My voice dey sharp. E shock her, but I no fit wait again.

She dey count days, dey reason say I suppose wait. But I get my own plan.

Her eye big, she dey try hide am. She dey do calculation for head.

Na big day for house, everybody dey prepare. I always dey take am special.

I dey fry moi-moi, jollof, egusi, even small small snacks. She go always smile, dey call neighbor come chop.

Her favorite line na, ‘My daughter-in-law na the best.’ E dey make my heart soft.

Na true, Ifedike never even boil water for house before.

I hold breath, talk my mind.

This time, I dey protect myself. I no wan give people reason to talk.

I know the kind talk wey dey fly for this family. Small thing, everybody go begin count date, dey plan engagement, dey gossip.

She too know, her face come serious, she no talk for long.

She no talk again. Silence heavy for the room. I hear clock tick, generator hum.

I take her silence as yes.

I carry my bag, turn, close door. Na small goodbye, but e mean plenty for my heart.

God, abeg, make this my new journey sweet pass the old one.