Chapter 3: Goodbye No Dey Easy

I hand the box to Halima, the maid wey don follow me for five years.

Halima—her scarf always crooked, her eyes sharp like pepper. For these five years, she see my tears, my hope, even the ones I try hide. Her loyalty, e deep pass well.

“After I leave, give these things to Queen Adeyemi in the palace, make she keep am as memory.”

I press the box into her hands with both palms. I squeeze her fingers, my own hands trembling like small pikin facing injection.

Halima hold the box, looking confused and worried: “Aunty Amaka, where you dey go? You no wan stay marry pastor’s son?”

Her voice crack, mouth twist in worry. The lines on her face show say the matter dey heavy for her mind. Her voice soft, but e full of small-small accusation.

All these years, my chasing after Ayotunde—everybody saw am.

Even the goats for compound sabi say na Ayotunde my eyes dey follow. If I waka pass market, na his name dem dey call.

“Where you dey go?” A cold voice interrupted.

Ayotunde voice, sharp as machete—e cut through the air, freeze everybody. Even Halima pause, her eyes wide.

I turn around. Ayotunde don come out from the room.

He stand there, framed by doorway, moonlight falling on his agbada, eyes deep as midnight river. His presence dey command silence.

Moonlight wrap his pure white agbada, making him look like say God sprinkle silver light on am.

He dey stand like statue—no blemish, no stain. E make me remember the first time I see him, when my heart first waka leave me.

I remember the first time I see am; na just like this.

The air full of incense, people gather around altar, soft whispers as they watch am. He be like answer to prayer nobody get mouth to voice out.

He sit on altar, people all around dey admire am, slender fingers dey turn prayer beads, dey recite Bible verse, dey pray for everybody.

He look like peace itself—untouchable. I fit still smell candle wax, hear the low chants, all fade except his image.

Just one look, and I no fit take my eyes off am again.

My chest beat kpam-kpam, my whole body dey shake small. Even time stop that day.

But his eyes never stop for me.

Na so heartbreak dey start. One look fit build a thousand dreams, but just one cold glance dey break am all.

“I no dey go anywhere.”

I force my voice steady, but my hands dey betray me—gripping my wrapper till my knuckles turn white.

“You know say I no get anybody here.”

For five years, na only him I dey chase, trying everything to change his destiny…

I swallow, looking at my feet—dust and small pebbles grinding under my slippers. Only Ayotunde na my home for here.

“I just dey pack some things I no need again, and I ask Halima to help me throw them away.” I speak soft, almost to myself.

If truth fit cover wound, maybe this small lie go help me last till the end.

Once I clear these feelings, I fit waka go without regret.

Ayotunde no talk further, just glance at the now empty main hall.

His silence heavy—he dey look everywhere but me. The hall echo with memories wey I dey try push aside.

He always quiet and reserved, only showing any feelings when talking about faith or when he see another person.

Even when crowd gather, his heart dey distant—like say e dey look for God everywhere except where I stand.