Chapter 1: Morning Shadows

I end up with the guy wey dey always show me shege for school!

For this life, e get as e be. Sometimes, na the same person wey dey give you wahala go come turn to the one wey dey hold you for inside morning light. As morning breeze blow from the window, small sun rays dey try enter the room, I shift my arm small, the cotton bedsheet cold against my skin.

Sharp sharp, the hand wey dey hold my waist grip me tighter. The way e hold me, e be like say na property wey e no wan make anybody see.

Her chest stuck like eba when water finish—she no fit move. As she dey freeze, quick quick, one old memory flash for her mind: Suleiman, back then for school, dey block her for corridor, dey jeer, dey call her "mumu" while the whole class dey laugh. The way he used to push her, the way his friends used to join—e dey sting reach bone. Even now, with his arm around her, the old fear dey hide under the new warmth.

Suleiman bend down kiss my neck, im voice deep and still dey carry that rough sound wey person get when dem just wake: Like say breeze from Kainji dam dey pass for im throat.

"You sleep last night?" im voice low, e dey tickle me for ear.

I pause, memory of last night wahala flash my mind, but I just nod. I dey hesitate, remembering how nightmare dey chase me for dream, sweat dey my back, but for peace sake, I no talk am. I just nod.

He carry my hand, dey laugh for inside, then interlock im fingers with mine. The laughter just dey sweet for im throat, e no loud, but e dey vibrate for im chest, I feel am.

He near my hair, laugh for low voice, playfully: "This time, you no lose the ring wey I give you?"

...

Na the gold ring for my finger im dey talk about. I twist my finger small, the ring tight but e still shine. The first two—one I hide for freezer, the other I throw inside the well for backyard. I remember the fear wey catch me that night wey I run go hide the first one, cold catch me sotey my teeth dey shake.

I no even wan remember wetin happen after those two rings. This third one, e be like say the matter don set: I go marry am—the person wey I fear pass before!

Marry am! See life. If dem tell me say na Suleiman go dey my side like this, I for swear say na lie.