Chapter 2: Ifeoma's Truths and Big Money

I wake up see my padi, Ifeoma, dey look worried.

She dey stand by my bedside, her wrapper tie firm, eyes red as if she no sleep. She tell me make I no dey sad. She bring small flask of hot Lipton, say make I sip am, e go help my body.

She say, "Your body na your own. Even after divorce, you suppose live well."

Her voice carry that stubborn encouragement wey only person wey truly know you fit give. She say, "The children no go enjoy with Pastor Sani either. You no need to dey drag the case again. Besides, you no fit win am."

I shock. After I quiet for long, I just ask, "Who be Pastor Sani?"

Ifeoma pause, come dey look me like say she no understand. After small time, she clear eye, go call nurse from the local health centre.

Nurse come talk say na amnesia catch me because of the keke accident. Ifeoma begin dey ask me, "How old you be?"

I reason am: "Eighteen? Abi na seventeen sef? I still dey chop pocket money. No be yesterday I just finish WAEC?"

Ifeoma burst laugh, squat for ground, dey hold her belle, dey knock the bed with her hand. Her laugh loud reach corridor, even nurse for next bed dey peep us with side-eye. "Ngozi, you dey mad! This your amnesia na correct one. Yes, you be eighteen. Eighteen sweet—no Pastor Sani, no children... just two of us..."

She laugh reach tears, neighbours for the ward even dey peep us. But I confuse more, head just dey like say mosquito dey drum for inside.