Chapter 1: Fresh Start, Bitter Endings

No more waking up to Amaka cold for bed, no more old car wey dey break down for rain. Now, breeze dey sweet me every morning. I remember those my suffering days: hunger for pocket, wahala everywhere. But as I see my new SUV parked for compound, I thank God say all those years of managing old car and long face woman don finally end. Neighbours dey hail me, and one aboki mechanic for junction shout, "Oga Tunde! This your new motor na correct!" I raise hand, pride dey my chest. Small children dey play suwe for gutter, one mama dey hawk puff-puff, her voice sharp for morning air. The air for my street fresh, like say harmattan breeze dey celebrate my new chapter.

The day we collect our divorce certificate, I purposely wear the suit wey Morayo buy for me. Morayo say she wan follow me go, but I no gree. I no sabi wetin Amaka fit do. Amaka be my wife—no, make I talk am well, after dem stamp that official seal on top that certificate, she go turn my ex-wife.

I even shine the shoe join, make the suit show well. As I dey knot my tie, I remember Morayo dey look me with that playful eye. "No go dey look that your ex-wife face today o, I dey watch you—abeg, no fall my hand."

Morayo pull my tie playfully. The way she dey behave make me sure say I do well to divorce Amaka. That woman too dull. Even for bed, I dey feel like say na punishment. No be like Morayo—young, full of fire, she sabi me well.

She come whisper for my ear, "Babe, abeg no forget me. No go dey pity that woman today." The sweet scent of her perfume just follow me enter street, ginger my step.

"Okay."

"I promise."

I flick Morayo for nose, happiness just dey my body. I reach the marriage registry early, sharp sharp, ready to enter new life. Amaka come even half hour before the time we agree. As usual, she plain like say she dey go office. Even when she no wear her work uniform, na the same dull grey, white, and black she dey wear.

I just look am, she no even greet, she just balance for corner. Registry staff dey tap biro for table, AC dey hum, but my armpit still dey sweat. Some registry staff dey look us with that their usual judgment eye, I just bone. "I don collect the number. Make we dey go."

The number slip wey she give me, I just dey squeeze am anyhow. My body dey shake small, I dey nervous, but excitement dey too. Amaka just nod, waka front, no talk anything. Na when the staff give us our divorce certificate naim I finally release big sigh.

The cold AC for the office nearly freeze my hand, but I still hold that paper tight. E be like say dem remove one heavy anvil for my back. "Abeg, try move your things early."

"Make we no dey contact each other again."