Chapter 6: Heavy Smiles, Covered Shame

Me and Musa’s marriage now na like new wrapper wey never soak water—shine outside, but inside, the cloth dey stiff.

We dey greet each other, dey act normal for public, but once door close, na silence and cold wind dey fill house.

I dey chop alone, sleep alone. Even when Musa dey house, na like say wall dey between us.

Some days, I go look myself for mirror, try smile, but my chest dey heavy like stone for mortar. Sometimes, smile na the only cloth wey fit cover shame.

I ask myself, how did we reach here? From two small town dreamers to strangers inside the same house.

But for this Naija, everybody dey learn to manage. To endure. To package face for world, even when heart dey scatter for inside.

I no know if love go survive this kind wound. But I know say, no matter how marriage dey, woman must find her own peace—even if na only for inside her mind.