Chapter 2: Hospital Tension

Akinlolu land for hospital after he drink pass him power.

As Lagos dey be, gist fly quick—before one hour, everybody wey suppose know, don hear. E fit look like small thing, but me, I know say this one get as e be.

The nurse come out, ask, "Who be the patient family here?"

Her eyes scan the small waiting room, voice tired like nurse wey don do back-to-back night shift.

Ngozi and I stand up at the same time.

"Me."

"It’s me."

Our voices jam for air, the tension thick as ogbono soup. Our eyes jam, but nobody gree shift. Na silent battle, woman to woman. For that brief moment, we both dey claim the same man—different rights, different hearts.

The nurse frown. "So who exactly be family?"

She dey look us like two market women wey dey drag change. Her face squeeze, patience thin like akara batter.

Ngozi step forward. "Na me. Abeg, just tell me wetin I suppose do."

She try put respect for her voice, but worry dey press her spirit. The seriousness for her face no fit hide.

The nurse explain overnight instructions. Ngozi nod, lips tight, like person wey carry family wahala for chest. The hospital smell—Dettol, sweat, fear—paint her face with shadow.

I turn look Akinlolu. His breathing heavy, brows knot, eyes red at the corner, lips pale like chalk. I never see am like this in years.

He resemble person wey dem beat spiritually. Sickness dey body and soul. Old memories begin waka for my mind.

You fit build alcohol tolerance, but some body no gree. Akinlolu own na so. Even one bottle fit send am emergency. Na why I dey hide drink for house when we dey together.

Ngozi try hide tears as she warm his hands. For side chick to reach this level, even as main wife, I feel am.

E pain me small, but vex no gree me. True love dey show for small things. For woman wey fit nurse another person husband for public hospital, small respect dey inside my heart.

I pause, think maybe I suppose waka go, but then she talk.

"It’s all my fault. If not for me, he for no drink like this."

Her voice shake, eyes glisten. For that split second, I see small girl wey never suffer reach, but her heart wide. Sometimes, guilt dey hug you pass love. I bite my tongue. For my mind, I wan tell am say men dey do wetin dem wan. But I just nod. Woman wey dey love, na so e dey behave.

My assistant don give me the gist before I reach. For dinner, person try toast Ngozi and wan make her drink, but Akinlolu stop am. Guy mock am: "Man wey no fit drink? You better follow me jare."

The gist sweet, but result bitter. Na so Lagos boys dey misbehave when alcohol dey table. Pride fit push man enter wahala.

Akinlolu don pass gra-gra age, but that night something touch am—he start drink like competition dey.

Old men and pride—if you never see am, you go think na small pikin behaviour. Me, I just shake head.

Everybody wey sabi Akinlolu know—he no fit handle drink. But if he stubborn, na wahala.

E get as e be. The stubbornness dey his blood. You go see am, you go fear.

When we young, he enter hospital many times because of this. Last one na second year of marriage. He vomit blood, I get accident for express. After that, he change.

That year bad for both of us. Rain fall, but umbrella no dey. Long Lagos hospital night, generator noise, Dettol smell everywhere. I nearly lose mind.

Ngozi ask, "Madam Funmi, he dey always protect you like this before?"

Her voice small, almost whisper, but hope dey inside.

I just pull mouth one side. "You, stay and look after am. I dey go house."

No time for story. Sometimes, silence heavy pass long talk.

"Madam Funmi—" Ngozi voice shaky. She bite lip, like she dey finally decide. "I tell Akinlolu say I want marry. He agree."

I look her for eye, dey wonder if na boldness or small craze. She dey test me or just free her mind. Life get as e be.