Chapter 1: Antidote Duty

If not for the way dem use medicine for cousin—

Dem for no even remember me for this compound, but see as life just turn am upside down. For this Okpoko, na who waka pass dey carry gist, but my own don pass waka-waka, e don turn to full movie. Sometimes, for midnight, I go just dey reason, say maybe God dey play ludo with my destiny. Wetin man go do? Na so e be.

Aunty, in her panic, just rush push me go front as antidote.

She no even look my face well, just dey hurry like person wey dey late for market. The way she push me, e be like say I be goat dem wan use for sallah. I fit hear the desperation for her voice, e still dey my ear like market woman wey dey quarrel over change. The corridor hot, sweat dey smell for air, camphor scent from aunty room still choke my nose, and heavy silence dey everywhere. My heart dey beat, my hand dey shake.

A girl as dull as me, how I wan take marry enter Chief’s compound?

Everybody for village dey look me like person wey no get sense—dem dey talk say I dey slow like Monday morning. Sometimes I go waka pass, hear am: 'Na she? That one wey dey slow like Monday morning?' 'Abeg, leave matter for Mathias.' For where? See as fate dey play with person. I dey wonder sometimes, maybe na charm dem use for my matter?

I don dey married to cousin for three years now, but the man just dey cold, dey distant, like say I no reach for am.

From the first day wey I cross enter this house, I sabi say I no be him choice. Obinna dey waka like breeze dey push am—him feet no dey touch ground. If you greet am, na only nod you go see; if you smile, na wall you dey smile for. Sometimes e dey pain me, but wetin person go do?

Maybe na because I never give am pikin, that’s why.

For our side, if woman never carry belle, dem go dey look you with side-eye. Compound gossip full everywhere—'Na her body dull, she no sabi hold man.' I dey pray, dey fast, but pikin no gree come. Sometimes, for night, I go just lie down dey cry small, make nobody hear am.

So, I even plan say I go help am find two fine side chicks.

I gather courage, go meet aunty, yarn her my plan. She laugh sotey tears commot her eye. 'Na you go find side chick for your husband? My daughter, world don spoil.' I join laugh, but my heart dey shake like leaf for harmattan.

But as he hear am—this same cold, hard cousin—he just fling me for bed in broad daylight, punish me well well.

E shock me oh. Person wey never look my face before, na him grab me like thief. Na broad daylight o! Sun dey shine, lizard dey nod head for wall, and na that time Obinna decide say na me go collect punishment. My leg still dey pain me reach today.

"You fit try am again next time?"

E talk am with him deep voice, and I just shut up, carry my wahala go one side. I never see man vex like that before—na wah!