Chapter XVI
XVI
She found it hard to sleep whilst he was away.
When he had travelled to England, he would call every day without fail.
This was a shorter absence, but she felt it more keenly.
There was no way to reach him in the village.
She was left to imagine what was unfolding, and she could imagine a lot—the occasional glances between Amara and Golden Boy, the voiced approval from the mothers, the matchmaking that would be taking place.
But she was not powerless.
Never had she felt more intently the gathered presence of all the women who had resided in the Falodun home, and those who had come before them.
There was Feranmi, who was cursed because of her husband; Yemisi, who was accused of being a witch; Yetunde, who was never even courted; Tobi, who was despised by her in-laws; Afoke, who was unstable; Fikayo, whose health bore the blame; her mother, who had loved in vain; and Aunty Kemi, who was the only one truly giving the curse a run for its money.
They were in the hallways, looking out from photographs, whispering to her and appearing before her in dreams.
She opened the drawer of knick-knacks. She poured herself a glass of malt mixed with the powder.
She had been taking it every day since she had last seen him, though she had not been able to follow the second instruction that Mama G had given her.
But she did not want to lose Golden Boy.
She took a biro and wrote his name on the slip of textured paper, then traced it over and over because the paper seemed to resist the ink.
Then she added his surname so there was no confusion in the spirit world, and his middle name for further security.
She folded the paper once, twice, three times, and then retrieved a pad, took it out of the packaging and pinned the paper to its centre. It wasn’t her time of the month yet, but she was expecting it in a day or two, so she slipped the pad into her bag.
She was no better than a witch. But there would be time for shame later, when she was safely in his arms.