I couldn’t bring my self to accept Francis Onuorah as a choice for a suitor.
I watched him from the large hole in Mama’s hut as he converse with Papa. I thought I heard more of humming followed by intermittent laughter as two friends discreetly discussing a love affair.
I remember vividly the day his big eyes trailed down my body as I had gone to soak cassava at “Ubene” the biggest stream in our village.
The fact that he stopped in the middle of his track to stare at me was annoying. Few days later I returned from the market to meet him chatting excitedly with my younger brother, Jeremiah.
I had glared at the latter who followed me suit.
“Nkechi, he gave me some money to buy oil bean at school tomorrow”, he said smiling and showing me some fresh notes.
“What Did Nne said about collecting money from strangers”, I snapped.
“He said he is your husband”, Jeremiah said making a face, clearly not bothered about Mama and her rules about strangers.
“What!, I shouted and turned in anger to go and confront him but behold he was in a tete-a tete conversation with Papa around a gourd of Palm wine.
I sulked throughout the night but for Papa, Nne and Jeremiah it was a different mood altogether.
Related articles:
************************************************
“I don’t like you! I blurted out.
His kinsmen looked at him with disappointment clearly written on their faces, then to me before looking at my people with disdain as if they had masterminded my decision. Only if they knew. My heat pound heavily. I knew I was in for trouble but I can’t betray the love I have for Ozoemena.
“You would have seek my consent first before bringing your people here besides”… I continued rudely looking at Francis with all the anger I could muster. He shifted uneasily on his seat.
“Get out of here Ogbanje! my father thundered and rushed towards me. Francis rushed to restrain him from strangling me while I scurried off weeping.
I rushed out of the compound to the surprise of my purported In-laws.
I ran with the speed I could muster to Ozoemena’s house praying that I would meet him at home.
I was happy when I noticed his door was open.
“Ozom! Ozom! I called weeping as I rushed into his tiny hut.
I stopped by the sight that greeted me and covered my mouth to avoid screaming aloud but I did. I was sure the old woman whom everybody believed to live at the far end of the village heard my voice.
Ozoemena, the only man that makes my heart beat faster…
Ozoemena the only man that brings me so much happiness and peace,
The Previous night, I had lied to Nne that I was going to Nonye’s house to braid her hair only to visit the love of my life,
I had lay on his body, a place where I find peace while he promised me endless love.
Is that the endless love?
Lying lifeless in his hut, face butchered.
Who did this to you? I stammered tears pouring down my face.
I shocked him vigorously but there was no sign of life. His fingers were cold and had on them traces of blood.
Those fingers that had caressed me during our tender moments,,
It was those fingers that had wiped my tears the night before and other times when I had come crying to him,
Those fingers that had gently untied my cloth that night at the back of the stream and carefully tied them back when I whispered “My first time”.
Then he promised to be patient with me.
I had reluctantly accepted.
Those fingers that had roasted yam and make locust stew for me,
Those fingers…
Those strong fingers…
Are stiff and dead.
I stoop up with anger and rushed out of his hut. All was in my mind was to kill Francis Onuorah in front of his kinsmen and ran out of the village where no one could see me but what if he was not the one?
The one who had heartlessly killed him.
He has to be the one I muttered under my breath.
But I couldn’t make it to Papa’s hut where Nne and Benjamin would have been huddled in a corner weeping and fearing what Papa will do to me when I eventually return to the house.
I couldn’t make it not because I wasn’t the fastest runner in Ubene Memorial Secondary school where I had won prize over and over again,
I couldn’t make it not because I wasn’t willing to avenge my lover’s death or hope for a brighter future,
But because I met something on the way,
Something worse than Ozoemena’s chilling death.
TO BE CONTINUED…
