Chapter 7
956 Words
Adaeze had made up her mind that if she wanted to reach Dozie, then she had to get Chijoke’s phone. That was the only key to her freedom. The only thing standing between her and the ruin they were plotting against her marriage.
But the thought of sneaking into Chijoke’s room made her stomach twist. Her hands were clammy, her knees weak. She prayed silently: “Lord, please give me strength. Don’t let me be caught. Don’t let the devil win over me.”
That evening, an opportunity came when she heard Chijoke whistling as he walked toward the bathroom. He left his door ajar. Adaeze chest thudded loudly as she waited until his footsteps faded. Then she tiptoed across the corridor.
Her breath came in short gasps as she slipped into the room he shared with mama. There it was—his phone, lying carelessly on the table near his bed. Just a few steps, Adaeze. Just stretch your hand and take it.
She stretched her trembling fingers and touched the cool surface of the phone. Her heart leapt. Freedom was within her grasp.
But just as she wrapped her hand around it, she heard his footsteps approaching. Her body froze. Her hand shook so badly that the phone almost slipped from her grip.
She dropped it back quickly and dashed out, nearly colliding with him in the hallway. He narrowed his eyes on her.
“What were you doing there?” he asked, suspicion thick in his voice.
“Eh…eh…I was just looking for a broom,” she stammered, not even making sense. She wanted to ignore him but that won't result in anything good.
He smirked, that knowing smirk that always made her want to vomit, but he said nothing, instead he brushed past her and went into his room.
She ran into hers, bolting the door and collapsing on the floor. Her heart hammered so loud she thought it would burst. She buried her face in her palms, shame flooding her. Adaeze, you almost got caught. What were you thinking?
The next day, fate gave her another chance. She overheard Chijoke telling Mama that he was going to the market to buy something. The moment he stepped out, her chest tightened again. This was it. Her second chance.
She stood frozen at her door, whispering prayers. Then, with shaky steps, she made her way to his room.
The phone was still there, so she grabbed it quickly and tried tucking it under her wrapper. My hands trembled as I turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, Mama’s sharp voice cut through the air.
“Adaeze! What are you hiding there and why are you coming out of our room?”
She froze. My bloód drained. She turned slowly, her face pale. Mama’s eyes were blazing, and when she saw the phone, she flared up.
“Okaaayyy...so you now steal in this house too?!”
She raised her hand to slap her, and instinctively she blocked her. Big mistake.
Mama gasped as if struck by thunder. Then she began shouting so loud the walls shook.
“Ewooo! So you want to beat me?! You’ve grown wings in my house! Adaeze you? A small girl like you wants to fight me? Heiii! Agbataobi ooo (Neighbors), come and see what my son’s wife has turned into ooo!”
Her voice carried outside. She heard neighbors murmuring. Shy couldn’t even explain herself. So with hot tears streaming down her face, I ran into the room and slammed the door shut.
Minutes later, she heard the sound of Chijoke’s return. Mama wasted no time in narrating the whole story, twisting it as she pleased.
“She tried to steal your phone! And when I caught her, she wanted to beat me! She almost slapped me when I tried collecting the phone from her, but trust your mother na, I showed her what I was made of.”
She pressed her palms against my ears, rocking back and forth, but their voices still reached her. She knew Chijoke would milk this lie, and he might start suspecting what I was up to. She felt her chest tighten until she could barely breathe.
From that day, Mama’s treatment of her worsened. She no longer spoke to her with even a trace of affection. When she happened to pass by Adaeze akara spot the next day, she hissed so loudly when she greeted her. At home, she scolded me for the smallest things.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she began to hear whispers from the neighbors.
“That one…her eyes have been following Mama’s first son since her husband traveled.”
“Eh, women nowadays, are very shameless. Tufiakwa!”
Their words cut her like knives. Even going to her akara spot became a punishment because people’s eyes followed her everywhere. Shàme was swallowing her whole. And the painful part is that she's innocent.
Two days after that incident with mama, an unexpected window opened for Adaeze. Chijoke left in a hurry with some friends, and Mama, after a long day, dozed off on the veranda.
Her heart pounded as she crept into his room once again. The phone was there. She snatched it up with shaky hands, clutching it tightly to her chest.
This time there were no footsteps. No accúsing eyes. No interruptions.
She slipped out of the house immediately, her legs trembling but swift. The small phone felt like the weight of the world in her hands.
She began the race to Ifeoma's house, every step filled with fear and hope. She didn’t know if she would succeed in getting Dozie’s nu
mber, but one thing was sure: she couldn’t turn back now.
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