When Mercy Runs Dry

Chapter 11: Abuja - Packing My Old Life

By 6am, Ikenna came with small bag to our compound in Amaka Village.

He wore same white shirt, but ironed well. He borrowed small perfume from his friend, perfume smell that entered our small sitting room before him.

"Good morning, Adaeze. Ready for Abuja to pack your hair?"

Mama blessed us with holy water she got from St. Mary church in Amaka.

"Adaeze, go and pack your hair and come back quick. Don't let Emeka touch you. Ikenna, protect my daughter like your sister."

Chidi locked blue gate after us. He was now our official gatekeeper since Chief Okafor returned gate with 10 bags cement. He wore Papa old face cap that was too big for his head.

"Aunty, bring buns from Abuja! And gala for gatekeeper!"

Bus from Owerri to Abuja, 12 hours journey. Ticket 18,000 each. I paid, because I have 6,000,000 from compensation and divorce settlement in my Kuda account after Chapter 10 victory. My hands shook when I transferred 36,000 for two tickets on Opay.

Inside bus, Ikenna sat near window, me inside near aisle. His hand near my hand, but not touching, shy. Bus AC was cold.

"Adaeze, you ever think you will go back to Abuja as free woman?"

"No, Ikenna. I thought I will die there as wife with locked shop. I thought Emeka will keep my 200,000 hair inside his shop forever. I thought Abuja would be my grave."

Bus moving. Bush passing. Many police checkpoints. Every checkpoint, my heart jumped, thinking they will arrest me for Chief Okafor 2 million settlement.

By 6pm, Abuja. Wuse area. Traffic. Dust. That same Abuja smell of suya and generator I hated for 6 months.

My old shop. Small shop, one room, with sign "Adaeze Hair Empire" that I painted with my own hand 4 years ago with yellow and red paint. Paint now faded, dust.

Emeka was there. With his mother and brother. And Ghana-Must-Go bag outside, as if they were packing for me before I came.

They saw me come with Ikenna. Emeka face changed, jealous.

"Adaeze, who is this man? You brought new man to pack? You have already married in village? You have new husband after me?"

I said, "Emeka, this is Ikenna, my brother from Amaka Village. He came to help me carry hair. As you said on phone, you will give peaceful divorce. You promised."

Ikenna greeted respectfully, bent small, "Oga Emeka, good evening sir."

Emeka mother hissed loud. Market women looking, market gossip starting.

"So you already have new man before divorce finish? No wonder you wanted divorce! You were doing runs in village with this boy!"

I wanted to shout, to fight, to scatter market, but I remembered Papa letter: healing over prison. If I fight, they will call police and I will miss night bus and lose 2.4 million compensation again.

I said calm, "Mama, I am not with new man. I am here to pack my 200,000 hair you locked for 6 months. Please open shop. Let us do peacefully, as tradition."

Emeka opened. Padlock old and rusty. Inside, hair complete. Brazilian hair, bone straight, wigs, attachments. 200,000 goods dusty but complete. My sweat. My four years of braiding in sun.

Ikenna helped me pack. Two Ghana-Must-Go, very full, heavy. My hands dusty, but heart happy.

Emeka brought divorce paper. Simple paper, typed at business centre for 500 naira.

"I, Emeka, agree to divorce Adaeze Williams peacefully, no bride price return yet, no shame. Shop goods worth 200,000 belong to her. No police case in Abuja."

I signed. He signed. Ikenna signed as witness. His mother signed, vexing, hand shaking.

Divorce done. Quiet. No crowd. No Amaka people shouting. Just us in small shop with dusty hair and one small fan making noise.

Emeka gave me shop key.

"Adaeze, take key. Your shop now empty. I will not lock again. Forgive me for locking your hair for 6 months. I was angry you left to Amaka without permission. I was wicked."

His mother cried small, "Adaeze, forgive us. Emeka loves you but he does not know how to show love, only locking and shouting."

I said, "I forgive you. Thank you for opening. Thank you for peaceful divorce. I forgive."

We carried Ghana-Must-Go outside. Entered taxi to bus park. Taxi 3,000.

Emeka stood at shop door, watching, hand on door frame. His mother held him.

I looked back one last time at "Adaeze Hair Empire" sign I painted 4 years ago with hope, when I just married and thought Abuja would be heaven.

That hope died in Abuja, but it will live again in Owerri. New shop, bigger, near First Bank, with blue gate that will never be removed by Chief Okafor again.

By 7pm, night bus to Owerri. Ikenna bought buns for Chidi, 2,000 buns, 5 pieces, with Coke.

I slept on Ikenna shoulder inside bus. Safe. No fear of Abuja night bus like before when I left with no gate at home, crying with 20,000.

Because now I have gate at home in Amaka. And I have man who waited 4 years, 1,400 days. And I have 6,000,000 saved.

By 7am next day, Owerri. Then bus to Amaka Village. Fine girl entering village with 2 Ghana-Must-Go and man.

Blue gate locked. Chidi opened, shouting, running, cap falling.

"Aunty don come back from Abuja! With buns! And new uncle!"

Mama hugged Ghana-Must-Go bags like her child.

Papa in wheelchair touched hair wigs, smiling, trying to say "beautiful."

Ikenna said, "Mama, we divorced peacefully. Adaeze is free. No more Emeka case."

Mama danced small dance in compound.

"My daughter is free! Free woman! God don do am!"

That night, we counted hair. 200,000 hair plus 6,000,000 cash we have from compensation = 6,000,000 family wealth plus goods. First time in Williams family history we have 6 million.

I told Ikenna, "Tomorrow we open shop in Owerri, near First Bank, small shop, 80,000 rent yearly from your 300,000. We sell hair together. Your 300,000 plus my 200,000 hair, we start. You will be manager."

Ikenna said, "Our shop. Not my shop. Our shop. My 300,000 is our shop capital."

Our shop.

But phone rang at 10pm. Loud.

Barrister Uche.

"Adaeze, small issue. Chief Okafor family says that 2 million compensation they gave you, they borrowed from cooperative, and they want to collect again, saying you forced them to pay with blackmail. They reported to Area Commander that settlement was forced. Commander says you must come tomorrow 9am to Owerri Area Command again. Come with 2 million receipt."

Forced settlement? Chief wants 2 million back? After he poisoned Papa? After he removed gate for 80,000?

Will Commander collect 2 million back from us? Will police take our 6,000,000?

And what about Papa Enugu hospital? We planned to go Enugu tomorrow for therapy 700,000. Now police again.

Will our 6,000,000 remain, or will Chief collect?

And will Ikenna stay if trouble comes again?

Blue gate locked tonight, but tomorrow Area Command again.

Story not finished. Abuja closed, but Amaka fight continues.