Mama’s Tight Wrapper

“It can’t work because…”

The clock is ticking loudly. Her feet stomping on the ground with the weight of an elephant’s legs, mama eyes me impatiently.

“Ngwanu, talk. I’m hearing you. It can’t work maka ginni?”, she yells, and I recoil. My heart is doing dadumdadum. My mouth feels watery.

Must I spell it out for mama? Can’t she feel? Can’t she see her own daughter?

I open my mouth and close it abruptly like a fish. I’d waited for this moment for a year, and I wasn’t even a kid anymore. So why was I fidgeting?

“For the past few months, I’ve been thinking and just…thinking. I can’t do this anymore, mama. I need—I need to leave”.

I don’t get the chance to register the shock in her eyes because the subject in question bursts into our apartment with buoyance.

“Ah! Mama, you’re here? We weren’t expecting you”

“Eiii, uwa mo. Do I need permission to come to my son’s house?”. She stands, tidies her wrapper and they hug like as if they haven’t seen in 10 years, as if my bowels aren’t disintegrating at the sight of their joy, at my own mother’s betrayal, and from the broken ribs of two days ago.

“Go inside e nugo? Your wife and I made your favorite Banga soup” she exclaims like a child. He fixes his dead eyes on me.

“I hope she didn’t stress you” I hear the hidden words. She says no and he leaves.

The next thing I feel is the long drag of my arm. I cry out in acute pain. The wound is still healing.

“You this foolish child! Where did I go wrong? After everything I taught you? How many years did your father give me taps here and there? Did I leave? Mbanu. So chin up, be a good wife, and smile whenever he tells you to do something!” I look at her in shock.

I’d expected it, but the shock appears regardless.

As if to soften the huge blow, she caresses my palms and adds in a whisper “Just endure, hmm? Love isn’t always sweet in marriage”.

Just like that, she fastens her wrapper, carries the large pink package Obinna subtly squeezed into her palms, then walks off to prepare her son’s favorite soup.