Goi didn’t know where she was walking to that night. She just kept moving, holding her bag close to her chest. The street lights were on, but the road felt dark. Her legs were shaking and her eyes were wet. She could still hear Chik’s voice in her ears. You are a burden. I am freeing myself.
She walked past shops, past sleeping dogs, past women closing their stalls. No one looked at her twice. No one knew that the woman passing them had just lost her home, her husband, and her peace. Her friend, Amarka, lived a few streets away. She was the only person could think of. They had known each other since university, and even though life had taken them in different directions, a marker’s door was always open.
Goi knocked gently. The time was almost 1000 p.m. A marker opened the door in her wrapper, shocked. Goi, what happened to you? Why are you crying? Did someone die? Goi couldn’t speak. She just burst into tears again and fell into her friend’s arms. Come inside. Come inside, Amaka said, pulling her into the small flat.
She led her to a chair and closed the door. Talk to me, please. What happened? He threw me out, Gozi whispered. Chike. N Goi nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. He said, I’m a curse. He said, I’m the reason we don’t have children. Amarka hissed and sat beside her. That man has no fear of God. After all these years, he didn’t even check himself.
Goi, you have suffered. Goi rested her head on a marker’s shoulder. I don’t even know where to start. I left with just this bag. All my things are still in that house. Amaka touched her arm gently. Don’t worry. You will sleep here tonight. You can stay as long as you need. I don’t have much, but this house is your house now.
Goi closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Thank you, Amara. The room was silent for a few seconds. Then Amaka stood up. Come, let me boil water. You’ll take a hot bath and eat something. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about what next. Goi sat there as a marker walked away, her eyes staring at the floor. Her heart felt like it had cracked into many pieces.
That night, she couldn’t sleep. Even though the bed was soft and the room was quiet, her mind kept going back to the moment Chik told her to leave. She remembered how he turned his face away, how he looked at her like a stranger. By morning, her pillow was soaked with tears. Days passed. M Gozi stayed in a marker’s house trying to hide her sadness, but she couldn’t eat much. She barely spoke.
