It’s been 2weeks since Ni recovered himself at the Mall. 2 weeks since that morning when she’d turned around in a hurry, after receiving that call from Tola, Ni’s sister. 2 weeks since she left the door open and her daughter had walked out after her and shut the door. Now Wande was kneeling in front of everyone while the question hung like a rag flailing in the wind. Had she really used Juju to get Ni to marry her?

Wande wanted to deny it. She wanted to tell them how she had confided in one of her father’s wives. About her relationship with Ni, about the usurper Nike and how the life she had planned for herself and Ni would be nothing but a dream.

She wanted to tell them how her father’s wife had told her not to worry. To simply give Ni what he loved most in the world. She knew Ni loved to have fun and he loved music. So she had simply done that: Thrown him the best party he had ever had. Of course, she had lied that it was her birthday when the party had really been for him.

For 8 years, everything had been just fine. Ni was the husband she could have wished for. He gave her his 99percent, stood with her on days she doubted herself and had been a perfect father for their two kids. He had thrived in his career too. With Ni, she knew for sure that not all men were like her father. She knew for certain that there were good men. Together, they had grown from newbies to seasoned professionals. More importantly, he was her friend. Her voice of reason and sanity. Her clothing line was growing too, she was already launching her second store. Except she had forgotten to close the door behind her.

*****
After the party and the night spent dancing with Ni, Ni had once again turned to her. He was her Ni again even if for only that night. She had gone home elated, and shared the good news with her father’s wife. Her father’s wife had told her to go ahead and enjoy her man and have the life she wanted. The only demand: Whatever room they shared, whenever she left that room first thing in the morning, she should always shut the door. Other times of the day do not matter, just that first one.

*******

She begged Ni for forgiveness. She didn’t do anything but love him. Loving him and choosing him was her crime even when she knew he didn’t choose her. Maybe she should have asked questions. Maybe she should have found out the truth; Why was Ni suddenly loving her again? But she was too happy to ask. It didn’t even cross her mind. She simply loved him.

Ni looked at her in disgust. She felt like those slimy little insects that crawl out of the soil when it rains. This was a man with whom she’d shared a life and had two children; now he wouldn’t even look at her. She felt worse than a earthworm when bathed in salt. She was sorry, but only because she didn’t ask the how. She wasn’t sorry about anything else. Not about the marriage, nor their life together, nor their kids. She only wished the how was different.

“I cannot be here”, Ni said in a chilling tone Wande did not recognize, jolting her out of her thoughts.

“I cannot be with this woman. Heck, how am I sure this is even me? How am I sure whatever I say now is actually what I want to say? I cannot be here, not right now and not with this woman.”

“Think of our children, Ni. Please, think of our babies. They don’t have to pay for my actions. Please.”, Wande begged.

Ni laughed then, another chilling one that Wande did not recognize.

“2 weeks ago, I was in a mall being chased by a child I didn’t even know is mine. You think about THAT!” He stopped, reining in his anger. I’m here now Wande, only because of them. Nothing else”.

“So, here’s what I’ve decided. I need some time to think through and decide things for myself. I need to be sure I am the one making these decisions. Keep the house, keep everything. I will be back in 3months and then you will hear from me. He left just then. ”

****

A pandemic broke out a month later and global cities are currently on lockdown. Ni decided to stay where he was, he had nothing to go back to. He had his lawyers send Wande the divorce papers. It’s a new beginning.

**
The end.