My hand stayed suspended in the air.
For a moment, everything went quiet. Too quiet.
I couldn’t believe what she had just said to me.
Five seconds passed before it hit me… my hand was still raised. That realization alone made something inside me burn hotter. Who did she think she was, talking to me like that?
I wanted to bring my hand down. I wanted to remind her of her place.
But something held me back.
Adewunmi: (facing him) That’s enough! For how long will you keep hitting me like a punching bag? Even your children can now predict your next move. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Your daughter walked away because she already knows what you would do next. I have been enduring this, not for you, but for my children. But I can’t take it anymore. Enough! Don’t you ever, ever in your life raise your hand on me again!
(She looked him straight in the eye, from head to toe, then hissed.)
Adewunmi: Nonsense!
(She walked out.)
I stood there, stunned.
Speechless.
Slowly, my hand dropped to my side.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Suliyah smiling.
That smile… it stung.
I should have beaten her. I should have done something. But my body refused to move.
Instead, I sank into the couch.
My chest felt tight. The room suddenly felt too hot.
I loosened my shirt.
Why is this house so suffocating?
I stood up abruptly.
I couldn’t stay here. Not tonight.
I need to be somewhere I am respected… somewhere I am appreciated.
(He walks out.)
(Summayah’s POV)
I heard everything.
Every word.
Every sound.
My heart was racing as I jumped around my room, half laughing, half crying, peeping through the door like a child who just witnessed a miracle.
My mom… stood up to Dad.
For the first time.
I was still smiling when I turned and saw her standing behind me.
I ran straight into her arms.
But… she didn’t hug me back.
Slowly, I pulled away.
Her face…
She was crying.
Summayah: Mom… why are you crying? I thought you would be happy… why the tears?
(She didn’t respond. Her tears only fell faster.)
Summayah: Mom… you’re scaring me. Did Dad hit you?
Adewunmi: No…
Summayah: Then why are you crying? For the first time in my life, you stood up to him. You faced Dad! You should be happy… right?
(She guided her gently to sit.)
Adewunmi: (wiping her tears) I never imagined I would talk back at your father like that. I always wanted you girls to see me as an example… but do you know I was shaking inside? I could feel it. I was terrified. I saw how shocked he was… and I don’t know why… I just felt bad for shouting at him.
Summayah: But Mom… what you did was amazing. So what, you should have allowed him to hit you?
Adewunmi: No!
(She raised her voice suddenly.)
Adewunmi: I hate the way he treats me. I hate how he beats me. But… I don’t know… tonight, I just… I pitied him.
Summayah: Let me ask you something, Mom. Do you think Dad still loves you?
(Silence.)
Summayah: Even you can’t answer that… okay, do you still love him?
Adewunmi: Yes… yes, I do.
Summayah: Mom… he doesn’t feel the same way. Someone who feels no guilt after hurting you… that’s not love. And me, I’m sure of it… Dad is having an affair outside.
Zhulaykoh: (appearing suddenly) Ohhhh… so you have the guts to say that?
(Both of them turned, shocked.)
Zhulaykoh: You this thing… how dare you talk about Dad like that? And Mom, this is your fault! How can you shout at your husband like that?
Summayah: (standing up) First of all, I don’t care how Dad treats me anymore. But tell me… is the way he treats Mom good? If you were in her position, would you allow it?
Zhulaykoh: (caught off guard) Well… Mom should work on her marriage!
Summayah: Hasn’t she done enough? She has endured enough! Or do you want him to kill her before you understand?
Zhulaykoh: Watch how you talk to me! I’m not your mate. I can slap you!
Summayah: (stepping closer) Go ahead. Slap me. It won’t be the first time… but this time, I won’t keep quiet.
Adewunmi: (crying) Please… both of you, stop…
Zhulaykoh: Oh, so you want to fight me? You won’t dare! If you try it, I will reshape that ugly face of yours!
Adewunmi: Enough! Both of you!
(Silence drops heavily.)
Adewunmi: Suliyah, go to your room!
Zhulaykoh: Of course… you love this ugly thing more than me. Look at me! I’m beautiful, intelligent, Dad’s favorite. You should be treating me better instead of this witch!
Adewunmi: Watch your mouth!
Zhulaykoh: Or what?
(She stepped closer, challenging.)
Before I could think....
I pushed her.
Everything exploded.
She lunged at me, nails digging into my face. I grabbed her clothes, pulling, tearing. We struggled, breathing hard, pain flying in every direction.
Zhulaykoh: I will kill you today!
Adewunmi: Stop! Stop it!
(She forced us apart.)
Adewunmi: Suliyah, go to your room now!
Zhulaykoh: (panting) I will deal with you next time. Watch your back!
(She storms out.)
Silence.
Then I broke.
Tears flooded my eyes.
Summayah: (crying)
But my mom’s voice came sharp.
Adewunmi: You better keep quiet! Did I ask you to defend me? How dare you push your sister? She is not your mate!
(Her words hit harder than the fight.)
Summayah: So I should watch her insult you?
Adewunmi: You should have left her for me! I didn’t send you! Everything I endure is because of you… and now you’ve made it worse!
(She walked into her room and slammed the door.)
The sound echoed in my chest.
(Curtain)
(The next day – At the shop)
(Summayah’s POV)
I sat quietly in the shop, my body present but my mind far away.
My face still hurt.
It was swollen from the fight… and every time I touched it, it reminded me of everything that happened last night. But what hurt more wasn’t the pain on my face.
It was my mom.
She hadn’t come out of her room since last night.
I had knocked. Called her. Even begged.
But she only told me to go to the shop.
That alone was enough to break me.
I sat there, staring into nothing, when suddenly—
Alia: My friend?
I blinked.
She was standing right in front of me.
Alia: I’ve been calling you for the past five minutes. You didn’t even notice me. What’s wrong?
Summayah: (forcing a small smile) Sorry… I didn’t notice.
(She moved closer, her eyes scanning my face.)
Alia: What happened to your face? It’s swollen.
Summayah: My sister and I… we fought last night.
Alia: (sitting beside me) Ahhh… what happened?
I told her everything.
Every word.
Every slap.
Every tear.
By the time I was done, my chest felt heavy again.
Summayah: And since then… my mom has been avoiding me. I feel like I made everything worse.
Alia: It’s not really your fault… maybe a little, for fighting your elder sister. But you did it because of your mom.
(She nudged me gently.)
Alia: Anyway, cheer up. I’m here for you. I even left my work just to come and see you. I missed you.
Summayah: (smiling softly) Really?
Alia: Yes now.
(She tilted her head, studying my face.)
Alia: The way you are smiling like this… and your face now… you look like Chinese people.
I let out a small laugh.
Summayah: You’ve started again with your jokes. Abeg, stop.
(We both laughed.)
Just then, a young man walked into the shop.
He looked about eighteen.
Customer: Excuse me, I want to buy drinks and biscuits.
(His eyes paused on me. He looked… surprised.)
Customer: Uhh… sister, is this how you were born?
Before I could speak—
Alia: And what is your business? Do you want to buy the drinks or not?
I turned to her immediately.
Summayah: What’s wrong with you? You don’t talk to customers like that.
(I faced him.)
Summayah: I’m sorry about that.
(I reached for the items.)
Customer: It’s okay… but you didn’t answer my question.
(He smiled slightly.)
Customer: What’s your name?
Summayah: My name is Summayah.
Alia: (muttering) You shouldn’t have answered him.
Summayah: Here are your drinks and biscuits. It’s two hundred naira.
Customer: (hands over money) Keep the change.
Summayah: No, I’ll give you your balance—
Customer: I insist.
(He paused at the door.)
Customer: My name is Ismail. Have a nice day.
(He left.)
I stood there for a second.
Summayah: What a weird customer.
Alia: Babe… I think that guy likes you.
Summayah: Nice joke.
Alia: I’m serious. Didn’t you see the way he was looking at you?
Summayah: So he should close his eyes while buying something?
I shook my head.
Summayah: You’re not serious. Do you want biscuit?
Alia: No… but seriously, why did he tell you to keep the change?
I sighed.
Summayah: Can you just forget him? He can never like someone like me. I’m too ugly for someone like him. Look at him… then look at me.
(My voice dropped.)
Summayah: Let’s talk about something else.
Alia: You don’t get it… you can be attractive too.
Summayah: Pele, matchmaker. Abeg, drop it.
(She laughed lightly.)
Alia: Okay, okay. I’ll stop.
(She leaned closer, her tone changing.)
Alia: But something strange happened last night.
I turned immediately.
Summayah: What happened?
She hesitated.
Alia: I don’t know how to explain it… but my boss’s son… he’s not normal.
(My curiosity grew.)
Summayah: What do you mean?
She swallowed.
Alia: Two days ago… I saw something.
(She lowered her voice.)
Alia: I was cleaning… and his door wasn’t fully closed. I saw him inside.
(She paused, struggling.)
Summayah: Doing what?
Alia: He was… having sex.
Summayah: With who?
She shook her head slowly.
Alia: That’s the problem… I didn’t see any woman.
I blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
Summayah: You must be joking.
Alia: I’m serious.
(Her voice trembled.)
Alia: And he saw me.
My laughter faded.
Summayah: What?
Alia: Since then… I feel like he’s watching me. Like he’s warning me without saying it.
I leaned back, thinking.
Summayah: How old is he?
Alia: Maybe twenty-one… or twenty-two.
Summayah: Just be careful, okay? Don’t stay alone around him.
(She nodded, but her eyes were still filled with fear.)
(Later – Ayo’s House)
(Alia’s POV)
Ayo: Alia!
My heart jumped.
I ran quickly and knelt down.
Alia: Yes, sir.
(He was sitting comfortably, watching me like I was something he owned.)
Ayo: Are you done cooking?
Alia: No, sir… I’m still cooking. Do you need anything?
(He stood up slowly and walked toward me.)
My body froze.
Ayo: When you’re done, bring it to my room.
(He leaned closer.)
Ayo: And about what you saw the other day…
My heart began to pound loudly.
Alia: No, sir! I didn’t see anything, I swear!
Ayo: (smiling slightly) Oh… so you think I didn’t see you?
(Tears filled my eyes.)
Alia: Please, sir… I didn’t see anything.
(He bent slightly, his voice dropping.)
Ayo: Good.
(His expression changed instantly.)
Ayo: Because if you tell my parents anything… you won’t be safe here.
(My hands began to shake.)
Alia: Yes, sir…
(He reached out and touched my face.)
I flinched.
Ayo: You’re not bad… you’re actually very cute.
(My chest tightened.)
Ayo: You’ll make a good toy.
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Alia: Please, sir… don’t hurt me.
Ayo: Aww… you’re crying already? I haven’t even started.
(A voice suddenly cut through the tension.)
Ayo’s Mom: What is going on here?
(Ayo stepped back immediately.)
My heart was still racing.
And I knew…
I was not safe.