“You cannot let it bother you too much.” Ozioma laughed into the back of her palm, wiping at her forehead, where prickles of sweat were scattered in a random pattern. “She is not trying very hard to shake off the rumour of a spirit child.” Oge muttered, lowering her voice
The red cushioned sofa dipped as Eligwe groggily stirred. He opened his eyes and looked around him. Uloma followed his gaze. They were in a small room that served as a storage space. Abandoned artifacts floated overhead above them. The Tree was crawling with Cosmics preparing to leave their realm
It was late into the night, and the moon stood solidly in the middle of the sky, moving only when its observer did. It dazzled the path of the Cosmics with silvery grey light that they did not particularly need. Noise reached Uloma from every angle. It was fascinating to
“Have you lost your mind?” The grip on Uloma’s hand was firm, too firm. She tried to pull her hand free, but Asiya held on to her, eyes blazing with unconcealed fury. She had seen Asiya in many states, but this was new. Asiya seemed to grow feet taller
Ekama’s house was uncharacteristically still when they returned to it. Uloma had the sense that it was holding its breath even though a house should not be breathing, in the first place. “They must be in the lounge. I feel them there.” Abali’s brows were furrowed as if
The forest, still as always, felt like a backdrop to Abali. Uloma was increasingly becoming aware of him as she sat between his legs, thinking. He was filling up the space around them, and she felt like she could reach out in front of him and touch him. “Are you
“You will tell them everything, won’t you?” Asi’s voice sounded low and accusatory, through Uloma’s already hazy, teary hearing. Asi held her shoulders and shook her slightly. Uloma, even in her state, knew that her sister was being gentle; if she wanted to hurt her, she would
The unease never leaves. Even when you have lived long enough, especially when the first formative years of your life were shadowed by loss. You live your life looking over your shoulder, waiting for the next shoe to drop. That feeling worsens when you have more to lose; as a
The eyes staring at her were far too close. Uloma jolted upright. “You are awake.” The girl stated, her eyes dancing with excitement. Uloma groaned as she drew her knees to herself. Her body ached superficially, as if her body was responding to the fact that it should be in
“Love can pull you apart and leave you heaving and panting after the one responsible for your breaking. Now, why is that? It is because love is necessary for the continuation of your race. Our daughter is a romantic; she never listens when I tell her how destructive love is.
Obuzor’s mother tutted at the clear blue sky. It was a sunny, windy day. “Mama, is this rain?” Oge observed from the kitchen, where she was stirring a pot of soup over the fire, in the firehouse. The old woman tutted again and hissed. “Are you blind? Asking obvious
The night was awash with the cries of cicadas and the silver rays of the moonlight. The night sky overhead, crammed with stars, shone too bright for the hour of the night. Laughter and the sound of excited voices occasionally interrupted the singing cicadas. The breeze cooled the skin, the
