r wounds like wall pa

like silk smooth, buried,

them unless you

I looked t

o footsteps. No echoes. Just the faint hum of t

t wing and was passing by Chinedu's

I hea

a muffl

glass sh

g heavier slamming i

omeon

closer. The study do

aw him back turned, shoulde

the floor. His left hand gripped the edge of th

ble. Some crumpled. Some torn. One

ot want

t want t

d a name barely

iom

e a slap. Maybe because of the way he s

just a small so

apped up. "

my shoe bumped the metal c

d fully in one

miw

not a q

just I

nd. "Don't lie

ing in my cheeks. Shame. Em

he turned and walked back to his desk, sitting dow

d to be my wife,

I didn't dare

rents. Hers. Lagos society. She was in every picture b

ed. "What

brother. Two weeks

d between us l

yal, but from the way he said it as if the

I said, v

he kind of laugh that he

w businesses, new women, new money." He looke

tand," I

ked. "D

ut I know what it is like to be left. To be

r a moment longe

him cracked, he whispered, "Y

ath st

tongue instead of speaking, keep your eyes low even when

know wh

over to me, stoppi

you don't beg

as if he wanted to touch

pered, "Don't ev

ned and wal

cent of his cologne linger

s out in the staff quarters, I foun

e. No

k flats. My size. Far too e

returned them,

believed in softness, wanted to believ

ust maybe n