A Short Story 

           The little bells on her waist and ankle jingling became louder as she approached the festival square. Following her Father closely behind . 

No one saw it , but I did . No one felt it , but I could. His slightly twitching eyes with his pinky fingers intensely tapping. The almighty Eze Okeke was enthralled by her charm , some psychos would say 'in love' . 

Ona was her name and she was everything I could never be, enough for him.

She was ebony dark , deep brown eyes , slim framed , one could call her a regular beauty for a woman in our tribe. But there was just something captivating about her that even I in all my findings as Lolo couldn't quite place my finger on . Was it the fact that she was considered forbidden to men or that she was exceptional amongst all women . 

Where men gathered to fight and flex muscles , haggle huge trades , hunt game and even drink fresh palm wine . Ona was always found topping the charts . You would think that was enough to make her less feminine. Yet when she was brought to dance or sing with other women . She stood out like the mangrove roots on salty waters. 

Ona was bold , daring and one who never bent to oppression from any man . She was the only surviving child of Maazi Oja mbata, the tribe seer . For that she was his heir , his son . Her hand , never to be given out. Free of the expectations of every woman yet burdened with the duties of both a man and woman . For she had to continue her bloodline with whomever she chooses. 

I heard of my husband's lingering for this queer woman before we tied the knot . I heard also and saw their escapades at night after we became man and wife . I endured in agonizing hope. 

Still none of that hurt as much it did , the day she birthed him his first son, Dikeh. A son of his that could never be his, yet he love in his when he gazed upon him was way more than that of my four daughters combined .

I watched him grovel for a woman who had no regard for him. Couldn't cook and stared right into his eyes whilst barking at him and he did nothing but be a fool for her... 

It was a lonely, black night at this river bank , feeling his warmth in my eyes . As I drew closer to the deep waters. With the baby Dikeh wrapped in my arms , his alluring chuckle was enough assurance for me . He surely wasn't going to hurt so much drowning...

I wonder why anyone should crucify me for this little ... The least he could do was respect me , for two decades I, Adaora was only his wife by custom but Ona was his woman... 

Watch out for Part 2 !!! 

© Gift EdeAni

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