33 A wolf in a sheep’s clothing

She opened her eyes to find the rapist still working tirelessly to undress her further, at first it was all blurry, she couldn't make out the face. Could it be Obioma, one of Nnadozie's top farmers; he has a suspicious look and has been staying with them since she arrived. He was fond of giving her compliments, calling her fancy and beautiful names. He seemed to like her, though she personally doesn't like him but always reply his compliments with a smile. Was he here tonight when everyone must be exhausted as a result of the ceremony to have his with her, she wondered?

Definitely, she won't allow him to pull this off, she screamed "Help!" on top her voice almost bringing down the roof.

He hurriedly covered her mouth with his hand before she could complete the word, terminating further words from escaping; knowing that if she succeeds in calling for help and he is caught, he would be made to walk naked around the whole village with little children raining down insults and abuses of all manners on him. She continued struggling to break free from his grip but he was just too big and heavy.

He then whispered into her ears "Please don't shout, Ego please don't shout". Immediately she heard the voice, she went still with shock. All traces of fatigue and blurriness faded away for her. To her utter amazement, it was Nnadozie who was on top of her, sweating profusely in the cold harmattan, trying to rape her.

"Stop! Please stop!" he said a little louder, raining saliva all over her face.

"I promise to let go if you just stop" he further said as the smell of fermented palm-wine mixed with tobacco streamed from his nostrils.

She nodded in agreement to gain back her freedom and not to smear his reputation. On seeing her reaction, he freed her. She swiftly dashed away from him to the far edge of the bed. Still numb with shock and disappointment at this man she previously held in high esteem. Sounding like a broken record, she managed to ask a rhetorical question

"Nna, what are you doing?"

Replying her filled with shame and remorse; he struggled to murmur

"I'm really sorry Ego. I don't know how it came to this". He paused, took few seconds, wisely choosing his words he continued "Though I have been harbouring some feelings of affection for you; even before you married my younger brother. This night I just could no longer control it"

Angered at what he just said, she had to cut in "And this is how you wanted to make this feeling known to me? By forcing yourself on me while I was asleep? She asked.

Sounding tongued tied "No… Ego" he said pulling closer to her while she pulled further away from the rapist.

"Don't come any closer or I will scream down this roof".

"I won't come any closer, please just bring down your voice; I don't want to wake up people sleeping". He said, pulling backwards away from her.

"You should have thought of that before coming to force yourself on a poor widow". Heating up she continued "did you think I was going to keep quiet and allow you to have your way, so you can continue to provide for me? No, maybe I wanted it because I've been celibate since your brother passed away?" She asked him not taking his advice of keeping her voice down.

With his head bow in further shame, he responded "Nne… no, I didn't mean any of those. I love you; I really do love you, Ego beke".

She barked at him "Don't ever call me by that name again".

He nodded in agreement without uttering a word.

"How can you say you love me? I was your younger brother's wife for crying out loud. By the way, you already have two wives, and you just did your third son's naming ceremony. What else do you want from a poor widow?" she asked?

"I want you, all of you". He took a deep breath then continued "You know I could have easily inherited you alongside my brother's belonging. But because of the love I have for you, I have waited patiently for five years, for you to willingly get married to me. I want that special love that you and Nnanna shared". He said trying to catch her eyes.

"I forgive you for what just occurred," she said while Nnadozie nodded without uttering a word. She then took a deep breath before proceeding "I'm sorry I can't marry you, not because of what just happened or any other reason on your part. I just feel I need more time to mourn Nnanna. I don't think I'm ready yet to remarry" she concluded.

"Really? How has being independent worked out for you so far?" he asked her with no sentiment in his voice.

She gladly replied him "It has not been really great but I thank the gods".

"So if I ask you to leave my house this minute; where will you seek refuge from? Which other person do you have that can shelter and feed you? He asked slowly getting pissed.

Not paying attention to the anger in his voice she said "So that is what this is about? Because you know I have no other person to fall back to, you deliberately refused renovating my hut so you can trap me here and come at night to tell me how you feel about me".

"Ego I did not know you are this ungrateful, so after everything I have done for you since my brother kicked the bucket, this is how you want to pay me back?" He inquired getting more furious.

"Honestly, I didn't know you were this crazy too. How am I even sure you were not the one that set my hut ablaze" She said with fire gently igniting in her eyes.

"Woman, listen carefully, insults from you is what I will not condone in my own house. If I had known, I would have left you out there dry and hanging. In fact, I want you out of my house before the first crow" he said, then stormed out of the hut leaving the door wide open.