I knew the moment I stepped into the house that trouble was waiting for me.
It sat in the living room, heavy-breasted and fuming, wearing an oversized ankara wrapper tied carelessly over a faded T-shirt. Aunt Linda.
I barely had time to drop my bag before the first bullet fired.
"Look at her. Just look at her!" Aunt Linda's voice rang through the small house like a church bell. "Coming home at this hour! Tell me, did you just finish from class or from under a man?"
I sighed. Here we go. I stepped out of my shoes, ignoring the glare burning into the side of my face.
"Answer me now! Abi your tongue is paining you ?" Aunt Linda clapped her hands together. "Because in this house, I must hear where you are coming from! My own house cannot turn to Babylon!"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Miracle and Mary peeking from the kitchen, whispering. Watching the drama unfold like a free Nollywood film.
I tossed my bag onto the plastic chair beside her. "I was in school."
Aunt Linda let out a sharp laugh, the kind that meant nothing was funny. "School? SCHOOL?" She turned dramatically to the ceiling. "God in heaven, do you see how liars prosper in broad daylight?"
Then she turned back, stepping closer. "What subject were you studying? Advanced Fornication?"
I sucked my teeth. Hissssss. "Abeg, I'm not in the mood for this."
Wrong answer.
Aunt Linda flared up like kerosene on an open flame. "You are not in the mood? In MY HOUSE, you are not in the mood? That's how your mother started o! Disrespect, waywardness, shaking yansh all over town—before we knew it, she was carrying belle and running away with one useless man! And now, look at you. The same reckless blood is in your veins!"
My nails dug into my palm. There it was again. The comparison.
I turned towards the hallway, ready to shut myself in my room, but Aunt Linda was not done.
"I don't blame you. After all, we have all seen you in action."
I froze.
Aunt Linda crossed her arms over her massive chest, eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. "Yes, nau. Or should I describe it for you? How you were opening your legs like bread and akara for the whole town to see? How men are now sharing your video like it is wedding Jollof?"
Miracle gasped. Mary stifled a laugh.
I swallowed the fire in my throat. Do not react. Do not react.
Aunt Linda smacked her lips. "If your mother had not died, I would have asked her to come and see the wonderful daughter she left behind. But no need. She already disgraced herself before God took her."
I clenched my jaw so tight it hurt.
I wanted to say something. Wanted to spit something sharp and deadly back. But I knew the game. If I talked now, Aunt Linda would scream the whole house down. Neighbors would gather. More disgrace.
So I breathed and walked away.
Dinner was silent.
Until prayer time.
Aunt Linda cleared her throat and began, her voice dripping with forced holiness.
"Father Lord, we thank you for this meal."
Everyone closed their eyes. Except me. I knew what was coming.
"We thank you for life, for grace, and for your divine protection. Father, we know that in this world, there are temptations. There are women who allow the devil to use them. Women who cannot close their legs. Women who are led astray by the spirit of Jezebel—"
I gripped my spoon.
"Father, I cover Miracle and Mary with the blood of Jesus! May they not be corrupted by bad influences! May they not walk the path of iniquity, like certain people in this house who have no shame!"
My grip tightened.
"May they not become public entertainment! May their names never be dragged through the streets like a dirty rag!"
I forced myself to stay still.
"Father Lord, we cast out every demonic spirit of prostitution from this house. It shall not stand! It shall not come to pass! Amen."
"Amen," Miracle and Mary echoed.
I sat there, seething. Fuming.
And as I picked up my spoon, she smiled to myself.
Because one day? One day, I would burn this whole house down.