Those were the last words Ego heard before a deafening clap of thunder shattered the silence.
She jerked awake.
For a brief moment, she lay motionless, her heart pounding against her ribs as she struggled to separate dream from reality.
Another streak of lightning split the night, illuminating the inside of the hut for the briefest instant.
She slowly sat up.
The hut was empty.
Only the dying embers at the center of the room glowed faintly.
A violent gust of wind slammed the door shut before throwing it open again. Rain had not yet begun to fall, but the clouds overhead rumbled with the promise of a fierce storm.
Ego rubbed her face.
"Nne?"
Only the wind answered.
She looked around carefully.
Everything was exactly where she had left it before sleeping. Her basket rested beside the bed. Her husband's hunting gun still hung upon the wall. Nothing had been moved.
The old woman was gone.
She released a long breath.
"So... it was only a dream."
It was the only explanation that made sense.
Perhaps the wind had pushed the door open while she slept.
Perhaps.
Yet the dream had felt impossibly real.
She could still hear the old woman's voice.
She could still remember every instruction.
Every warning.
Every word.
She lay back on the bamboo bed and stared silently at the roof.
It had been a long time since she dreamt of anyone other than Nnanna.
Since his death, he visited her almost every night.
Sometimes he would simply sit beside her beneath the udala tree and speak of ordinary things. Other times he would assure her that he was well among the ancestors and beg her not to grieve too much.
He always ended the same way.
"Things will become better."
"I am watching over you."
Those words had become the only comfort she still possessed.
She smiled faintly as another memory returned.
Just two nights earlier she had dreamt they were together again at the path leading to Otammiri Stream.
Just as they often did when he was alive.
She had challenged him to another race.
"You'll never beat me," she teased.
"We shall see," he laughed.
She sprinted ahead.
Nnanna caught up with her just as they reached the riverbank.
Before she could protest, he scooped her effortlessly into his arms and tossed her into the cool water.
She shrieked.
"You cheated!"
"I won," he declared proudly.
"You cheated!"
They splashed water at one another like children until both were soaked and breathless with laughter.
When they finally left the stream, Ego balanced a clay pot of water upon her head while Nnanna insisted on carrying it for her instead.
She refused.
He insisted.
She stepped into his path with her hands on her waist.
"If you wish to pass, mighty hunter..."
She smiled mischievously.
"...you must first defeat me."
Nnanna laughed.
"Nne, you're blocking the road."
"So?"
"If I catch you..."
He pointed a finger at her.
"...don't complain afterwards."
She folded her arms boldly.
"You can wrestle every man in Umudibia..."
"...but not me."
He shook his head.
"You are lucky I love you."
"Oh?"
She tilted her head.
"And if you didn't?"
"I would twist that stubborn little mouth of yours."
"You couldn't."
"I couldn't?"
She burst into laughter and ran.
Nnanna pretended to chase her before stopping beside the clay pot.
Seeing him give up, Ego cupped her hands around her mouth.
"People of Umudibia!"
She shouted.
"Come and see your great wrestling champion defeated by one woman!"
Nnanna laughed so hard he almost dropped the pot.
"And people of Umudibia..."
He shouted back.
"Come and witness how troublesome my beautiful wife has become!"
Before Ego could answer, he set the clay pot down and sprinted after her.
She squealed with laughter and darted into the nearby bushes.
She had barely taken a few steps before his strong arms wrapped around her waist.
Both of them tumbled harmlessly onto the carpet of dry leaves, laughing like children.
Time seemed to disappear.
For a while, there was only laughter...
gentle whispers...
and the quiet happiness they had once shared.
When at last they lay side by side beneath the trees, the birds sang above them while squirrels leapt from branch to branch, unconcerned by the world below.
Nnanna turned to her.
His smile slowly faded.
"I miss you."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I would give anything to be with you again."
Joy instantly gave way to sorrow.
Ego turned her face away.
"If you knew you would miss me..."
Her voice trembled.
"...why did you leave?"
Nnanna sighed.
"You truly believe I chose to?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"You left without a goodbye."
He moved closer and gently rested a cold hand upon her shoulder.
"I never wanted to leave you."
His touch felt strangely different.
Too cold.
Cold like harmattan before sunrise.
He leaned toward her ear.
Then, in a voice that no longer belonged to Nnanna, he whispered,
"I killed him..."
Ego froze.
"And I will not rest..."
The voice became harsher.
"Until you join him in the grave."
Her heart stopped.
She spun around.
The old woman was crouching behind her, grinning.
Her yellow teeth glistened in the darkness.
She laughed.
A deep, unnatural laugh that echoed through the forest.
Ego screamed—
—and woke with a violent gasp.
The storm was still raging outside.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as sweat drenched her body.
She stared into the darkness of her hut, listening carefully.
Only the rain.
Only the thunder.
Nothing else.
She wrapped both arms around herself.
Since returning from that forest...
Nnanna no longer came to comfort her.
Now, every dream ended the same way.
With the old woman.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.