“Love sounds so simple, yet it’s the most complex thing I’ve ever encountered.”
He nodded in agreement.
“Two things must occur for love to be manifested. The first is to believe you’re worthy of love. The second is to love yourself—”
“But...” I said, cutting in mid-sentence.
He raised his index finger to stop me.
“I want to be clear about something. Love must not only be romantic. Agape, storge, and philia provide as much satisfaction as romantic love. Love, also, must not only be directed at humans. There can be passion—love for something, a hobby, or a skill. Whatever it is, find that person or thing you’re in love with, or you’re passionate about, and get on the path to achieving your purpose.”
“How will I know what it is?”
“It will speak to you and appeal to who you are. It’s that person or thing that congregates your likes, strengths, and talents. That person or thing that puts your heart at peace and gives it rest—your source of energy, freedom, and joy. Many choose the thing they believe will make them rich and happy and ignore their God-given path. This happens when they try to imitate others. Such people will forever be unsatisfied—constantly searching for true fulfillment. Like Jonah, they will have to go back and forth, even if it means being delivered back to their starting point until they get on the right path.”
“Am I limited to one person or one thing?” I asked perplexed.
“No! Not at all,” he said, shaking his head.
“You may have as many purposes as you have passions. Different phases of your life will demand different things from you. The key is to pay attention to the transitions as the exchanges are made on the edge.”
“I’ve heard everything you’ve said, Papa,” I said, sighing in relief. “I’ll now have to figure out how to put it to good use.”
“Believe in yourself. Acknowledge that all you’ve done to come to this point is enough. Some people are lucky and their purpose finds them. Others are not so lucky. You still have time to make up for your mistakes, but don’t expect an easy ride. Gear up for the time ahead and don’t forget: Nothing is ever as it seems.”
* * *
I woke up more confused than ever. I felt in my bones that the last thing my grandfather had been trying to tell me was of great importance, but there was nothing I could do about it. I played his final words, “Nothing is ever as it seems,” over and over in my mind, and got nowhere trying to figure out what he meant by that statement.
* * *
I desperately sought an escape from Albert from then on. My grandfather had said I needed to figure things out by myself, so I kept looking for ways to resolve the issue. I did not only have my family to contend with but also the entire town because of my position. The situation proved too difficult for me. I wished my grandfather had given me the answers directly in Luenah.
With the little I learned, I pretended to continue preparations for the wedding while I discreetly made attempts to arrange a position in a law firm I once interned in Ajidi. I feared Albert would resume using me as his punching bag if he sensed my disinterest. My grandfather’s friend warned that breaking my engagement to the Crown Prince would be an act of treason. The crime bore serious consequences as I would be breaking an oath I made to the crown. He insisted that carrying on with my plan would threaten not only my existence but also that of my grandmother, my parents, Ifedi, and even Okem. It would be safer, according to him, for me and everyone in my household if I married Albert, as our lives could depend on it. His warnings, though terrifying, didn’t change my mind about leaving Albert. I just needed to exercise caution. My grandmother was still in the dark about my tragic experience, and I intended to keep it that way until I had a sound solution for getting everyone out of the mess I had created. Everything my grandfather had been trying to tell me up to this point became so clear to me. I now considered my life as being separated into two sections; life before Okem and life after Okem. Before Okem, was carefree, fun, and glorious. After Okem, was constrained, dreary, and violent.
Chapter Thirteen
MY TURMOIL MULTIPLED when I received news that Albert’s father was sick. I feared that if he passed, my fate would no doubt be sealed; I would be forced to marry Albert in a hush-hush ceremony, and my escape plan would be thwarted. It soon turned out my fears were unwarranted. The moment news of the King’s illness hit the airwaves, the priority shifted from the wedding to ensuring Albert was groomed and primed to take the reins of power. The turn of events gave a whole new meaning to the phrase every cloud has a silver lining. It bought me much needed time to put together a fool-proof plan.
The process began with three full days of rituals. The first day, Albert, the kingmakers, and all the titled men in Ide strolled along a dirt road that ran across Ide and Ntebe. Accompanying them were men in Albert’s age group, several traditional dance troupes, and all the children who could sneak away from their homes to witness the historical event. The procession ended at the Iba shrine, a triptych mud structure, where ten cows were slaughtered at the entrance and presented as a sacrifice to the gods. Following this elaborate ritual, the massive crowd dispersed before sundown to prepare for the following day’s festivities.
The next day, a procession gathered at the village square to witness Albert offer at least a hundred goats, fifty cows, and
