THE TATTOO

 Chapter 18 

WHEN THE DUST SETTLES

Nnanna remained in Enugu for two days, but he barely left Uju’s side. He accompanied her through the quiet moments and the loud ones, through the weight of mourning visitors and the empty silences when she was alone. He didn’t try to fill the void with words—he just stayed. And for Uju, that was enough.

Each night, he returned to his hotel, giving her space with her mother and relatives. And each morning, he was back again, his presence steady, grounding.

Uju finally introduced him to her mother as “a friend.”

Her mother gave Nnanna a polite glance, nodded in acknowledgement, and then moved on, too occupied with burial plans to ask further questions. But Uju knew—her mother had registered his presence, and eventually, she would ask about him.

When everything concerning the burial had been set in motion, Nnanna left.

Standing at the entrance of the house, Uju felt an odd ache in her chest as she watched him go. He had come into her life so unexpectedly, and now, without him there, the air felt different. Lighter in some ways. Heavier in others.

She shook the feeling off. There was still a lot to do.

Days later, after ensuring that things were running smoothly with the burial plans, she packed her bags and returned to Abuja.

The drive from the airport felt strangely long, even though she had missed home. The moment she stepped into Aunty Eunice house to pick Kasie, she barely had time to drop her bag before she felt the weight of Kasie’s arms around her waist.

“Mum!”

Uju hugged her daughter tightly, inhaling the faint scent of the lavender lotion she always used. Kasie pulled back slightly and looked up at her, her bright eyes searching.

“How is Grandpa?”

Uju’s throat tightened. She cupped Kasie’s cheek, running her thumb over her smooth skin. “Baby… he’s gone.”

Aunty Eunice stood there, she touched Uju on the shoulder.

"Nne, nno. Ndo."

Uju had earlier informed her of her father's death but asked her not to divulge to Kasie yet.

Kasie’s arms dropped to her sides. Her face went still, her brows knitting together as though she was trying to process the words.

“But… but I wanted to meet him,” she murmured. “At least once.”

Uju swallowed the lump in her throat. “I know, my love. I’m so sorry.”

Kasie was quiet for a long time. Then, she simply nodded and walked away.

That night, Uju checked on her before going to bed. She found Kasie curled under her blanket, her face turned to the wall. Her shoulders didn’t shake, but Uju knew her daughter well enough to recognize the sadness in her stillness.

She sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand over Kasie’s braided hair. “I love you,” she whispered.

Kasie didn’t say anything. But after a moment, she shifted slightly, pressing her head against Uju’s thigh.

Two days later, Nnanna visited.

He arrived in the early evening, his expression unreadable as he settled into the living room with Uju and Kasie.

“I have some news, regarding the intruder” he started.

Uju straightened, instantly alert. She had barely thought about the strange man in the past few days, too preoccupied with everything else.

“The police finished their investigation,” Nnanna continued. “Turns out, the guy was a psychiatric patient. He escaped from a mental hospital.”

Uju’s brows furrowed. “What?”

“His wife and daughter were the former occupants of your apartment,” Nnanna explained. “That’s why he kept coming back there—he was probably looking for them.”

Kasie sat up straighter. “So, he’s not a criminal?”

“No,” Nnanna assured her. “Just… lost.”

Uju let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. “So what happens now?”

“His family has been contacted, and he’s back in the psychiatric hospital.”

“So… he won’t be coming back?” Kasie asked.

Nnanna shook his head. “No. It’s over.”

Relief flooded through Uju’s chest. She hadn’t realized how much tension she had been carrying because of that situation. “Thank God,” she murmured.

The conversation shifted after that. They talked about other things—how Kasie was coping, how Uju was handling the grief, how work had been in Abuja.

Eventually, Nnanna left.

But later that night, as Uju slept, she had the nightmare again, she saw his chest clearly, the tattoo of the man who raped her years back. It seemed real, too real.

She woke up with sweat streaming down her face and drenching her nightwear. Heart pounding.

She has a strong feeling of an impending doom

But how can things seem alright and wrong at the same time?, she thought

And for some reason, that thought wouldn’t leave her mind.