Ego turned a curious eye in her direction. ‘Zina, are you trying to tell us something?’
Zina looked shy; I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen Zina look shy. ‘Maybe?’ she offered.
Ego was screaming, Zina was tearful, I was laughing; we were all sharing a hug, asking if it was a boy or girl and trading possible names. It was another thing I was still learning since my mother’s death: even in the darkest moments, the universe still managed to breathe new life.
Acknowledgements
A first book is a blessing but a second book is a gift. This has been a gift. I want to start out by thanking the readers and fans of my first work, Tomorrow I Become A Woman; the book clubs, the messages, the social media posts and memes. Your praise and support have helped uplift and encourage me to embark on this second venture. I put my heart into this and I hope you feel it as you turn the pages.
I would like to my wonderful agent Cathryn Summerhayes for the constant support and encouragement, and for reading early drafts of this that were far from perfect.
Kaiya Shang, for being not just an editor, but a friend. Your faith in me is humbling, and I cannot express just how much it means. Your ideas and suggestions (sometimes unintended) helped make this book what it is now, and you never let me forget just how much you love it. Thank you.
Sophie Missing, for your kindness and patience throughout this process. We didn’t start out working on this together but we’ve gotten along so well that most times I forget that. I’d been told good things about you and it’s been a joy to learn that they were all true, if not understated. Your edits were incisive and helped transform this from a very wordy draft into the book is it now. Thank you for being so supportive.
A special thanks to Ella Fox-Martens and everyone at Scribner/Simon & Schuster UK for your efforts on this and for all the lovely messages letting me know just how much you’ve enjoyed reading this; they mean so much.
Many thanks to my Iowa Writer’s Workshop lecturers and classmates who took the time to read through the lengthy manuscript and provide insightful suggestions and advice: Abby Geni, Margot Livesey, CJ, Zkara,
As always, my deepest gratitude goes to my family and friends. To my mother, Dr. Sarah Odafen, for your encouragement and patience with me every time I got into one of my moods during this process. Writing can be so emotionally taxing and I know there were times I wasn’t the best to be around. Thank you for seeing me how I don’t see myself. I’m not sure there’s anyone that has as much faith in me as you do. I love you so much.
My father, Mr. Ehimhanre Odafen for not always agreeing with my decisions but for loving me regardless. I love you always.
Salome, Oseiga, Ireneosen, Sona, and Gideon Odafen. My siblings that continue to inspire and push me. I love you.
Gabriella Njiokwuemeni, my trusted manuscript reader and love. You’re the best friend a person could ask for. We’ve always joked in the last decade plus of our friendship that if we don’t have partners, at the very least, we have each other. It remains true my dear.
Diligence Inubuaye Omimi, my smallie. Thank you for being a listening ear and my gist partner, and for telling me how much you hate literary fiction but I should send my manuscript over anyway. We get each other so much and it’s exactly why we’re bad for each other.
Ayo Arikawe, my dear dear friend. We fight all the time but have somehow remained friends, and it’s mostly because of you but hey, that’s what friends are for. Two books in from that very first conversation when I ranted about writing about my frustrations. I still owe you royalties. Haha.
Tobi, Sharee, Nneka. My Kdrama girlies. Thank you for being some of my loudest cheerleaders. I truly value the friendship we’ve formed and appreciate the sisters we’ve become.
Samantha Dion, Christina Montilla, Michaeljulius Idani, Yinka Oduwole, Olamide Adelugba. For your long calls and support.
My grandparents, Late Pa Joseph Taiwo and Ma Romula Elizabeth Moses, for your prayers and old copies of Shakespeare. My uncle and aunty Rev and Rev. Mrs. Taiwo for getting copies of my first novel and telling me to keep writing because you loved reading it so much. Thank you so much.
To everyone that I’ve been unable to mention that has contributed in one way or the other to this work and/or the person I am today, I express my deepest gratitude.
It is only right that I close this out by once again thanking my God who has been a source of unwavering assurance that all things do indeed work together for good. I’ve not always understood life’s events, but I’m learning to trust as you’ve been with me through it all.
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First published in Great Britain by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2024
Copyright © Aiwanose Odafen, 2024
SCRIBNER and design are registered trademarks of The Gale Group, Inc., used under licence by Simon & Schuster Inc.
The right of Aiwanose Odafen to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
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