“Mo lifted her head slowly, and a single drop of water rolled from her hairline and fell, catching the dim light, landing with a small splash on the baby’s forehead […] It was only as she turned away from the cot that Ebun realised her foot was wet; she was standing in a small pool of water.”

This scene blurs the boundary between the spiritual and physical worlds. The drop of water is a symbolic anointing, connecting the newborn to the spirit of the deceased Monife and introducing the recurring motif of water. The physical evidence of a puddle on the floor validates the dream as a real visitation, suggesting that Eniiyi’s identity will be shaped by her late cousin from the moment of her birth.

“Twelve-year-old Ebun told sixteen-year-old Monife that she didn’t believe in curses. ‘That’s fine,’ said Monife, between the slow chewing of gum, ‘but what if the curse believes in you?’”

Monife’s response encapsulates The Self-Fulfilling Nature of Negative Beliefs. Her personification of the curse suggests that its power is inescapable, and this scene suggests that this fatalistic mindset will influence future actions as well. The contrast between Ebun’s youthful skepticism and Monife’s casual acceptance highlights the psychological weight of inherited trauma.

“Her mother turned and eyed her sister. ‘I am not you,’ she said. ‘I know the vows I made. And I hardly think chasing men up and down the place is the way forward.’ ‘I have fun. They have fun. Is it not better than pining for a man?’ Bunmi sucked in her breath before saying, ‘You are practically a prostitute.’”

This exchange presents two conflicting strategies for survival within a patriarchal society. Bunmi represents adherence to tradition and marital vows, a path that has led her to spiritual desperation, while her sister, Kemi, approaches relationships as a means to achieve financial security and personal pleasure. Bunmi’s condemnation of Kemi as a “prostitute” reveals the limited and harshly judged options available to women in this culture, for society’s expectations compel them to compete against one another in their attempts to reclaim their agency.