THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T LET GO. (Mother-in-law palava)

© 2025 TenWrites

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Earlier That Night – 12:03 am

St. James Cemetery

Temi's feet touched the ground again. She didn't remember floating. Her ears rang with whispers that had no mouths. The Other Mothers had vanished back into the mist but left one thing behind.

A cowrie bracelet.

The same one her late grandmother used to wear.

Mama Dorcas picked it up with shaking fingers. "It's a blood sign. They've accepted her."

Madam Eunice stepped back. "Or they've marked her."

Temi stared at them both. "What does that mean?"

Before anyone could answer, the red bag twitched.

Just a little. Like it breathed.

Femi stepped forward. "Babe, don't—"

Too late.

Temi opened the bag.

It was empty.

But her shadow disappeared.

She screamed.

Femi caught her, but her eyes were glassy.

She wasn't looking at them. She was seeing something else. Somewhere else.

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Meanwhile – Compound, Madam Dorcas' House

Aunty Sade stood before the cracked mirror. She hadn't moved since the call ended.

She should have been afraid. She wasn't.

She lit another cigarette and blew smoke at the mirror.

The crack widened on its own.

Then her reflection smiled. She didn't.

"You've grown old," it said.

Aunty Sade dropped the lighter. "What in God's name—"

"God has nothing to do with this," the reflection replied.

"You knew the truth. But you buried it. Now it wants to be seen."

The wall behind the mirror pulsed. A soft hum vibrated through the wood like something alive was listening.

She stepped back. "This mirror. It's not just a mirror, is it?"

The reflection nodded. "It's the last gate."

Gate to what?

The mirror shattered. But Aunty Sade was already gone.

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In the dream realm

Temi walked barefoot on black sand. The sky was purple. There was no sun. Just a large triangle spinning slowly above her head.

Three shadows stood before her. The Other Mothers. But younger. Eyes glowing.

"You have questions," one said.

"Yes. What do you want from me?" Temi asked.

The second spoke. "Balance. The seal is broken. And the betrayer has returned."

"The betrayer?" Temi blinked. "Who?"

They didn't answer. They turned and pointed.

A fourth figure was approaching.

Wearing Aunty Sade's wrapper. But the face…

The face belonged to someone Temi hadn't seen in years.

Her own mother.

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Back to the real world – inside Madam Dorcas' parlour

Femi was shaking Temi gently. "Wake up. Wake up. Please."

Mama Dorcas poured oil on her forehead. "She's caught between."

Madam Eunice whispered something under her breath. "It's starting."

Femi looked up. "What's starting?"

They didn't answer.

Because the curtains suddenly lifted without wind.

The front door creaked open by itself.

And standing there…

Was a woman.

Not breathing. Not blinking.

She looked like Temi's mum.

Only… she had no shadow.

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Behind the door of Room 4

The cracked mirror now lay in pieces.

But one shard still shimmered.

And inside it…

The reflection was still smiling.

Only now, it wasn't Aunty Sade's reflection.

It was Madam Eunice's.

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To Be Continued...

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