Her mother repeated the name slowly.
“Nene,” she said, smiling faintly. “It is a good name.”
Latty smiled back, but inside her heart tears were forming. She wished she could say, Mama, it is me. But she did not. She stayed silent, just as she had been told.
For a moment, both of them were quiet. Then Latty spoke again.
“Mama,” she said softly, “do you have food?”
The woman looked surprised. Her eyes widened slightly. Then she smiled warmly. She looked happy, almost proud. It was rare for a young and beautiful lady to ask her for food.
“Of course,” she said quickly. “I will get you food from the wedding venue.”
She began to stand up, but Latty gently stopped her.
“No, Mama,” she said politely. “I want your own food.”
Her mother froze, surprised by the request. She studied Latty’s face again, confused but touched. Without saying anything, she stood up and walked slowly into her house.
Latty followed her with her eyes.
When the woman returned, she carried a small plate of food. She handed it to Latty and sat down beside her, watching her eat. Her eyes were full of admiration.
“You are very polite,” she said.
Latty ate slowly, fighting back tears. Every bite reminded her of home. After the food, she thanked her gently.
Her mother smiled again, but the sadness quickly returned to her face.
Latty noticed the change immediately.
“Mama,” she asked carefully, “why do you not look happy?”
The woman sighed deeply. Her shoulders dropped.
“I had a daughter,” she began slowly. “She was blind. People mocked her, but she was my joy.”
Her voice trembled.
“One day she disappeared. I searched everywhere. I searched the village. I searched the river. Till today, nobody knows where she is.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Latty felt like her heart would burst. She clenched her hands tightly.
Her mother continued, “Even today, on a day like this, my heart is not here.”
Latty took a deep breath.
“Mama,” she said gently, “did you know that Eba, the gold seller, was supposed to marry your daughter even while she was blind?”
Her mother looked up sharply.
“What?” she asked, shocked. “I never heard of that.”
Latty nodded slowly.
“After the ceremony,” she said calmly, “ask your husband what really happened to your daughter.”
The words fell heavy between them.
Latty stood up slowly.
Her mother stared at her, her heart racing.
“Who are you?” she whispered, but Latty did not answer.
Latty turned and began to walk away, disappearing back into the crowd.
Her mother continued staring at her back, unable to move, unable to speak. Something inside her was screaming, but she did not yet understand what it was saying.
Around them, the wedding celebration continued, but the joy felt thinner now.
Eba stood from afar, watching Latty walk away, his heart uneasy.
Toro laughed loudly among her friends, unaware of what had just been planted.
Latty blended back into the crowd, her face calm, her heart heavy, her mission only beginning. She had spoken to her mother. The truth had been stirred. But the most dangerous part was yet to come.
Latty walked away from the wedding venue slowly. The sound of drums faded behind her, but the pain in her chest only grew louder. She did not know where she was going. Her feet just carried her forward without direction.
When she reached the edge of the village near the bush, she stopped. The strength she had been holding on to finally left her. She sank down and cried. She covered her mouth so no one would hear her, but her body shook with pain. Tears ran freely down her face.
She had seen her mother. She had spoken to her, but she could not say the truth. That truth sat heavy inside her like a burning stone. She hugged herself tightly, feeling alone again.
Not far away, back at the wedding venue, her mother could not stop looking toward the direction Latty had gone. Even while people laughed and talked around her, her mind was far away. The words the young woman had spoken kept repeating in her head:
Ask your husband what really happened to your daughter.
Her heart began to beat faster. Something did not feel right anymore.
The celebration continued, but for her the day had already turned dark.
When the wedding finally ended and the guests slowly left, Eba and Toro were taken away to his house with singing and cheers. Latty’s mother watched them go with empty eyes.
As soon as the compound became quiet, she stood up and went inside the house. Her heart would not rest. She walked straight to her husband and called his name.
“Come here,” she said firmly.
He turned to her, already annoyed.
“What is it again?” he asked.
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