The Sunday my prayer partner stole from our market cooperative

Two years ago during harmattan, I was dey arrange our market cooperative money for church harvest. Me and Mama Esther, we be the joint treasurers for our women group. Every Sunday we collect contributions from 23 women, write am down, keep am for safe.

That Sunday, something tell me to check the old book. I no know why. I just open am and start counting. The figures no match. I count again. Still wrong. My heart start beating fast fast.

I call Mama Esther outside after service. I show her the book quiet quiet. She start sweating. She say, "Ngozi, my son was sick, I needed hospital money."

Na wa o. I look at this woman wey I don pray with for 10 years. Wey I call my sister. Wey I trust with my life. She don take from the fund small small for 8 months. Not big money, but our women dey suffer to put that money together.

I no make noise that day. I just tell her she must pay back every kobo, and she must resign as treasurer. Then I go home and cry. Not because of the money. Because of the betrayal.

Now she don go another church. We still greet for market but e no be the same. Some relationships, once you break am, no superglue fit fix am.