Rama looked nervous again when she asked Nafisa, “You want to tell her everything, then? All of it?”
Nafisa nodded. “I do. The time feels right.”
I wondered what other disclosure would have Rama so anxious again after everything they had already shared with me.
Nafisa slipped a hand into one of the side pockets on her dress and drew out a picture. “There’s something I want to show you, or rather, someone.”
I took the picture from her hand and stared at it in surprise. Why had Nafisa never mentioned this in all the years I had known her? Unless… “Is he dead?” I asked.
In the picture, there was a young man about my age who bore such a striking resemblance to Nafisa that they could easily be twins. He looked like a younger, male version of Nafisa, with the same delicate facial structure and features. He even had the same small button nose and round lips.
Nafisa smiled. “In a way, you could say that. But the boy you see in the picture is me.”
I stared at her in stunned disbelief, then started laughing. It was obviously a prank.
“I know you’re playing with me.”
Nafisa snorted, looking at Rama. “I told you she wouldn’t believe me. She thinks we’re joking.”
I frowned, looking from Rama to Nafisa, noting the anxious expression on Rama’s face. Nafisa just looked amused, but not in an “I was joking” way.
But how could this be even if she was telling the truth? How was this possible? I knew of men who looked like women and men who were effeminate, but never had I seen one who was a woman the way Nafisa was. I stared at the picture again and then back at Nafisa.
“How? How could it be?” I asked in bewilderment.
“It is a long story, but the short version is that I found myself in another country working for law enforcement during an unrest and they needed a woman with my skills to be a spy. They got a man instead, so they turned me into a woman with experimental hormonal injections. Obviously, it worked. But after the mission, I learnt that the process wasn’t as easily reversible as they claimed. And by then, I had been a woman for three years. I had not disliked being a man, but being a woman felt comfortable too, so I decided to save myself from another experimental process and stick with the body and persona I had become for the past three years. Hence, Nuhu permanently became Nafisa.”
Before I could stop myself, I started to ask an inappropriate question. “So do you still have a—”
I stopped before I could finish the sentence, but it only seemed to amuse Nafisa. “Yes, I still have my male parts. It’s why I told you to direct your questions about menstruation and reproductive health to Rama. I know enough to be able to help sometimes, but I don’t have the lived experience to relate as well as she can.”
I was still reeling. This was crazy. The whole situation was crazy.
“Wait! Mr Anderson—I know why you married him, but did he never—”
“He never saw me naked. He was too afraid of me – I made sure of that. Besides, our marriage was purely an arrangement.”
Another thought floated through my mind; a thought that was so outrageous that even putting it into words felt crazy. I had noticed a few things – things that I had brushed off as funny or adorable that now could mean something incredible. I almost stopped myself from asking, but at this point, I needed to know. Nafisa had said she wanted to tell me everything, and I was almost certain that this could be a part of it. In a strange way, it made perfect sense. I didn’t know what answer I was hoping for or whether it would make any difference either way, but for some reason, I was dying to know. I had to know.
With my heart thumping against my chest, I asked in a very low tone, “And the kids?”
With her eyes steady on mine, she admitted, “Mine. The kids are mine, not Anderson’s.”
I closed my eyes. “Oh, lord.”
“We’re sorry for bombarding you with all this information at once. I know it’s a lot to take in,” Rama fretted.
I opened my eyes to look at her. “I’m okay. I just need a moment to absorb all that.”
Again, it all made sense once you knew. Nafisa and Rama had been more of a married couple than Rama ever was with Mr Anderson. They had been a team from the beginning, and even with Nafisa’s aloof nature, you could clearly see the love and respect between them. Their children exhibited some of Nafisa’s traits. Sophie was petite and could imitate Nafisa’s expressions in a way that was eerily accurate. Now, I knew why.
We stayed in companionable silence as the sun continued to set. It looked so beautiful and orange against the sky, and I wished I had my camera to take a picture.
“Do they know?” I finally asked.
“You’re the first to know. We will tell them soon, especially now that we’ve already told you. We cannot burden you with keeping this a secret. Ohene has been suspicious and asked some pointed questions, but without knowing the full story, it is difficult to arrive at the conclusion of the truth. It is too incredible to put together without the pieces.”
She was right. Nobody would ever guess the truth.
“Thank you for telling me. I love you two so much. And after learning about everything you have been through and achieved together, I love and admire you even more,” I told them, meaning every word.
“We love you too, Nhyira,” Rama said softly, and they both linked their hands behind me like a sitting group hug. I felt an intense surge of love and belonging.
We stayed on the bench for some time, enjoying each other’s company as we always did, and they asked about my trip. When we finally stood to return to the main house, I decided to give my own disclosure. “In the spirit of coming clean, I think you need to know that I’ve found someone I like who I’m developing romantic feelings for.”
“Ah, finally!” Nafisa exclaimed as Rama smiled. “We already know, and we’re very happy for you.”
“How did you know?” I demanded as we walked back to the house, linking arms with both of them on each side.
“Oh, child. The way you have been smiling a lot for no reason gives you away. And your sudden keen interest in the mines after our manager’s son started interning six months ago was another giveaway.”
“Maybe I just developed a sudden, overwhelming interest in mining!” I protested.
“Sure, mining Fred’s heart from his chest, maybe,” Nafisa teased.
I snorted out a laugh. “That is a terrible analogy.”
“He’s a fine young man, and I’ve seen his interest too. We approve,” Rama declared.
When we passed by the decorative mirror in the sitting room, I didn’t even look at it. I did not need a mirror to reassure myself of who I was anymore. I was no longer broken—hadn’t been for a long time.
THE END
