Page 109 of Death of the Author

“Maybe a little.”

“Yeah, I can imagine that.”

Days later, Zelu stood on the boardwalk, looking out at Lake Michigan. It was seventy degrees in March. A rare type of day in Chicago. Tomorrow, they were predicting the temperature would drop again and they’d get more snow, but today was a fine day.

And she was right on the Navy Pier. She looked up into the sunshine and took a deep breath. Then she looked down at her phone and reread the message she’d pulled up on the screen. It was from Jack Preston. After he’d become aware of her adventures in Nigeria, he’d sent her a note asking if there was anything he could do. She’d sent a brief reply thanking him for his concern, and then he’d replied again, and then... they’d started talking.

It was pretty innocuous. Preston said he knew what it was like to feel targeted and used. He also knew the pressure of people always wanting more from him, and then hating what they got. In their most recent exchange, when Zelu had admitted she wished she could get away from it all, he’d replied,You know I’ve got a spaceship for you, if you’re ready.

She stared at his words now. Stared for a long time. Then she looked at the shining sun, letting it warm her face. She responded to him, thanking him again for his kind offer.But right now, I just want to be with my significant other, Msizi. I need to keep my feet on the ground.Less than a minute later, Jack responded with a simpleI fully understandand a hug emoji.

She had more important things to do. She called an autonomous vehicle.

It was only just starting to feel real. She was getting married. She and Msizi would head to the courthouse later to make it official. They hadn’t told anyone, and she preferred it that way. Get it over with and move the hell on. Weddings were fun as long as she wasn’t the one getting married. All that focus on and hyperbole about vows and rules and contracts—she didn’t care for any of it. The institution of marriage was nothing but a bunch of chains. But she wanted Msizi to get his green card, so it was worth it.

“Just don’t ever call me ‘wife,’ ugh,” she muttered to herself as she punched in the front door code to her condo. As she turned the knob, it began to turn itself and she let go. It opened to reveal a tall, elegant woman with long blue micro braids, wearing a shiny blue shirt featuring a dolphin in sequins and matching pants with white chunky-heeled boots.

“Heita,” iNdonsa said. “You’ve got a nice place, robot girl.”

Zelu gasped and then grinned. She moved forward and gave her a tight hug. “What are you doing here?!”

iNdonsa took her hand and brought her inside. “Come on.”

She led Zelu down the hall to the living room, where all the curtains had been opened to light up the room with its spectacular view of Lake Michigan. Msizi stood there wearing all white, except for the necklace with the tooth-shaped piece of obsidian that he always wore. He held a bouquet of wildflowers. Slightly behind him stood Tolu, Amarachi, Jackie, and a woman Zelu didn’t know. All of them were wearing white, too. The woman she didn’t know had dreadlocks tipped with blue and red beads and wore many beaded necklaces around her neck. She carried a wooden staff decorated with white beads.

“What’s... going on?” Zelu asked. She was still holding on to iNdonsa to keep her balance. “Tolu, Amarachi, what are you doing here?”

“You’re getting married,” Amarachi said, smirking. “You didn’t think you could do this without some of us to bear witness, did you? Come on, man.”

Zelu looked at Msizi.

“I know,” he said, holding up his palms. “But—” He sighed. “I want a wedding. I’vealwayswanted one.”

She stared at him with wide eyes. “You couldn’t justtellme?”

“No.”

“You’re stubborn,” Tolu added.

She shrugged. “Fair enough.”

“But I know you,” Msizi said, stepping toward her. “That’s why I did it this way, and it’s only this small group here for it.” He was in front of her now, and iNdonsa gently took Zelu’s hands off her arm and handed her to Msizi, then stepped back.

“So dramatic,” iNdonsa mouthed to Tolu and Amarachi, and they both laughed.

“Is this all right?” Msizi asked.

Zelu looked at iNdonsa. “Did you fly here just for this?”

“Yeah. Not my first time in the States, though,” she said. “But definitely the best reason.”

Zelu turned to her siblings. “Why didn’t you tell everyone else?”

“Msizi called us, so we came,” Amarachi said.

“And we understand,” Tolu said. “Keep it small. At leastweare here.”

“And you need someone to sing,” Jackie added.

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