Segun This was just a setback.

Tara Why would he choose it? Why? In Nigeria. Where he could be sent to jail – beaten to death. Why would he choose to be gay?

Segun I don’t know! I didn’t understand –

Tara Even if you didn’t understand it, you could have helped him. Let him back come to London with you.

Segun It was too much! I had just arrived in Lagos, that day. And, with no warning, my brother was telling me that he was gay and that he wanted to come to London, to start a new life. If he came here, he’d become someone else. Someone I didn’t recognise. I didn’t want him living that kind of lifestyle on my doorstep. In my house. What would I have told people? The people at Church?

Tara What lifestyle? You mean my lifestyle?

Segun No.

Tara You thought if you left him in Nigeria it would all go away. And you wouldn’t have to deal with it. Just like with me. You didn’t want to look at it.

Segun I only wanted what was best.

Tara You wanted what was best for you! For your reputation. You were trying to keep it a secret to protect yourself!

Segun I was protecting him!

Tara And how did that work out?

Segun It’s not safe, Omo! Anywhere. It’s not safe for you to be like this. I was trying to protect my family! That was all I wanted. To stop him putting himself in danger.

Tara You put him in danger, Dad! You kept him in danger. Your silence is dangerous! Do you understand that? You isolated him. Drove him to desperation. Whatever Uncle Teju was, whatever he felt for other men, it wasn’t something he had to restrain in himself. It shouldn’t have mattered to you. If he’d come here he would have been safe. And because you couldn’t face up to the truth of who he was, he’s dead.

Segun’s breathing becomes erratic.

Because of you, he’s dead.

It becomes clear that he’s having a panic attack.

Dad? Are you ok? Dad, sit down.

She holds his hand.

It’s going to be alright. Just breathe, Daddy. Deep breaths. Breathe slowly.

Eventually he settles.

Segun It keeps happening. Your mother thinks it’s because I haven’t slept. Since the news came. Every time the phone rings, I can’t breathe. It feels like it’s all happening again.

Tara With Uncle Teju?

Segun Yes. When they said it. It was so matter of fact. The way they told me. He’s gone. What have I done, Omo? I turned my back on him. On my own brother. I killed him.

Tara No.

Segun I did!

Tara I’m sorry. I’m sorry I said that.