Mercy was six years old the first time she began to wonder whether the woman who raised her had truly given birth to her. It happened on an ordinary evening. Her mother had returned from work carrying two heavy bags of vegetables bought at the market near their house in Lagos. She was tired. Her shoulders sagged from the weight of the bags and from the weight of the day. Mercy, small and eager to help, followed her mother into the sitting room and asked a simple question. "Mu
