Freshwater

Part 3 once again begins with Asughara’s perspective. She describes the feeling of Ada researching what is happening to her through the lens of Western medicine, searching for symptoms and diagnoses of personality disorders. Ada does not want to accept the ogbanje for what they are—beings from the other side—because it is not a scientific, medical explanation. Asughara only sleeps with cruel men whom she feels deserve her. Helpless, Ada goes to therapy to try to get rid of Asughara. They have conversations in which Asughara tries to convince Ada that she is protecting her, and Ada fights back. Saint Vincent, now an integral part of the dynamic in her mind, occasionally steps in.

Ada’s body and choices are controlled by Asughara. Asughara is controlled by the hunger that she feels. She has been trying to pass off her actions as motivated by concern for Ada, but Ada accuses her of doing it because she likes it. Asughara argues that she causes others pain because they cause Ada pain, but Ada says that she doesn’t want to live that way anymore. Saint Vincent comforts Ada as she argues that the innocent people did not deserve what they did to them.