Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of ableism, racism, mental illness, and substance use.

In an interview, Chinyere Onyenezi-Onyedele states that fortune and fame are fleeting compared to family. This is in reference to Chinyere’s sister Zelunjo “Zelu” Onyenezi-Onyedele, whom she will always see as family despite recent ordeals involving her reputation.

Chinyere is Zelu’s oldest sister. She is married, has children, and works as a chief of surgery. She describes Zelu as the “most unstable” family member, though she makes it clear that she isn’t referring to Zelu’s paraplegia.

Once, Chinyere picked up Zelu from an all-night diner, bringing her newborn child to ensure that he would stay asleep. To her dismay, Zelu was high on marijuana. As Zelu got into the car, a man approached, wanting to talk to her. The man insisted on arguing with Zelu, so Chinyere fended him off with pepper spray. On the way home, Zelu explained that the man was her former writing student and that she had gotten tired of him after a one-night stand. Chinyere points out that this is characteristic of Zelu: She abandons things. She suspects that this is what people love about Zelu.