CBLEEDING SACRIFICE
CHAPTER EIGHT
In order to make things easier for herself, Hellen had taken Cynthia’s contact from the letter and called her three days ago, informing her about her mum’s death and her last wish. Cynthia, on her part, accepted and told her she was welcome to come live with her.
Hellen was about to leave when she decided to visit her mum’s room for the last time. She carried her suitcase and placed it beside the wall. She gradually walked into her mum’s room, observing every corner and trying to recall all the fun memories she had with her. She walked up to the closet where she had kept her mum’s letters. She opened the closet and sent her right hand to get them. Instead of getting the letters, she felt and touched a book. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she grabbed it and brought it outside. After a close examination, she discovered the book was a diary. This diary belonged to Elonga. Hellen felt the urge to open the diary but decided against it. She hurriedly took out the letters and the diary and put them in her backpack. She closed all the doors and rooms and then locked everywhere before leaving. Hellen headed to the road, boarded a bike, which drove her to the bus station. She hurriedly came down, paid the biker, and headed straight to pay her ticket to the next town.
While on the bus, she wondered why her mum would put her in the custody of someone she has never seen or known nothing about. “What if this woman mistreats me just like my aunt did? What if I become her slave girl? Does she have a husband? What if he molests me?” These are some of the questions that went through Hellen’s mind that morning.
“Godddd!” She went further to exclaim. “I am overreacting. Calm down, Hellen, calm down,” she said to herself, gesturing with her right hand fanning it up and down, breathing in and out.
“Do you care to share what’s making you this nervous?” a strange but lovely voice asked.
She turned and looked at her neighbor, who was seated just beside her.
“Is it that obvious, sir?” Hellen asked.
“Yes! Very obvious, Miss.”
They both giggled.
“Actually, it’s my first time visiting someone. I am just nervous because I don’t know what to expect.”
“Oh! That’s…” She cut in.
“Just a little shaky though, I will be just fine.”
The guy in question was in his early 20s. He introduced himself as Victor. They talked about so many things and finally, everyone got tired. While Victor was napping, Hellen thought it was just the right time to open her mum’s diary and check the content.
On the first page was written “A Letter to My Mother” at the top and at the bottom “From Elonga.”
She opened to the next page, where her entire journey started. Hellen flipped through the pages and discovered that this diary was a record of her mum’s life. She came back to the first page and started reading.
“My dear sweet mother, this diary is a dedicated letter to you. I know death took you too soon and rendered me a mother of two at just fifteen, but truth be told, I don’t know if I am ready for this journey alone. This diary is going to be the only means by which I share everything with you. I know you’re watching me from heaven, please ask God why he had to take you two from us this early. I am not even sure I will make a good mom to Nora and Mathieu. Please guide me, OK?
Hello, Mum, it’s been two weeks after you left us. I hope you’re doing great. How’s Dad, by the way? Today Mathieu spoke his first words, and guess what he said? He called me Mama. Nora, on the other hand, has been bugging me about following me to school.
I know you probably wonder how I manage with school and take care of Nora and Mathieu. Sometimes I leave them with Martha’s mum down the street before I go to school. And when I am done from school, I go to the farm and get food crops that I will come and cook for us to eat. I told Uncle Linus, Dad’s brother, about my school fees, and he promised to look into it. I know he probably just wanted to get me off his back so that I don’t bug him about money.
Mama, it’s been five weeks since you left us. Things are getting tougher on my side. Mathieu got sick two days back. I rushed him to the hospital and was told he had anemia. I had no money on me, so I went to Mama Pride to collect what she owed you, but she insulted me and asked her eldest son to chase me and beat me up. I went to Uncle Linus again, and he told me he didn’t have money. The only option I had was to absent school for days and work on the farm of one mama who paid me 10k. I went to the doctor and advanced payment. I begged the doctor to treat him while I worked in the hospital as a cleaner to settle Mathieu’s bills.
I know you’ve always wanted me to finish school, but it’s not easy, Mum. I had to drop out in form five and continue with my cleaning job at the hospital. At least I was able to pay the bills, and now I can provide our daily necessities without asking from others.
Mathieu keeps growing fast every day. He eats a lot, and I am only happy he doesn’t disturb when I am not around. He plays with Nora all the time. Nora, on her part too, is doing well. She’ll be turning five next Saturday…”
‘Haven’t we arrived yet?’ Victor asked, struggling to adjust himself, brushing off the little bit of sleep he had left that was preventing him from opening his eyes.
‘Nope! We’re not there yet. You’ve only slept for 30 minutes, and as far as I know, we still have about 7 more hours to go,’ Hellen replied.
‘Really!’ he asked, surprised.
‘You’ve never been to the next town, have you?’
‘Well, not really. This is my first, and it’s exhausting and boring,’ Victor admitted. The book in Hellen’s hands caught his attention, and he asked, ‘You are reading?’
‘Yeah! What’s wrong with that?’
‘What kind of book is that, anyways? It looks more like a diary.’
‘Yeah! It’s a book made with hard covers.’
she lied.
TO BE CONTINUED
