ABUSED
Episode35
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” Fr. Anthony” mother and I called out in unison
” You know him?” She asked
” Yes” I met him in prison I said
He smiled at us
” Damilola it’s been years”
” Yes” mom said with a sad tone
” Ruth, so nice seeing you after all these years”
” Yes Fr.”
” Wow! It’s indeed a small world. The first time I met Ruth I did think I have met her somewhere”
” She is my daughter”
” I can see that. ”
” I am coming back from a conference, I stopped by to get something here. I never knew it’s God leading me”
” Fr. Hmmm…”
” Damilola, he is miserable.”
I couldn’t fathom what he was saying, mother’s countenance changed I could see her eyes were glassy.
” Ruth let’s leave” she ordered
” How long do you want to keep this pain?” He said as mother was about leaving
She stopped abruptly in her tracks as if his words peicered her hearts
” Damilola you have to let it go. Clement has been miserable all these years. He can’t keep his home together and he has no child. You have to heal and forgiveness is the only way”
” Your twin made my life miserable. Fr. with all due respect I have to leave with my daughter”
” Ok. Please give me your address or contact. Damilola we have to make peace. I tried to reach out to you but I was told you left Ibadan and no one knew your whereabouts. I can’t let this opportunity to help my brother go by. ”
” Mother what’s going on?” I asked looking lost
” He is your father’s twin. ”
” What?”
” Thank you Jesus. So Clement has a child. ” Fr. Anthony exclaimed
I was marvelled by the revelation, who could that be?
So, Fr. Anthony is my uncle
” Blood indeed is thicker than water. I felt connected to you the day I met you in prison but I just couldn’t place it. Damilola give peace a chance. Clement has been searching for you to seek forgiveness. He believes he is paying for his sins. That’s the only explanation he feels is the reason for all he’s going through”
I was yet to recover from the info mother just gave me.
Mother looked at me and I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly.
She gave Fr. Anthony our address
” I shall pay you a visit on Thursday, Damilola please be around. I want to thank so much for keeping my niece” he concluded
He bid us goodbye and he left happily like one who just won a lottery.
I turned to mother she wiped her tears immediately as they tried to fall down
” Mother it’s ok”
” Let’s getting going dear”
We paid for the groceries and drove home
The ride was a silent one, mother was lost in her thoughts
” Mom” I called out softly
” Yes”
” You need to heal up. Not because of him but you, I can’t truly say I know your pain but I have been in that dark place. You can’t enjoy your life with pain in your heart. ”
” Ruth, my life would have been different if not for clement”
” I know but you have to let go”
” Ken was the man for me, clement snatched my life with him. I needed closure and to be loved I fell for Reuben blindly and now….”
” Mother, I was abused, imprisoned, I turned into a harlot and committed abortion which almost took my life if not for Ella and Maxwell
She looked at me in amazement
In fact Maxwell save my life and informed me my womb was damaged and my chances of conceiving is zero yet he followed me and showered me with love. He never judged me. All this is God doing, who says he can’t amend your life, but you have to invite Him and allow Him take control”
She was crying profusely.
” Ruth you are young, my time is far spent”
” He can restore the lost years mother. Just let Him have his way”
” I don’t think I am ready to face Clement Udok”
I stopped abruptly bringing the car to a halt close to a gas station
” Udok?”
” Yes, their last name”
” Mother describe him for me”
She was confused why I requested her to do such but she did and my heart beats fast as every details matched with the same Udok I met in the restaurant
” No way”
” What?”
I narrated everything to her, she was angry
” Ruth, he hasn’t changed. Flirting with you his daughter”
We both look at each not knowing what to say and make of the situation.
I brought the car back to life and drove in silence, each of us left to our thoughts.
We got home looking like people who were drenched in rain.
To be continued..
Udok the father? hmmm