ABUSED
Episode 30
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Mother was mystified when she saw me, like one who has seen a ghost her gaze was on me. It seems the world stood still for a minute as we both stare at each other.
” Ru…th” she coughed out
I couldn’t say a word, my eyes were filled with tears looking at her😥. It’s as if my tongue is glued to the roof of my mouth.
” I’m sorry Ruth”
My heart melt hearing such words from her. She has never used that line on me. Sorry was not for me, hurtful words were all I got from her.
” Please forgive me my daughter😥🙏”
I couldn’t help it anymore as the tears streamed down my cheeks. Daughter! Did she just acknowledge me as one🥺?
I sluggishly walked towards her bed in tears not knowing what to say to her
” I should have listened to you. Reuben is a beast, I have lost two babies because of him and now the third one.” She said in tears
My hands were shaking as I tried to hold her, this is the first time we are getting close as a mother and daughter.
” Ruth… I tried to reach out to you but Reuben made me a prisoner in my marriage. Ruth please…”
” It’s ok” I replied
” No it’s not. I deserve worse😭…”
She wept heavily as we both held hands, I couldn’t control my emotions as the agony of what I have been through played in.
” Why?’
” Ruth”
” I just want to know what he did that I had to suffer”
” I was consumed by bitterness my child”
” Please tell me, that’s the only way I can heal up”
” It’s not your fault child, you were a product of that evil man that ruined my life”
” I paid direly for a man I know not”
We both wailed at the path we have been through
” Ken and I have been dating since my university. He is from a wealthy family, he is doing well on his own. He graduated two years before me yet our relationship was moving smooth. He is the sweetest man I have ever met. I posted to Ibadan for service after graduation. Ken bought me everything I needed and even influenced my posting to a good place in Ibadan. He was always there for me and our relationship was envied by many. I love him so much, he loves me as well. We got engaged during my three weeks leave after camp. I was over the moon and couldn’t wait to be his wife which we planned to wed immediately after my service. During my service I met Clement. We were both serving in the same ministry, there was nothing going on between us just a causal friends and not for once has he approached me in an amorous manner.
One day I was set for evening fellowship when he approached me saying he needed to use my gas, his just got finished. I gave him the key to my room to cook while I left for fellowship.
I got back in the evening and to my surprise Clement was still in my room. I asked what made him stayed so long, he said he slept off and woke up not long to cook. He dished a portion for me which I ate without suspecting a thing….
I woke up n***d on my bed with Clement beside me. I was furious at him, he drugged me and took advantage of me😥😥.”
My mouth was slightly opened as I watched mother tearfully recounting her ordeal
” I thought Clement was harmless, I was free with him and he has never mentioned anything concerning relationship to me. I cried myself to sleep that night I didn’t go to work for days. I don’t know who to open up to and just a week after that Ken passed out and left. I found out I was with a child a month later. I tried to abort you but you stayed put. I loathed myself and the being in me. I desperately wanted to get rid of you… Ken ditched me when he found out I was with a child. He didn’t believe me, he felt I was living a promiscuous life. The day I gave birth to you, I was told Ken relocated to the United kingdom with his newly weded wife. I hated you the most that very day as I starred at you😭😭.
” It’s not my fault”
” I know. I lost the love of my life and the live I could be living in UK. I was so devastated that day. I couldn’t look at you because all I see is the evil that snatched my happiness”
” Where is he?🥺”
” I don’t know about clement though he has a twin Anthony. He is a priest today”
” I want to meet with him”
” Ruth please find it in your heart and forgive me.”
” I forgive you’.
She wept loudly and embraced me, ”
” Ruth thanks, I have suffered all my life. I thought Reuben was the one to give me a good life but he is a monster. He has made my life miserable. I believe he is my punishment for you. I mistreated you and I received😭…”
” I tried to warn you”
” I felt you wanted to snatch my happiness again like your father did. Please my child forgive me, I have never treated you as my child. I emotional abused you out of my pain…Ruth I tried to reach out to you but it wasn’t easy. Reuben made me quit my job only to turn me to a slave and a punching bag. ”
” It’s ok. You need to heal up”
” I don’t want to go back to that hell of a home please”
Mother kept pleading for forgiveness even though I assured her I have forgiven her. She wept like a baby.
I consoled her, prayed for her and assured her I will help.
I called in the doctor to check her, and he reveal mother needed to rest well and avoid any difficult task for her to heal up.
I went out got her hot soup and fruits; mother couldn’t look at me proper she was truly remorseful
” You are engaged Ruth”
” Yes”
She wept😥,
” I have never been part of your life… I despised you wholly..”
” You need to eat and stay strong for the days ahead ma”
She looked at me and nodded. She is weak from crying and bruises on her face were shiny in tears as she ate.
I remember the whips Reuben lashed on me mercilessly that day, mother has really suffered in the hands of that terrible man.
My buzz distracting my thoughts, I smiled when I saw the caller – Maxwell
I informed him I met mother and the state I found her in. He was happy I did.
” Ruth make peace with her”
” I have forgiven her.”
‘ that’s not all dear. You need to open your heart to her”
I couldn’t say a word, I just kept listening to him and I told him I would be on my way home soon.
We ended the call after saying I love you with mother feeling amazed at how happy I was with the call.
I don’t know how to open my heart to a stranger – well, that how it feels like. We have no bond and the only memory of her made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe around her
Though I have forgiven her and felt a release; from the hurt I had, the wound in heart was healing up and the grudge I bore for her seems to evaporate yet I feel sorry for her – that’s all.
I left the hospital promising to return tomorrow to see her. I drove home not with a heavy heart like I was felt, but with pity.
I suffered all my life because of a rapist, I paid for his actions all my life. I blamed fate for choosing such path for me, but I looking what lies ahead and forgetting the former things I appreciate God for the future with Maxwell🤲🤎.
To be continued..
