BLEEDING SACRIFICE
CHAPTER FOUR
Mathieu sent money every month to Uncle Linus for Elonga’s treatment. He also made sure he paid for Hellens school fees.
Elonga’s condition only worsened. But she struggled so hard to hid it from her daughter. Sometimes she’ll drag her painful heavy leg to the kitchen and cook for them to eat. Hellen goes to school on weekdays and on weekends, she went to the farm. She made sure she came back on time to give her mum’s medicine.
On weekends when she’s back from the farm, she’ll bath, and seat with her mum in the living room to listen to her sweet stories.
“ Mum!”
“ Yes ! My child”
“Are you feeling better? Does it hurt you anywhere? Should I …”
“ I am okay my mother. I know what you want” she giggled.
“ mum you know your stories are so interesting right ? And I like listening to them. But before that I have…”
“ To make sure I am okay.” She finished her statement.
“ you say that all the time. I am perfectly strong enough to tell you my stories. Seat down and let me tell you a beautiful story”
“ this story am about to tell you is a story of a very ambitious woman. Who faught against the society and her family to become a great woman.” She cleared her throat and arranges herself. Edna on the other hand sat down on the floor and fixed herself opposite her mum’s, staring at her with so much concentration.
“ Edna was only eight years old when she told her father she’ll like to continue her education just like her brothers were. Her father didn’t quite take her serious. He would often tell her she’ll be sent to her husband’s house, when she completed her secondary school. Edna will cry and cry. As Edna grew older, she was very intelligent more than her elder brothers. By the time she was in primary five, her brothers repeated and it was due to her that they passed to the next class.”
“ How’s that possible mum? How did she do it”
“ listen. Every assignment they gave in Class, Edna’s brothers will come to her and with a little bit of bribery she’ll would do their assignments. During exams they made sure to seat beside her and copy e from her.”
“ And the teacher didn’t catch them?” Hellen asked
“ Edna had her ways. She’ll make sure she showed her brothers and then stay back to edit hers again. Edna and his brothers finally completed primary school with good results. She was later informed by her that she’ll go and get married. Despite every effort to make her father understand that she wanted to go to school, he still sent her to her husband’s house. A week passed and Edna ran back to her father’s house. She reported to her father that the man in question raped her. Her father told her he was her husband and that he had the right. Ann was very furious and decided that she was not going back there. Despite her father’s persuasion, Edna refused and the father had no choice but to drive her out of the house.
She was thirteen years old. She parked her things and travelled to her mother’s village. There she lived with her grandma. She cultivated crops, worked on people’s farms and sent herself to school. She also took care of her grandma till she died. When she died… years have passed now Edna walked her way to success. On her wedding day her father walked her down the Ile. When she gave birth to her first child, her mum went and stayed with her. She lived happily ever after with her Family.
“ Wow!! Mum. It is such an interesting story.”
“ hahahaha. This child, am glad you loved the story
“ I wish had a father who will walk me down the Ile like Edna.” Hellen said as the ones happy atmosphere died down to a gloomy one.
TO BE CONTINUED.
BLEEDING SACRIFICE
CHAPTER FIVE.
“Come on! I’ll be there for you. If necessary, I’ll even walk you down the aisle if Uncle Mathieu refuses,” Hellen reassured Elonga.
“And you’ll come to my children’s birth celebration, right?” Hellen’s excitement was infectious.
“Of course,” Elonga replied, embracing her daughter. “You’re my pride, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Together, they assisted Elonga to bed. But the next morning, something was off. Elonga usually woke early to read, and her mother would gently wake her. This time, there was silence. Panic set in as Hellen dashed to her mother’s room.
Elonga was feverish, her condition dire. Without hesitation, Hellen ran for help at her uncle’s house. Soon, men arrived to transport Elonga to the traditional healer. The healer concocted a brew from leaves, which Elonga consumed, but her agony only grew. The healer, named Mince, revealed that an infection was slowly destroying her body.
Tears welled in Hellen’s eyes. She faced Mince, seeking reassurance. “What’s happening to my mum? Will she recover?”
Mince offered a comforting hand. “Don’t worry, child. Your mother will pull through.”
“But what’s wrong with her?” Hellen persisted.
Lucius, a silent observer until now, voiced his concern. “Mince, her shivering is frightening. What afflicts her?”
Mince, tired of their disturbing questions, sent them away. “Return this evening. Elonga must rest for the remedy to work.”
Hellen stood alone, the weight of her mother’s illness and their financial struggles pressing heavily upon her young shoulders. The absence of her uncle’s support that month left her feeling lost in a sea of uncertainty. Each passing day saw Elonga’s health ebbing further away, and Hellen felt the world around her crumble piece by piece.
One evening, as Hellen returned from school, she found her mother sitting on the doorstep, a weak but hopeful smile gracing her face. “Mama, how…?” Hellen began, her words trailing off in surprise.
“Listen, my child,” Elonga spoke with a soft but firm voice. “I’ve been thinking a lot. No matter what happens, I want you to know that I will always be proud of you. You are strong, intelligent, and capable of overcoming any obstacle.”
Elonga’s words got to Hellen, and she was filled with newfound determination. She resolved not to let their circumstances define their future. With a renewed sense of purpose, Hellen reached out to old family friends and neighbors, explaining the dire situation and seeking their support. The community responded with open hearts, offering assistance in the form of food, medicine, and even small amounts of money.
As days turned into weeks, Elonga’s health began to show signs of improvement. The concoction from the traditional healer, coupled with the care and support from the community, seemed to be working. At least that was what they thought.
Hellen’s spirits lifted, and she found herself believing in a future where both she and her mother would live. One fateful Saturday morning, after Hellen finished making breakfast, she came to her mum’s room and found her still sleeping. She walked in slowly and tapped her, but no response.
“Mama, wake up and eat,” she called out to her again, still receiving no response. Hellen was intelligent enough to know that in situations like this, she was supposed to check her mum’s pulse. And just like that, Elonga had left this Earth. “Mama!” Hellen screamed to the top of his voice. “Please wake up!” she persisted.
TO BE CONTINUED.
