Motherhood ππ. Part 13.
For security reasons, we have to take him to our base”. My husband suggested.
“What has he gotten himself into?? Where did we go wrong? Oh my goodness! I can’t breathe “. I i cried out loud.
“You have to calm down. God will take control. There’s nothing too hard for him to do”. My husband said.
After going back and forth, we finally got the Doctor’s approval to get Julius transferred from that hospital. He was still unstable and unconscious, so we had to pay heavily for an ambulance to help transfer him safely to our base.
He started receiving treatment at our family’s hospital. He spent over a month at the hospital before he finally got discharged.
When he was fully recovered, my husband and I decided to have a talk with him.
“How are you feeling now”. My husband asked.
“I’m better now”. He said.
“Julius, why are you doing this to us? In what way did we offend you? Don’t you care about your parents and siblings?”. My husband asked.
He couldn’t say anything.
“How did you find yourself in such an association? You were raised in a Christian home. We never taught you anything bad. We gave you all the love we could give out. Why don’t you care about us?”. I asked him tearily.
Still, he didn’t say anything. He was just staring at his fingers.
“You won’t be returning back to that school”. My husband said.
Julius gave him a fierce look. You know those kind of intimidating look.
“Do you want to beat your father?”. I asked.
He quickly dropped his gaze.
“You will be going to a rehabilitation center. You will stay there for a while”. My husband said.”
“I’m not mentally unstable, why should i go there?”. Julius asked.
“You don’t have a say on that. As long as you are still under my roof, you will live by my rules”. My husband said in finality.
Julius stood up angrily to leave.
“Are you trying to Walk out on us?”. I asked.
Without flinching, he stormed out of the house.
I broke down in tears.
“Honey, I’m scared on his behalf. What if something happens to him?”. I asked my husband with tears.
“He has chosen his path already. My joy is that as parents, we’ve tried our best for him. Stop worrying yourself over him”. My husband said.
It’s easier said than done. No good mother can turn their back on their child no matter the circumstances. I know what I passed through to give birth to him. No child of mine belongs to the devil.
I declared an emergency fast for his sake.
Julius didn’t return home that day. I had no idea where he went to.
I cried my eyes out. My husband was indifferent.
“Honey aren’t you worried about him?”. I asked my husband.
“I have other children to take care of. I can’t kΓll myself for a child who has chosen destruction for himself”. My husband said.
I didn’t listen to my husband. I continued to pray for God to touch his heart. I booked mass everyday for him. There’s no night I didn’t wake up to pray for him.
Months went by, Julius’ whereabout was still unknown. He didn’t leave with his phone so, there was no means of reaching him.
I was beginning to lose myself. My husband had to remind me constantly that I was neglecting my other children in my bid to run after the lost sheep.
I decided to get a grip of myself. I focused more on my other children and Eunice.
Though I never stopped worrying about Julius. I tried my best to control my emotions and not let it control me.
Two years later, Julius and Eunice were home for holidays after their 300l final exams.
My husband and Jude insisted on celebrating my 50th birthday for me. I tried to dissuade them but their minds were already made up.
On my 50th birthday, family and friends gathered around to celebrate me. I felt so loved.
I watched Jude move around entertaining his friends with excitement. He has grown into a fine young man. At 19, his level of maturity was commendable. He excelled so much in his education.
Watching Jude made me remember Julius. I haven’t seen him for over two years.
“I wish he was here so that the whole family would be complete”. I said in my mind.
“Mummy you are crying”. Judith said.
“Am I?”. I asked. I quickly dried the tears from my eyes.
“Go and assist Eunice in doing the dishes”. I said to Judith.
“Ooooooh! I shouldn’t have come to you”. Judith grumbled.
Few minutes later, Judith ran to me screaming;
“Mummy brother Julius is around! Mummy come and see! He came with his friends”.
My heart skipped. I ran outside to see him for myself.
I didn’t see him outside. I got disappointed.
“Mummy he said you should meet him outside the compound. He said he doesn’t want to come inside”. Judith said.
I ran outside the compound.
Immediately he saw me, he stepped out of a fine Mercedes Benz.
He has changed a lot. He wasn’t looking like a 19yrs old boy. He looked older. Maybe it was because of the expensive agbada he was putting on with a matching cap.
His friends also stepped out of their respective cars. They all looked way older than him.
“Mummy how are you”. Julius said with smiles.
I couldn’t go close to him. Something about him didn’t feel right. I could feel a dark energy around him.
“Happy birthday mumsy”. His friends chorused.
For a moment, I lost my voice. I had a lot to say to him and a lot of questions to ask but nothing was coming out of my mouth. I was mute.
“Happy birthday mummy. I am here to spoil you today”. He brought out a bundle of money.
He was about spraying me when my husband stopped him.
“Woe to you and your money! Leave this place immediately”. My husband shouted.
Julius stopped smiling.
“Good afternoon daddy “. He murmured.
“I forbid you from calling me that! Leave this place immediately and never return here ever in your life. You cease to be a member of this family”. My husband said angrily.
“Calm down popsy. Make your mind dey ground. Why you dey para like this?”. One of his friends asked arrogantly.
“No qualms guys. Make we move”. Julius said and stepped into his car. His friends also stepped into theirs.
For a moment, I wanted to run after him and stop him from leaving. I wanted to beg him to stay by mummy’s side but I knew he was no longer the little Julius I gave birth to. He is now something else entirely.
They all drove off in a very mΓ d speed.
“Honey we’ve lost him forever”. I said to my husband and broke down in tears.
“Good riddance to bad rubbish”. My husband said.
To be continued
Judith Onyoyibo
