*THE MISTAKE OF MY LIFE*
EPISODE 3
“My dear stop crying and think ahead, crying over split milk dosen’t make any sense” our Landlady advised as she led me to her apartment.
“my life is useless i feel like dying” i weeped,
“my dear stop mocking God, he alone knows the reason he kept you alive, so don’t be ungrateful” she cautioned.
“i however think you should leave your bag with me, return to your family and see if they will accept you” she advised minutes later, after i had calmed down a little. I cleaned my eyes and stared at her with prayers in my lips.
“i pray they do, if not i’m stranded and doomed” i murmured with a broken spirit, knowing fully well the kind of parents i had. Only divine intervention could make them change their stand.
But I had no choice than to try my luck once again. I trekked from Igbariam to Nnaji-nwede street where my parents resided, carrying Winnie with me.
I couldn’t afford using public transport that fateful morning, because i needed to make good use of the little money i had. Mum was the only one at home when i got there, making me relax a bit as i rested in her shop which was just in front of the house. The fire in her eyes died as soon as she saw me, tears quickly formed in them as she stared at my weak body.
“Nne” was all she could mutter, while i swallowed hard with tears in my eyes. Other mothers would have reached out and carried their daughter’s child who equally was her grand daughter, but she didn’t, instead stared at us with pity.
Even though she never did support Dad’s harsh treatment towards me, she equally never condenmed it, perhaps because i had five other younger sisters, whom they needed to protect by using my punishment as a lesson and example to them.
“Mum help me please i have nowhere else to go, Nnamdi threw me out of his house this morning” i sobbed and knelt by her side with little Winnie in my arms. She breathed deeply, scratched her head and stared at the ceiling.
“have you eaten today?” i heard her ask.
“no Mum food isn’t my problem” i replied with tears.
“i have beans let me get some for you” she murmured, left her shop and went into the house to get a plate of beans for me.
She returned with it, dropped the plate on a small stool, and reluctantly carried little Winnie, so that i could to eat properly.
____
“please be quick with it, because you have to leave before your Dad shows up, i don’t want his problem today” she urged.
Her comment really broke my heart, but i was already used to such comments. I rushed up with my meal, washed my mouth and thanked her.
“now you can leave abeg” she murmured and gave me fifty naira,
“use it to buy akamu {pap} for your daughter” she added a bit coldly. I closed my eyes out of pain but tears refused to fall out.
“Mum i have no-where to go” i reminded her, but all she did was just to shrug.
“it’s non of my business you arn’t our responsibility anymore, if you have any case, do present it to your father please and not to me” she replied nervously.
Leaving me once again lost, confused and hopeless,“how can i face Dad when Mum is behaving like this” i wondered.
I had hoped with time that their cold behaviour towards me will reduce, but instead of reducing, it only increased.
“anwúómú ööö{i don die} here comes your Dad” Mum exclaimed as she sighted him from afar seconds later, instantly pushing me out of her shop.
I stood outside and waited for Dad defiantly, with a broken spirit and Winnie in my arms,“whatever will be, will eventually be, let it happen now” I said myself as i waited for him to finish me..
