The Redemption (Story By AJ Emmanuel)

Life has not been easy for me since Leo was arrested. I went back home but could only stay there for a few days after being chased out by Peter who accused me of bringing ill luck to the family. I became homeless with a pregnancy that will be due anytime soon. Who will I run to for help? I am afraid to face my parents so, going home was definitely out of bounds. I finally decided to call my best friend, Sophia, who is in school if I can stay with her for some time and fortunately, she agreed.

I went to Sophia’s hostel the next day and she accepted me with open hands. I explained everything to her – how Leo got arrested and how I was chased out of the house by Peter.

“Ah! This is serious oo” Sophia exclaimed.

“What are you planning to do now?” Sophia asked.

“Hmmm….. if I tell you that I have a plan, I am lying, I don’t know what to do, I am just so confused” I replied crying.

“Shooosh… come on, wipe your tears. Everything is going to be okay,” she said as she consoled me.

“How about you go back to your parents?” She asked all of a sudden.

“Babe, how am I supposed to go back? My dad will skin me alive if he sees my shadow in that compound.” I said.

“But you have no other option now, will you just stay here forever? I’m not even working yet. You have to go back oo, they are your parents, they have no option but to accept you.” She said.

“But …… What about my child, what will become of him or her?” I asked.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure your parents will think of a way to take care of it,” She replied.

“Thank you so much, my friend,” I said kneeling.

“C’mon, what is this now, what are we friends for?” She said as she lifted me up almost immediately I went down on my knees.

“It’s just that assuming you have listened to me back then when I use to warn you about the marriage, this won’t have happened.” She added.

“I know,” I replied.

The next day, Sophia and I went to my parent’s house in the morning. It was a Saturday so they were at home. On sighting my mom at the doorway, I began to cry and kneel to beg her for forgiveness.

“Mommy, I am sorry, I am so sorry, it was a mistake…… please ma, forgive me….. I have nowhere to go.” I pleaded.

Sophia joined me to beg my mom. My mom just stood there and cried silently.

“What are you doing here? ehn?” Haven’t I warned you that I don’t want to ever see you here?” I heard my dad’s voice suddenly as he approached us angrily.

“Daddy, I am sorry, please, forgive me, it was the devil’s handiwork,” I replied weeping.

“Oh oh, so now you are blaming the devil? Instead of you to accept your mistake, you are blaming the devil,” my dad said angrily.

“I’m sorry sir……. I am v……” I was still talking when I felt a sharp pain below my abdomen.

“Yeeeeee!!!!!!!” I shouted clutching my stomach.

“What happened?” Sophia said as she held me.

“I don’t know, my stomach, ah!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed.

The pain is so unbearable. “It is the pregnancy, it is the baby.” my mom shouted suddenly as she rushed towards me.

“Let’s take her to the hospital,” Sophia said.

I was taken to the hospital. Trust me the pains I went through to give birth to that child is nothing to talk about. The pain was so unbearable. Thankfully, I gave birth to a baby boy successfully. Sophia and my mom stood by me. I stayed in the hospital for a few days before I was discharged. Sophia went back to school while I followed my parents back home.

On getting home, I went on my knees and began to beg them for forgiveness.

“It is okay, “a knife cut a child and the child threw the knife away, has the knife not done what it wants to do? You are still our child, we have nowhere to put you” my mom said as she made me rise.

“I just hope you will learn from your mistake.” my dad said.

“So, what really happened?” My mom asked.

I explained everything to them.

“Hmmm…. What are your plans now?” My dad asked suddenly.

“I actually wished to go back to school and make things right but…. I now have a child, I guessed that is impossible now.” I replied crying.

“And who told you you can’t go to school? hmmm?” My dad said surprising me.

“Do you mean, you will sponsor my education,” I asked surprised.

“Yes, we will.” my dad said.

“Ah, thank you so much sir, thank you mommy,” I said happily.

“But only on one condition.” my mom said.

“What is that?” I asked nervously.

“This child will grow up without recognising you as his mother, he will only recognise us as his parents.” my mom said.

I remained silent for a while, not knowing how to reply to them.

“Are okay with that?” my dad asked.

“I’m okay with it…. and I promise you, I will make you proud once again,” I said.

Everything went back to normal henceforth. I sat for UTME and got admitted into the University of Ibadan where I studied Mass Communication. I graduated from the school some years later and got a job as a journalist in Lagos. My parents were very happy but I still remained sad for my son who cannot identify me as his mother. But I guess that is one of my punishments for my youthful exuberance.

On a Friday evening, I was on my way home from work and stopped a bike to take me home but to my surprise, Peter was the bike man.

“Ah ah, Peter!” I exclaimed.

“Ella? Is this you?” He asked surprised as he looked at me from head to toe.

“Yes oo, na me. ah ah, what happened to you?” I asked.

“Hmmm, it is a long story….” he replied.

“You know what take me home, we will talk better,” I said as I hopped on the bike.

“It started after I sent you out of the house.” Peter began. “I enjoyed my dad’s money and all his other asset for a while. But as time goes by, the money kind of vanished. I was unable to sponsor my school fees anymore, I called some people for help but no one answered. The landlord soon sent me out of the house, and I started selling the other properties but was not enough for my sustenance. I ended up struggling to survive until I was introduced to this bike work. This is what I do for a living now.” Peter explained.

I sighed pitying him.

“I just want to beg for your forgiveness, I know I have offended you, please, forgive me for all my misdeeds.” He begged.

“C’mon, I have no grudge against you, I have already forgiven you a long time ago. There is not much difference between us” I replied.

“Thank you so much.” He said.

“I will think of a way to help you though, let me give you my number, text me and we will talk,” I said as I give him my digit and gave him some money.

Now, I have learnt my lesson in a very hard way but I thank God for my parents who are supportive despite all that I have done. My son continues to call me aunt since he has not discovered the truth about me, However, I’m happy that at least, I was able to set things right.

Thanks for reading, you can drop your thoughts in the comment section….