IN THE DARK (Episodes 13 & 14)

The ride home was a silent one.Aunty oyinkan was unusually quiet while i was full of
thought as well.I was of mixed feelings toward aunty oyinkan.I was angry with her for
dragging me away without allowing me to bid lizzy goodbye but i was happy she protected
me from my uncle and took me away from hell.Throughout the ride home, aunty oyinkan’s
repetition of my worth back at my uncle’s place got me troubled. No doubt, she was
keeping something from me. Aunty oyinkan was nice to me and i do not have a reason to
doubt her, but i was sure she was hidding something important know to herself and my
uncle.
We got to aunty oyinkan’s residence and i took her bag from her. Khole rushed at me
immediately we entered the living room. I was so happy to see her and she continued to
turn me around to see if something was wrong with me. When she got no sigh of me been
injured whatsoever, she breathe a sigh of relief. Khole hugged her mom and aunty oyinkan
asked us to come with her to her room. We got to her room and sat on her bed while she
undressed.
Aunty oyinkan sat on a couch, cleared her throat and said “Khole from now on Nancy will
stay with us, i know the two of you are close before but i want you to be closer now. Mike
and his wife has made her suffer, i want her to know peace and love here. Do you
understand?” Khole noded and said “Ok mom” before taking my hands into hers. Aunty
oyinkan continued and said “Nancy i called my husband and informed him of the present
situation. He has agreed with you staying here and he has promised to sponsor your
education. You do not have to worry about a thing my dear. Just leave mike and his wife to
God” i noded and was about to say ‘thank you’ when aunty oyinkan said ” You dont have to
thank me, i am doing all this for my child. Talking about education, i want you to gain
admission and start schooling this session. Have you checked your jamb result?
The question about my jamb result came as a shock and i did not know how to tell this
woman who has promised to stand by me if i make her proud that i failed woefully. I bit my
lower lips and aunty oyinkan asked about my jamb result again. I could not lie to my aunty
and khole, so i summon the courage to tell them i failed and i said “Aunty…ehm…
Sorry……….. Mommy….ehm…. Mom i failed jamb, that was my reason for me leaving home
which led to my accident.”
Aunty oyinkan came closer to me and sat on the bed. I was made to sit in the middle of
herself and khole. Aunty oyinkan placed her hand on my laps and said “it is not a problem if
you failed, i just need to know your score for me to know the necessary button to press”. I
was relived by aunty oyinkan’s words,so i told her i scored ‘176’. Aunty oyinkan then
smilled at me and said “Thats not a realy bad score, just pray you pass all your subjects
excellently in WAEC. If you do it wont be difficult to get you admitted into the university to
study the course of your choice but if you do not, you might not be able to get the course of
your choice. Any which way, you will resume school this session, i promise” aunty oyinkan
ended her speech and i felt so happy. I hugged her and kept on thanking her. Khole also
joined in the hug and it became a group hug. Aunty oyinkan released herself from the hug
and teased myself and khole of acting like a child.
Mi mom (aunty oyinkan) told us she would love to take a nap and i left her room with
khole. When we got to khole’s room, she hugged me again and asked why i did not tell her
what i was going through. I told her i did not want to disturb her in school and she hit me
playfully on my back. We sat on khole’s bed and i narrated everything that has happened to
her. I was surprised i did not cry while narrating my ordeal with uncle mike and his wife to
khole. I only felt happy having someone to share my story with. I also told khole how much
have missed kelvin and he was yet to call. Khole promised to be there for me and we
hugged eachother again. Khole ended the hug and said “dont worry buddy, am here now.
Best pal forever” khole stretched out her hand and i took them. That was our way of
renewing our promise.
Myself and khole had lunch,after which she told me to come with her over to Josh’s place.
Oh i was happy i will be seeing Josh again! Life is good only if there is love. I found love
with family.
I rushed to the bathroom to get ready for the outing with josh. Before taking my bath i
brought out my chain lock and checked the family picture in it. I found a new family now i
thought. I looked at the picture again and i said “Mom…………. Dad………..i know you are
irreplaceable and theres no family without you two, but i know you too are happy i found
happiness with my new family, i miss you guys so much and i wish to make you and my
new family proud.” i wiped my tears and took my bath. It was not the time to cry but the
time to be strong.

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