EPISODE 2
2405 Words
The following day, Nneka's mother woke up early.
The house was still quiet.
She looked towards Nneka, who was still sleeping, and smiled.
After everything they had talked about the previous night, she felt determined to keep going.
Life was difficult, but she could not give up.
She quietly prepared the vegetables she had to sell at the market.
She arranged them carefully inside her basket, lifted it, and stepped outside.
Before leaving, she looked back at the house.
“Nneka will be fine,” she whispered to herself.
Then she left.
---
The market was already busy.
People were moving from one stall to another.
Traders were calling customers.
Nneka's mother found her usual place and arranged her vegetables.
She began selling.
“Fresh vegetables! Come and buy!”
A few customers stopped.
She sold some tomatoes.
Then some peppers.
Then some vegetables.
But the sales were slow.
She kept waiting.
She hoped that more customers would come.
As the morning passed, the basket became lighter, but not as quickly as she had hoped.
By afternoon, she still had many vegetables left.
Nneka's mother sighed.
“Maybe tomorrow will be better.”
She continued sitting.
Then she suddenly felt weak.
She shifted in her seat.
She tried to ignore it.
But the uncomfortable feeling became stronger.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
A woman selling nearby noticed her.
“My sister, are you okay?”
Nneka's mother opened her eyes.
“Yes. I'm fine.”
The woman looked at her carefully.
“You don't look fine.”
“I am just tired.”
“You should go home.”
Nneka's mother looked at the vegetables.
“I still have these to sell.”
“You can sell them tomorrow.”
She remained quiet.
The woman continued.
“Your body is more important.”
Nneka's mother finally nodded.
“You are right.”
She began packing the remaining vegetables.
She lifted the basket and slowly left the market.
---
The journey home was slower than usual.
Nneka's mother kept stopping for a few seconds before continuing.
She was tired.
She wanted to lie down.
She wanted to rest.
Finally, she reached home.
But when she entered the compound, she stopped.
Someone was sitting outside.
A woman.
Nneka's mother stared at her.
The woman turned around.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then the woman's face lit up.
“My sister!”
Nneka's mother immediately recognized her.
“Adaeze!”
Adaeze stood up.
“Yes!”
The sisters walked towards each other and embraced.
“When did you come?” Nneka's mother asked.
Adaeze laughed.
“Today.”
“You didn't tell me you were coming.”
“I didn't even plan to stay.”
She smiled.
“I was passing through the nearby village, and I said, let me come and greet my sister.”
Nneka's mother laughed.
“You just decided to surprise me?”
“Yes.”
“You should have told me.”
“And spoil the surprise?”
They both laughed.
For a moment, Nneka's mother forgot about her tiredness.
She was simply happy to see her sister.
But Adaeze noticed something.
She looked at her sister carefully.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
“My sister.”
“Yes?”
“You don't look well.”
Nneka's mother waved her hand.
“I am fine.”
“No, you are not.”
“I only became tired at the market.”
“You went to the market feeling like this?”
“I was fine when I left.”
Adaeze shook her head.
“You should have come home earlier.”
Nneka's mother sat down.
“I needed to sell something.”
Adaeze looked at the basket.
“Did you sell much?”
Nneka's mother looked down.
“Not really.”
Adaeze became quiet.
She looked around the compound.
She noticed the condition of the house.
She noticed the old furniture.
She noticed how tired her sister looked.
She began to understand that things were worse than she had imagined.
“My sister,” Adaeze said quietly, “why is your situation like this?”
Nneka's mother looked away.
“Things have not been easy.”
Adaeze sighed.
“What about your husband?”
Nneka's mother did not answer.
Adaeze understood.
She decided not to press the matter.
Instead, she looked towards the road.
“I haven't seen Nneka yet.”
“She will be back soon.”
---
Not long afterwards, Nneka came home.
She entered the compound and immediately noticed the woman sitting with her mother.
She stopped.
“Mama?”
Her mother looked up.
“Nneka.”
Nneka walked closer.
She looked at the woman.
“Good afternoon.”
Adaeze smiled warmly.
“Good afternoon, my dear.”
Nneka's mother introduced them.
“Nneka, this is your auntie.”
Nneka smiled respectfully.
“Good afternoon, Auntie.”
Adaeze smiled.
“Good afternoon.”
She looked at Nneka carefully.
“So you are Nneka.”
Nneka nodded.
“Yes, Auntie.”
Adaeze smiled.
“You have grown.”
Nneka smiled shyly.
“Thank you.”
She then looked at her mother.
“Mama, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, my daughter.”
Nneka looked at the basket.
“You didn't sell everything?”
Her mother shook her head.
“No.”
Nneka immediately started helping her.
She picked up the vegetables and began arranging them.
Adaeze watched quietly.
She noticed how quickly Nneka helped her mother.
She didn't complain.
She didn't wait for anyone to ask.
She simply helped.
Adaeze looked at Nneka's mother.
“Your daughter is very responsible.”
Nneka's mother smiled.
“She always wants to help.”
Adaeze nodded.
“I can see that.”
---
The afternoon continued peacefully.
Adaeze and Nneka's mother talked about their childhood.
They remembered old family stories.
They laughed.
They talked about relatives they had not seen in a long time.
Nneka stayed nearby.
She listened quietly while helping her mother.
But Adaeze could not stop looking around.
She saw the small house.
She saw the struggling business.
She saw her sister's tired face.
She saw Nneka doing more than a child should have to worry about.
Eventually, Adaeze became serious.
“My sister.”
Nneka's mother looked at her.
“Yes?”
“Why are you living like this?”
Her sister sighed.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean your situation.”
Adaeze looked around.
“You are working so hard, but things are still difficult.”
Nneka's mother looked down.
“I am trying.”
“I know.”
“I do everything I can.”
“I know.”
Adaeze reached for her hand.
“I am not judging you.”
Nneka's mother looked at her.
“I know.”
“I am only worried about you.”
Her sister nodded.
“Thank you.”
Adaeze looked towards Nneka.
Then she looked back at her sister.
“There is something I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?”
“Can we talk privately?”
Nneka's mother hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“Okay.”
The two women moved a little away from Nneka.
---
Adaeze lowered her voice.
“Please don't misunderstand what I am about to say.”
Nneka's mother looked at her.
“Go ahead.”
“I have been watching Nneka.”
Her sister became serious.
“What about her?”
“She is a good girl.”
“Yes.”
“She is hardworking.”
“Yes.”
“She is respectful.”
Nneka's mother nodded.
“Yes.”
Adaeze took a breath.
“I think she deserves an opportunity.”
Her sister frowned.
“What are you trying to say?”
Adaeze looked at her.
“I want Nneka to come and stay with me.”
Nneka's mother immediately froze.
“What?”
“I want to help her.”
“No.”
“Please listen to me.”
“No.”
“My sister—”
“I said no.”
Adaeze remained calm.
“I am not trying to take your daughter away from you.”
“Then why are you asking me to let her go?”
“Because I believe I can help her.”
“She can stay here.”
“I know.”
“She is my daughter.”
“I know.”
“I will take care of her.”
“I know you love her.”
“Then don't ask me to leave her.”
Adaeze raised her hands.
“Please, don't shout at me.”
Nneka's mother became emotional.
“I am not shouting because I hate you.”
“I know.”
“I am shouting because she is my daughter.”
Adaeze nodded.
“I understand.”
“I have struggled for her.”
“I know.”
“I cannot just let her go.”
Adaeze spoke gently.
“I am not asking you to abandon her.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“I am asking you to allow her to stay with me for some time.”
Nneka's mother shook her head.
“No.”
“She could have better opportunities.”
“No.”
“She could have a different environment.”
“No.”
“I could help with her education.”
Nneka's mother looked away.
“Never.”
Adaeze sighed.
“Please calm down.”
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“I have heard enough.”
Adaeze looked at her sadly.
“If you don't want to, there is no problem.”
Nneka's mother looked directly at her.
“My daughter is not going anywhere.”
Adaeze nodded.
“Okay.”
---
Just then, Nneka's father returned.
He entered the compound and noticed that something was wrong.
He looked at his wife.
Then he looked at Adaeze.
“What happened?”
Nneka's mother quickly wiped her face.
“Nothing.”
He frowned.
“Nothing?”
Adaeze remained quiet.
He looked at his wife.
“What were you two talking about?”
“Nothing.”
He looked suspicious.
Adaeze finally spoke.
“I was only making a suggestion.”
“What suggestion?”
Nneka's mother immediately said:
“Don't start.”
He looked at her.
“Why are you saying that?”
“Because there is nothing to discuss.”
Adaeze looked at both of them.
“I suggested that Nneka could come and stay with me.”
Nneka's father became quiet.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I want to help her.”
He looked at his wife.
“And what did you say?”
“No.”
He frowned.
“Why?”
Nneka's mother looked at him in disbelief.
“Why?”
“Yes.”
“Because she is my daughter.”
“She will still be your daughter.”
“I don't care.”
He sighed.
“Look at the situation we are in.”
“I know our situation.”
“Then why reject help?”
“Because I don't want my daughter to leave me.”
He became frustrated.
“Nneka's mother—”
Adaeze quickly stepped in.
“Please. Don't argue.”
But the disagreement had already started.
Nneka's mother looked at her husband.
“You are not the one who takes care of her every day.”
He looked at her.
“I am her father.”
“Then act like one.”
The compound became silent.
Adaeze looked uncomfortable.
She had not come to cause an argument.
She had only wanted to help.
Nneka was nearby.
She had been listening.
She heard her name.
She heard her father talking about her.
She heard her mother refusing.
Slowly, she moved closer.
“Mama?”
Everyone turned.
Her mother's expression softened immediately.
“Nneka.”
“Are you talking about me?”
Her mother looked at her.
“Adaeze only made a suggestion.”
Nneka looked at her auntie.
“What suggestion?”
Adaeze remained quiet.
Nneka looked at her mother.
“Does Auntie want me to go with her?”
Her mother stepped closer.
“Yes. That was what she suggested.”
Nneka looked worried.
“But you said no?”
“Yes.”
“You don't want me to go?”
Her mother shook her head.
“No, my daughter.”
Nneka moved into her mother's arms.
“I don't want to leave you.”
Her mother held her tightly.
“And I don't want you to leave me.”
Adaeze watched them.
She understood.
Her sister had made her decision.
She would not force her.
---
After a moment, Adaeze picked up her bag.
“I should go.”
Nneka's mother looked at her.
“Already?”
“Yes.”
Adaeze smiled faintly.
“I only came to greet my sister.”
Nneka's mother nodded.
“I am glad you came.”
Adaeze looked at her.
“And I am sorry if what I said upset you.”
Nneka's mother shook her head.
“It is okay.”
Adaeze looked at Nneka.
“Take care of your mother.”
Nneka smiled.
“I will.”
Adaeze looked back at her sister.
“If you ever need me, you know where I am.”
Nneka's mother nodded.
“Thank you.”
Adaeze picked up her bag and walked away.
Nneka and her mother watched her leave.
---
After Adaeze was gone, Nneka looked at her mother.
“Mama?”
“Yes?”
“You really won't send me away?”
Her mother's answer was immediate.
“No.”
Nneka smiled.
She held her mother's hand.
For Nneka's mother, the matter was settled.
She had answered her sister.
She had answered her husband.
She had made her decision.
Her daughter was staying with her.
There was no unanswered question.
There was no decision left to make.
Nneka was not going anywhere.
But the family's problems had not disappeared.
The money was still not enough.
The vegetable business was still struggling.
Her husband was still not helping the way he should.
And Nneka's mother still had to find a way to keep her family together.
She looked at Nneka and pulled her close.
She had made a promise to her daughter.
And she intended to keep it.
For now.
END OF EPISODE TWO
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