When Mercy Runs Dry

Chapter 9: My Mother's Secret

I did not sleep that night.

Barrister Uche call - "There is one more secret about your mother. About why you left Amaka Village 4 years ago. Come alone tomorrow 8am."

Why I left Amaka 4 years ago?

Four years ago, I was 22. I just finished Owerri Poly. I was to do national service.

I had boyfriend in Amaka, Ikenna. Ikenna loved me. He wanted to marry me after service. He was teaching small in community school, salary 40,000.

But one night, I overheard Mama talking with Papa under mango tree.

Mama said, "Adaeze cannot marry Ikenna. Ikenna family are poor, no land. Adaeze must marry rich man in Abuja. I have already told my sister in Abuja to find man with shop."

Papa said, "Nkechi, leave Adaeze to marry who she loves. Love is better than shop."

Mama said, "No. We suffered. Adaeze must marry rich to help us. I am tired of suffering."

Next week, Mama sister in Abuja brought Emeka. Emeka had hair shop in Wuse, had small car. Mama forced me to follow him to Abuja. I cried, but Mama said "If you don't follow him, you are not my daughter again."

So I left Ikenna. I left Amaka Village with pain, with small bag. I married Emeka quickly in court, no traditional wedding, because I was angry with Mama.

I thought Mama pushed me to marry rich because she wanted money and shop.

But Barrister said there is secret about Mama. What secret?

By 6am next day, I left Amaka to Owerri, alone. I told Mama I am going to Abuja early to pack my 200,000 hair shop. I did not tell her Barrister called for second letter.

Chidi wanted to follow, holding my hand.

"Aunty, make I follow you to Owerri?"

"No, Chidi, stay with Papa and Mama. Lock blue gate. Don't open for anybody, even Chief Okafor."

Keke to Owerri, 3,500. But now I had 6,000,000 in account after land victory, so 3,500 was small.

Barrister office, 8am, his chamber near High Court.

Barrister locked door.

"Adaeze, sit. This is second letter, hidden inside first letter envelope. Your father told me 'Give this second letter to Adaeze only when she is alone, without Nkechi. Because Nkechi secret is heavy for daughter.'"

Second letter! Smaller envelope, older paper, with Papa shaking handwriting.

I opened, hands shaking.

"My dear Adaeze,

If you are reading this second letter, it means you are alone without your mother.

I must tell you why your mother forced you to marry Emeka in Abuja 4 years ago.

It was not because she wanted rich man for money.

It was because she was very sick.

Four years ago, Mama Nkechi had serious sickness in her chest. Early stage. Doctor at general hospital told her she needs 1,500,000 for treatment. We had no money. My buses were not making money then. We had only family land, but buyers pricing low, 4 million then.

Your mother did not tell you. She did not want you to worry before your national service. She told me 'Let Adaeze marry rich man in Abuja so she will not see me die. Let her go far. If I die, she will be safe in Abuja with rich husband.'

She forced you to go to Abuja because she thought she would not live long. She wanted you to be far, married, safe.

But God did miracle. After you left to Abuja, I took her to prayer house. Pastor prayed for 7 days. And we went back to hospital. Doctor said sickness disappeared. Early stage disappeared after prayer. Doctor said it happens sometimes with faith.

Your mother was healed. But she could not call you back to Amaka because you already married Emeka in court. And she was ashamed to tell you she forced you because of sickness.

So she kept secret. For 4 years.

Adaeze, forgive your mother. She did not push you to Abuja for money. She pushed you because she thought she was dying and wanted you to be safe with rich man.

Now you know.

I saved 4,000,000 after your mother healed, to bring you back one day. To tell you secret and bring you home. That 4,000,000 plus 2,000,000 compensation = 6,000,000 you have now.

If you are reading this, use money to forgive your mother. Build her house. Treat her well. She loves you more than life.

Your father,

Chief Williams Uche."

I finished reading. Tears like river in Owerri chamber.

Mama had serious sickness 4 years ago! She forced me to marry Emeka not for money, but because she thought she would die! And she was healed by prayer! And she kept secret for 4 years, allowing me to hate her!

I cried loud in Barrister office, head on table.

"Mama! Mama had sickness!"

Barrister gave me water, tissue.

"Your father told me to keep secret until you are strong enough to forgive. Now you are strong, Adaeze. You fought Chief Okafor, you fought Emeka, you bought blue gate, you have 6,000,000. Now you can forgive Mama."

I stood up, packed second letter inside bag.

I must go back to Amaka Village now. To hug Mama.

I took Keke again, fast, 9am Owerri to Amaka, 3,500.

I reached compound, blue gate locked. Chidi locked as I said.

I shouted, "Mama! Mama open gate!"

Mama opened gate, wrapper. She saw my eyes red, second letter in hand.

"Adaeze, what happened? You said you went to Abuja? Why you back with tears?"

I hugged her. Tight. I hugged old woman who had sickness and hid it to save me.

"Mama, I know. I know about sickness 4 years ago. Papa wrote second letter. Why you did not tell me, Mama? Why you allowed me hate you for 4 years?"

Mama froze. Then she fell on floor, crying loud, where old gate removed before.

"Adaeze! You know! Your father told you! I had sickness! I thought I will die! I wanted you to marry rich and go far! I did not want you to see me die and suffer! Forgive me, Adaeze! I forced you to marry Emeka! I scattered your love with Ikenna!"

True. All true. Mama confession.

I knelt with Mama on floor, new blue gate locked behind us.

"Mama, I forgive you. I forgive you, Mama. You did it for love. You had sickness and you hid it to protect me. I forgive."

We cried together, mother and daughter, for 20 minutes, inside compound with new gate locked, Chidi and Papa watching, Papa in wheelchair tears too, because his secret now open after 2 years.

After crying, Mama cleaned face with wrapper.

"Adaeze, so you know why Ikenna... Ikenna still in Amaka. He did not marry. He is teaching in community school, salary small, but he waits for you."

Ikenna! My first love! He still in Amaka? Did not marry?

Mama said, "Yes, Ikenna said he will wait for you. Even after you married Emeka in Abuja, he said he will wait. He comes to check your father every week. He was here yesterday when you were in Owerri. He brought drug for your father."

Chidi said, "Yes aunty! Bros Ikenna fine, tall, he brings Panadol for Papa every week!"

Heart beat fast. Four years ago I loved Ikenna. He loved me. Mama forced me to leave him because of sickness.

Now I am divorced, free woman, with 6,000,000, with land papers, with blue gate.

And Ikenna still waits? Should I go to see him?

Mama said, "Ikenna said he will come today by 4pm to see you before you travel to Abuja. He heard you bought blue gate."

4pm today, Ikenna coming. The boy I left 4 years ago because Mama had sickness.

The boy who still waits 1,400 days.

What will I tell him? That I am now divorced woman with 6,000,000? That I still love him? Or that I need time?

My name is Adaeze Williams.

Four years ago I left Amaka because Mama had sickness and forced me.

Today I return with blue gate, with 6,000,000, with forgiveness.

And today, my first love is coming by 4pm.

Will I open blue gate for him? Or keep gate locked like my heart?

Abuja shop tomorrow, Enugu hospital next week, Chidi school next month.

But love is coming by 4pm with name Ikenna.

Will I be ready?