MISCONCEPTION

MISCONCEPTION 3

Her sister in-law, was crying and her husband was consoling her. Jane closed her eyes.She finds it hard to believe that believe.her beloved husband and father of her kids is dead.She wish it was a dream and will soon wake up from this horrible nightmare, But when she opened her eyes, and saw her in-laws, and friends mourning, the reality of the situation hit her so hard that tears started flowing down her cheek She started mumbling to her self."how am i going to live without you?,why did you go and leave me?,who is going to help me take care of the kids?.Hot tears rolled down her cheeks . Her childhood friend, Funke patted her back and whisper "may his soul rest in peace"Jane, be strong for the sake of your children.if you break down what will happen to them?,Come you need to go and rest.She held Jane's hand and led her into the bedroom. Jane was so exhausted from crying and from the fact that she had not slept all through the night She fell asleep. When she woke up few hour later, she saw her elder sister Grace sitting on the edge of the bed. sister, she call out to her. oh, you have woken up. She moved closer to her, and held her hands. You must be strong for yourself and your children,and be prayerful at all times, Don't worry l will always be there for you.

Jane felt a pang of pain in her heart, all the tears and weakness she hid from her husband's family began to gush out, she broke down in tears." Thank you sister" . Grace held her in a tight embrace. "Everything will be okay my love, take heart" she consoles Jane.

Grace is the only relative she can completely rely on apart from her late husband Ola. Her parents gave birth to three kids; two girls and a boy. Jane was only 13years when their parents and younger brother died in a ghastly motor accident.This tragic incident made the family members to split them, she went to her partenal aunt's house and Grace ended up living with their maternal grandmother, who passed away two years ago.During that trying moment in their lives,They only communicate through mails and once every Christmas, they were able to meet each other. They shared their worries and console each other. To them, they only had each other and they are happy.. Grace got married in Lagos while Jane got married in Kano though, She and her late husband had met in Kano during their youth national corps. And now he is gone? gone forever never to be seen again. Jane sobs as she hugs her sister very tight, unwilling to let go.

" You have me, you have your angelic kids, so you are not alone sweetheart" her sis adds. Jane rest her head on her sister's shoulder for long before asking her if the kids are okey. "I guess so, but Ada and Eze need their mum" Grace answer. Eze is the pet name she gave her nephew Kingsley, It means "king" in Igbo Tribe.

Jane let go of her sister and tries to standup, Grace helps her out. Her mother in-law have stopped crying and was looking deep into space, her eyes have loss hope, the pain of losing the only male child.her mother in-law was also a widow who used all of her strength and income to train her son. He graduated and join the military, she thought her stress was over and now she had to bury him. "Mama let's go inside" Jane manages to speak, she did not get any response. "The food is ready, Mama even if it's just a bite , just try it". Her in-law finally looks into her eyes and said "Jenny the day my son died, I wish I was the one who dead". "Mama please no! what about me" Amira started crying.

Mama just turn her head, looked straight into the thin air, her daughter voice has no effect on her. Jane also felt the pain behind her inlaws words, the pain of a mother, who have lost hope with the demise of her son. "Mama please" Jane begs her, "starving yourself would not bring him back" Grace added. Mama looks at Grace with teary eyes "have you ever lost a son?" she ask her. "No! we lost both parents and a baby brother since from a very young age and we are still alive, cause if there is life there is hope" Grace answers her sister's inlaw. A fresh tears rolls down on Mama's cheek, freely and silently. Grace observes the impact of her word on mama and continues " this life is not permanent, everyone must leave at anytime without notice . no man can question it. We have to make our deeds good and your son did, he is a good man. He will not be happy wherever he is if you are crying, you should pray for him instead. You have a married daughter that needs you, you have five grandchildren. You got shelter, food, medication and a caring inlaw, so you should pray for him, the future still awaits you with different gifts".

Mama gently attempts to stand up after sitting for a whole day, the women surrounding her give her a hand. They walk into the parlour and one of the women brought their food. Stanley, Grace second son runs pass them and his other cousins and kids follow him. The kids play freely unaware of the tragic condition. Ada was inside her pram. Jane slowly pick up the baby after her meal and breast feeds her. The food was distributed to the respective moaners.

The compound felt silent all of a sudden. The children stop their play. A woman dressed in a black attire came into the compound holding a boy of 5. She walk abruptly towards the room and halt in the front entrance. Everyone followed her movement with their eyes. She was Grace's age, with a fat round cheek l. "May I know who you are?" Amira asks her.