FATIMA – Episode 17

©Miriam Edem

Episode XVII.

 

®Do not repost without due acknowledgement or permission of the writer.

 

“Hey God what kind of problem is this one? Just when I am remembering my son I lost today you’re bringing up Loveth to make it worst for me, can you just leave me alone?! The woman shouted hitting my hands from her leg.

” I understand and I apologize, please ma you have to tell us what happened its important” the pastor said.

 

“Fine! After all it won’t change anything” the woman said.

“Thank you” the pastor said while I sniffed and sat down and she breathed out with her eyes closed.

 

“Loveth was a sweet girl, very quiet and had no problem with anybody. She got so many advances from guys but she was not interested in any not until one silly boy held her on her way back from school. It was Silas who rescued her from the wicked act, and according to her, that was the first time they’ve met. Silas who was not schooling then but was always roaming about from one village to another climbing people trees to steal fruits never stopped visiting my daughter, and when we learnt about it, we stopped Loveth from seeing him but it was useless.

 

Silas influenced my daughter so much, she was no longer going to school but following him to help steal people fruits or crops from different farms. Sometimes she will steal my money to give to him and my son already had a clash with Silas and they have fought before because of his stealing habit. Personally, I got tired of the two but my son didn’t agree to it, all he wanted was to protect his kid sister because Silas was not a responsible person she can roam around with. We’ve reported him countlessly to his family but it was all useless, not until my son angrily locked up Loveth in her room. During that time I travelled with my goods to the city to sell and didn’t know there was fire on the mountain.

Silas who didn’t see my daughter for days stormed into the compound threatening and shouting on my son to release Loveth to him. Loveth on the other hand was busy shouting from the window begging him to rescue her while my son swore over his dead body will he let Loveth out.

Fight broke out there between the two of them and People around separated them while Silas left but promised to be back for him fully.

 

That evening, my son took dinner to serve Loveth in the locked room but met her crying. In his usual calm manner and the way he loved his sister so much, he got weak and tried saying some pet words to her trying to make her understand whatever he is doing is for her own good” the woman narrated and cleaned her tears while I looked shocked my father can ever behave that way.

 

“But Loveth kicked him and ran out which he had to pursue her, but along the line he slipped and fell from the stairs, but my daughter could not stop to see if her brother is badly injured. She thought he made it up so he can get her, but sadly it was real. My son laid there in his own pool of blood till the next morning when his friends visited and saw him, before they could rush him to the hospital it was already late, and that was the same day I was on the road back to the village” the woman continued and broke down crying.

 

The pastor stood up and held her while I sat shivering not believing what my ears just heard,

“It’s a lie” I slowly said and the pastor looked at me.

“What happened after that ma?” The pastor slowly asked squatting before me and she sniffed.

 

“When I saw my son corpse I was in rage and swore to ki*ll Silas with my own hands, and as for Loveth, with that pain I cursed her. I know I did bad, but it was too painful I lost a grown up boy like that after suffering so much to train them after their father died leaving them for me. I didn’t want to see Loveth, but at a certain time I took her back after she kept parading and apologizing to me. I didn’t want to lose another child and I accepted her back, and that was when i heard that Silas ran away from the village after he found out her brother died abandoning her, probably that was why she returned apologizing. But Loveth life was never the same again, she was hurting so much and still wanted to see him. I tried everything as a mother to have my daughter back, but everyday she was getting more miserable and after about 3-4 years or so, we heard that Silas is a changed guy and he’s getting married.

 

My daughter ran to his village despite I tried stopping her, but it turned out to be that Silas was even in the village with his new woman to introduce her to his family.

My daughter cried clinging on his body begging him not to do that, but he saw my daughter as an unbeliever and even quoted that light has nothing to do with darkness anymore. He claimed my daughter was in his past and he’s a new creature, old things has passed away and all things is new for him now. My daughter was treated as dirt and chased out from the compound when she kept on begging and crying, and with that shock, my daughter was fueled with anger and slowly lost her mind. She cried her brother every night and blamed herself for his death while she never stopped praying for your father. But one fateful day she could not hold it anymore, I opened her room and saw a knife on her chest with your family names on a paper she held tightly. Are you satisfied now?” The woman turned and looked at me and I suddenly felt like throwing up.

 

I covered my mouth and ran out immediately throwing up at the side of the car and wept so bitterly. My father can’t be that wicked, and if you ask me, I don’t blame Loveth for her anger because I’ve had the same feeling and it was so miserable.

I felt a hand on my shoulder as I sat on the ground there leaning my body on the car crying,

“Fatima lets go” the pastor said.

“No it can’t be true” I said shaking my head but he opened the car and gave me water to wash my face.

 

“Get up it’s getting late okay” he said helping me up and I slowly looked up to see the woman looking at us.

“Thank you so much ma” the pastor said to her but she went in saying nothing and I slowly entered the car.

 

“Are you okay? The pastor asked when we drove out of the village and I sniffed.

” I’m not a kid and I know my father very well. He can’t possibly be a village thief or a heartless man, she’s lying and I won’t accept it” I confidently said and the pastor heaved.

 

“Then you have to take me to your mother, let’s see if she will deny this” he said.

‘I cant hurt her this way, if she hears such dirty thing said against my father it will not go well” I said.

 

‘Will you stop assuming things? The woman said your mother was there when Loveth was chased out of the compound, at least lets hear from her because she must know something” the pastor said and I closed my eyes tightly.

 

We arrived the city safely and was welcomed but I went straight to my room and fell on the bed tired. The door opened and the pastor daughter slowly walked in,

“Fatima are you okay?” She asked and I nodded.

“I’ve kept your food, I know you must be hungry” she said.

 

“Thanks but am not hungry” I said.

“Is everything okay? You have to…….. ” just leave me alone!” I shouted on her and she looked at me for a while and left while I stood up angrily and locked the door. I can’t explain where the anger came from and why the anger, but deep inside my heart, I wanted everything I heard that day to be a lie.

 

The next morning no one knocked on the door and I was so hungry. I had my shower and slowly left the room to see a covered food on the dinning and I knew it will be for me because it’s already late for breakfast. I felt sorry I shouted on the pastor’s daughter and wanted to apologize then I saw the pastor coming out.

“Finally you’re out” he said when I greeted him.

“I wanted to be alone” I said.

 

“I know, that’s why no one bothered to invite you for breakfast. That’s your food, and I hope you’re ready to take me to your mom today?” He asked.

“Today?” I asked back.

 

‘Eat up and have enough rest, we’ll be going there and don’t argue” he replied and went in. I breathed out and slowly sat down to eat but couldn’t help getting nervous.

 

That afternoon the pastor took me to my mom place and I saw the gateman that was specially employed for me was back.

“Is your madam at home? My name is Pastor Ola” the pastor said to him.

“Okay come in” he said opening the gate for us, and when I stepped down I saw this surprise look on his face when he saw me but I didn’t care.

 

The pastor knocked on the door and it was my brother that opened up, when he saw me he screamed and hugged me tight as we got in.

“How are you?” I asked touching his face.

“Sister where have you been? Mommy sister is back” he shouted before I could say “shhhhh”.

 

” mommy has been looking for you, she’s very scared” my brother said when I covered his mouth from shouting.

“So you’re finally back? I think I should be used to your disappearance and appearing whenever you like” I heard my mom voice and quickly stood up.

 

“Mommy good afternoon” I shakily greeted.

“You still call me mommy? Is this how every mothers suffers?” She asked and I bowed my head.

 

“Good afternoon ma, my name is pastor Ola, nice to meet you” the pastor said standing up.

“You’re welcome pastor please sit down” my mom said settling on the couch which we did also.

 

“I am very sorry for your husband loss and the way Fatima got you worried, I know as a mother you’ll be scared” the pastor said and my mother smirked.

‘Is she finally here to stay? Because I doubt it and I won’t die because of her when I have 3 children to take care of, she won’t ki*ll me and make me abandon my responsibilities” she said.

 

“3 children? I asked her.

” so you think that I’ll let that boy die? No way except it pleases God to take his life” she replied and I covered my head on my palm and the pastor breathed out.

 

“I thank God for you, actually I met your daughter that night she got missing, she wanted committing suicide but it was not her lucky day so I took her in” the pastor said.

“Why didn’t you try again? You may get lucky next time don’t give up” my mother said looking at me.

 

“Ma you can’t say that no matter how hurt you are, she’s still your daughter and you cant throw the water you finished bathing your child together with your child right?” The pastor asked and my mom laughed.

“Sweet words pastor and I don’t blame you because you won’t understand” she said.

 

“Maybe you’re right but it was not entirely Fatima’s fault. What do you know about Loveth?” The pastor asked and she looked at me?

“Which Loveth and what does she have to do with Fatima?” She asked.

 

“We returned from Loveth place yesterday and her mother said a lot of things I want to confirm if it’s true and I want you to be very sincere with me” the pastor replied and I saw my mother not comfortable

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said.

 

“Don’t tell me its true mommy, don’t tell me Loveth commited suicide because of how daddy abandoned her in the name of Christianity after her brother died” I said.

‘Will you shut up!” My mother screamed at me.

 

Tbc

#milove