Happy new month to all our readers! Enjoy this amazing story still by Ayokunle Adedipe.
I could feel again and it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to again. Life had dealt terrible cards to to me for quite a while but today was the day.
“I’m here to see Mrs Johnson” i stated as I was escorted to the room. The door closed and soon as I was left alone with her.
“It’s a bit cloudy today. Weather forecasters predict a storm but we know better than to believe them” I sit in front of her and stare.
Her dead eyes that were once so bright. Her once shining hair was already withering.
“Daddy’s coming home” she replied.
” Peter graduated yesterday. He wished you were there but he forgot the moment he saw his new Mercedes” I bring out my phone to show her pictures but she didn’t move.
“Mary got engaged last week too. She wanted to bring him here but I told her not to. You know she can’t handle her emotions” I smile at her.
“Daddy’s coming home” she replied.
I stood and walked to the window. The rain had begun. My eyes were already watering and I wished I didn’t come but I had to. It would be the last time I would see her.
“It’s raining ma.. You should see it” I wheeled her to the window.
“Do you remember ma, the first time we danced under the rain. Daddy had traveled and we had just watched sound of music” she looked at me and for a moment, her eyes were bright but they died again as fast as they appeared.
I checked the time. I still had 2 hours to the ceremony.
” They came home ma. They wanted you to be there. They are going to give daddy a post humous award of some sort. Can’t remember what they called it but it’s a big deal. Joshua was excited but he has to go to camp this summer” I bent and held her hand. She didn’t even try to move it. She was going gradually. Getting ready to join the true love of her life on the other side. But I missed her. I missed her so much.
“I miss you so much mama” I began to cry. “We all miss you. Please, be alright” she kept staring at the window as the sound of the rain drops filled the silence.
I remembered the day I graduated from college. She was so happy and even though daddy couldn’t be there. She made it the happiest day of my life. For years, we were used to daddy not being around. He was a soldier and even though mum knew how to make it work. She still missed him. She would sleep on his side of the bed always. At nights, when I couldn’t sleep, I would hear her cry. It was overwhelming for her. Taking care of 4 kids with the youngest barely one but she made it work until that day.
I was 21 and my youngest brother was just 5. Some officers had come home that afternoon to give my mum a letter and my dad’s remaining things. He had died on a raid in the north and his body was burnt beyond recognition. Mum didn’t scream or cry. She just went upstairs to their room. The next day, she couldn’t move from the bed. We rushed her to the hospital immediately but the damage had been done. She had suffered a stroke and it had done irreparable damage to her brain. After months of physical and speech therapy, she wasn’t getting better. I had gradually become a mother for my siblings.
Dad’s benefits from the military made us enroll her in an institution that could take care of her properly.
It’s been 10 years. Physical therapy has partially worked but she still couldn’t talk. My sister was too emotional to see her state and my youngest brother didn’t even understand. He barely remembered her. My other brother and I always managed to come whenever we had the time.
I had sacrificed my happiness and my whole life for my siblings. To make them feel like mummy was still there. After that day, everything I did was for them.
“I wish you could meet him ma” I started wiping the tears. “I really do”. I started getting ready to go.
“Gracie” I looked back and walked towards her. “Gracie” she said gently.
“Ma, mummy, I’m here! I’m here” the tears started overflowing. I hugged her and she managed to hug me back.
“Gracie… Gracie..” I waited expectantly.
“Daddy’s coming home” I looked at her face and saw her eyes. They were dead.
I buried my face in her palms. She wasn’t back. She was still the same. I stood and wiped my tears. “I might not come back in a while ma. I love you so much but I might not be back”
I had to rush back to the hotel.
“Wish me luck mum, I will be a married woman in an hour” I wheeled her back to her bed and put my dad’s jacket beside her.
“He will always love you” I kissed her forehead and walked out.
“Thank you Nurse” I managed a smile, entered my car and quickly started driving to the hotel. My life was just about to begin.
