The Truth About Mariam

Chapter 21

★★★

Hillary is dead. That's the first thing i thought of . Mariam fled when she heard the police siren.

Hillary called cops, he notified them during the time Mariam was talking to me.

Detective Bolade removes the chain from my hand as he led me away from the room. My parents are outside, waiting by our car.

I was kidnapped and kept in a room for a week. I didnt even a week passed by so fast.

The police are tracking Mariam, she's wanted ,she can't hide for forever.
"Honey, how are you doing?" My dad pats my back.

I don't know if I should be angry with him for leaving us, divorcing mom. He expects me to accept him back, as if, nothing ever happened. I face my mom, she has really emaciated. She doesn't deserve this. This pain. I move towards her and hug her tight, "Mom, I'm sorry."

She hugs me, tapping my back. "Don't be honey. Shssh. Don't be."

All this is a nightmare. But it isn't. Hillary is truly dead. Mariam is wanted. I'?m here, with a bandaged leg.
I want to wake up from this nightmare. I really do.

A police officer walks over to where we were standing. "Would you like to come to the station to make a statement?"

I look at my mom, she smiles weakly at me. I turn to the officer, "Yes" I say dryly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Finally back home. Given my statement. Everything Mariam told me, her parents had been arrested and they also confessed to selling the I daughter out for prostitution. Their trial begins on Monday, next week.

I don't even feel like doing anything now, I don't want to see anyone. I'm just weak. I feel exactly the same I felt when Mariam died.
Only that she isn't dead. She planned it all, and i don't know why she did and why Hillary was involved.
My parents were right, I'm still young, I know nothing about life. I can't trust anyone,only God.

"Finally. Mariam Lawal has been caught." I increase the volume of the TV, I was watching the news, just changing channels. It was TVC news at 6.
My parents were on the other side of the room, Rotimi was playing a game on my phone.

They rush to the sitting room when they heard the news.

The reported announced,

"The mystery, concerning the murder of Mariam has finally be revealed. She was never murdered. This was just a scheme of hers to get back to her "enemy". She confessed that she was involved in drug trafficking. She was caught at the Murtala Mohammed Airport. She also confessed that she killed Hillary. She is at the station, awaiting trial. Moyo Thomas , Lagos."

I switch the table and run up to my room.

That's is it. She would be arrested, taken to court and jailed.
But the pain she caused. The person she killed.

Such things can't be revived.I don't know how people tend to forgive and forget.
Things like this are hard to just forgive and forget.

A soul has been lost. And I'm sure if he was alive. He might change for good.

There is a knock on my door. "It's open, come in." I yell. My dad walks in. He sits down on my bed. He sighs.

"You would make a great detective. You sacrificed your time for this. You deserve an award."

"Dad, please just stop. I don't deserve any award. I just don't know. Everything happened in just a flash. I'm 17. I don't deserve to suffer like this."

"You know others has differed more than you right?"

"I know, Dad, I know. Tell me why did you divorce mom? Why did you leave us when we needed you?. You come in and try to forget everything. "

"Honey, i'm really sorry. I was being irrational. I don't know what to say. I can't justify my actions and how I hurt you people, your brother and your mom. I feel like a terrible father."

Just, please forgive me. But your mom, I never loved her. I love you guys,but not your mom,I have never for years. I know it's painful to hear, but i just had to tell you. My heart is heavy. God, forgive me."

" To forgive isn't easy, you never loved mom. Why all this now. Think about Rotimi, who would be left with his dad and mom divorced. He's too young to experience that."
"What can I do? I can't get back to your mom. Things are better the way it is. I got custody of you children, but your mom would still see you people and you would stay in this house."

*sigh* ...
"Don't worry too much. Rest, you need it, after everything you've been through. Good night honey, he kissed my forehead and closed the door.