THREADS OF FATE

14.

Two years later

Life was tough for the lone couple, the economy of the country was in a bad state as well but they continued pushing on, they continued working hard for their daily bread.

All was not so rosy, sometimes they would have little quarrels, but they would eventually stop and settle by communication or love making.

Also their little son was growing well,  he was already four years old and was very bright for his age, he could speak fluently and was good in school, he won little awards in school and his parents were very proud of him.

He was their little ray of sunshine in the dark times.

For the Man, he continued to  hardwork and be  resilient even at a young age of twenty three, when his mates would rather choose to party and waste their lives, he continued to beat the stereo type,  his Uncle seeing this, the difference between him and the others, his uncle was happy and elevated his position, he gave him his own shop in a good part of town and the boy was so happy, he didn't even know how to thank his uncle properly but he was grateful and he promised himself once again to repay his uncle back.

He went home happy and told his wife the good news, she was so happy for him and encouraged him more.

Meanwhile

One day she got a phone call

"Hello" she said, folding the clothes in her room,

"Sister" the voice on the other side said, she could recognize that voice anywhere, she dropped the clothes and pressed the phone tighter in her ears as tears began forming,

"Big sister, is that you"

"Yes, dear, how are you?"

"I am fine" she sniffled,

"I miss you" her big sister said,

"You don't know how much I miss you, you just stopped calling" she cried,

They had been in touch after she left the village but slowly the calls became less frequent until it eventually stopped about two years ago, she could not get in contact with her sister.

"Things happened" the sister said,

"What happened? Are you okay?"

"I am" she replied trying to change the topic quickly, she hated that she couldn't call her younger sister because of a man, firstly her dad had banned her but she still found ways, later her father forced her into a marriage with a controlling man, who didn't let her even keep a phone, he didn't want her socializing and controlled her every move, she eventually broke free from him and ran away for two years, when she came back home, she found out that her husband was involved in a robbery and was gunned down by the vigilante force, she moved back In with her parents, her mother accepted her back with open hands, the mother regretted her actions, she couldn't bear losing both of her children and her father was critically ill.

"How is your son?" Her sister asked,

She laughed in her tears, "he is okay, he went to school now, when he comes back, I'll make sure he speaks to you"

"Please do, sister someone wants to speak with you"

Before she could ask who it was, she heard a voice she hadn't heard in years and the tears gushed out once again.

"Daughter"

"Mom" she called out.

"My dear, how are you?" She heard her mother's voice, it was still this same as always and she missed her mother more.

"Mommy, I'm fine, I miss you so much"

"I miss you too my dear, I hope all is well with you and that you are happy"

"Yes Mom, I am very happy"

She heard her mother sniffle,

"How is he and my grandchild, does he treat you well"

"He does, he loves me a lot, your grandchild is good and he can't wait to see you"

Her husband walked inside, he was tired but seeing her teary he perked up and walked closer to her, he whispered,

"What happened, who is that?"

"Mom" she whispered back, he watched her as she talked to her mother and constantly crying, he knew she missed her family especially her mother, when her mother did not visit for omugwo of their child, he knew how distraught she was and how he tried to console her and fill the void, it was impossible and he understood, watching her weeping over a phone call to her mother melted his heart and he felt for her, he left her for a while, so that she could catch up with her mother, after the call ended, he sat beside her as she buried her head in his chest and cried,

"I miss them too much"

"I know"

"I want to see them"

"We will, when we settle properly, we'll go back and maybe they'll completely forgive us"

She sobbed again, he held on to her wiping her tears and begging her not to cry anymore.

Their little son opened the door and ran to them,

"Mommy, Daddy" he shouted happily, she quickly wipe her tears and turned to him with a smile"

"My baby is back" she said with a little sniffle,

"Aunty Tonia pick me from school" he said,

Tonia was one of their neighbors, her three children attended this same school,

"Really, so how was school" his father asked collecting his school bag.

They watched their little son rambling about everything that happened in school that day and they laughed and for that moment sadness vanished,

The past was grim but the future was bright, their future.