SONGS FOR THE BROKENHEARTED

ALL THAT SHE IS... 3

Lois wasn't going to lie to herself: she loved how Jide treated her. It was embarrassing sometimes, knowing she got herself into this mess in the first place. But the compassion he showed her was something she believed she didn't deserve. Still, having it felt so good, so amazing, that she couldn't help but want more.

She knew she was being greedy, but the warmth that spread through her heart these past few weeks was undeniable. Jide was the reason.

As she scrolled through the pictures he sent, a smile crept onto her face. In her mind, she could see how he shone, vibrant and full of life, while she felt like a dim shadow in comparison. If only she could shine the way he did if only she didn't carry such grim memories with her all the time.

A YEAR AGO

Lois's father had passed away when she was younger, leaving her as her mother's main support. She worked tirelessly, taking odd jobs to help her mum wherever she could. Cooking had never been her strong suit—her younger brother was much better at it—but she excelled at chores. She remembered how her mother would laugh at her burnt toast, their kitchen filled with warmth and teasing.

That fateful day, just after lectures, she was walking out of class with Jide beside her when her phone rang.

"Big sis, Mum is in the hospital!" her younger sister's voice trembled with panic. "I came home and found her passed out on the floor. I had to rush her to the hospital. Dayo and Lanre are on their way!"

Lois's heart dropped. She glanced at Jide, her mood shifting instantly.

"Just stay with her. I'll be there as soon as I can," she told her sister, her voice shaking.

"What happened?" Jide asked concern etched on his face.

"My mum... she passed out. She's at the hospital," she said, her feet moving before her mind could catch up.

"Let me take you," he insisted.

"It's a long drive, Jide, and I don't want to trouble you," she protested, but he wouldn't hear it.

"Aunty, get in the car," he said, his tone playful yet firm.

He drove her to the hospital, and by the time they arrived, her siblings were already there, sitting beside their mother, who looked peaceful yet alarmingly still.

She rushed in, her heart pounding. "How is she?" she asked, instinctively reaching to check her mother's forehead.

"She's asleep," Lanre said, looking up with worry in his eyes.

Jide exchanged a knowing glance with her brothers, no formalities needed. They were family in every sense of the word.

"Jide, thanks for bringing her," Lanre said, shaking his hand.

"No problem. How's Mum doing?" Jide asked, concern lacing his words.

"She's okay... for now," Lanre replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lois's heart raced as she sensed something deeper in their tones. "What do you mean 'for now'?" She looked at her siblings, noticing Dami's puffy eyes. "Dami? Have you been crying?"

"Answer me! I'm talking to you!" Lois urged, fear tightening her chest.

"Lois, the doctor said Mum has cancer," Dami blurted out, tears spilling down her cheeks.

At that moment, a ringing filled Lois's ears. "You... you say what?" she stammered, hoping she misheard.

"The doctor said Mum has cancer," Dayo echoed, looking drained.

Lois laughed—a hollow sound that felt foreign. "What do you mean cancer? From where? It's the early stage; they can start treatment, right?"

"It's not early," Lanre said quietly. "Mum has known for a while now."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her throat tightening.

"Remember when she said she was going to the hospital a month ago? She said it was just normal body pain, and they gave her some drugs after tests," he explained.

"She lied?" Lois felt the ground shift beneath her.

He nodded, his expression grave. "She lied"

"Now, she needs an operation, and it's a 50/50 chance of survival, and even then she may not last more than a year, it's gastric cancer, Lois, Mum has stomach cancer. And we are late"

Those last words echoed in her mind, drowning out everything else. The world spun as she felt herself fade into darkness.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"When she woke, her head was heavy. "What happened?" she murmured, confusion swirling around her.

"Lois, you're awake! Thank God, you scared us," Dayo said, relief flooding his voice as Dami ran to hug her.

"You passed out," Jide said, handing her a glass of water.

"Why?" she asked, blinking at the blurry faces around her.

Just then, Lanre entered, guiding their mother in.

"Lois" he whispered as he rushed forward to hug her "Don't scare me again please, I can barely hold myself together as it is" he whispered low enough so only she could hear

She nodded, as she hugged him back. They broke apart and she directed her focus to her mum

"Mummy -"

but her mum cut her off before she could even begin "I am sorry, I did not tell you, I felt i could tackle it alone, I didn't want to burden you, people, the burden is too much on you and I didn't want to add" her mum says tearing up

"Mummy, how are you a burden? How do you even think you can tackle it alone especially when we are here? We are not children again mum? How is this a burden? You should have told us, or just one of us at least, we would have gotten a solution by now eh, mumy gastric cancer is not a joke, and you were in pain all alone, how did I not notice it at all" at this point, she was crying, so was her mum

"Mum, you don't keep this kind of thing from us, you don't now eh mummy, this is not malaria, your stomach is in pain, why didn't you tell me? Why would you even think you are burdening me in the first place" She kept hugging her mum "I am so sorry I haven't been paying attention to you, i should have noticed, I should have followed you to the hospital when you complained about stomach pain"

"It's not your fault, i should have done better, you were in school and I know how stressful it is to juggle school and work stress" her mum hugged her back

"You are my responsibility, you all are my responsibility, I should have noticed it" 

the entire family was a bubbling mess for a good 30 minutes before they settled to keep her in the hospital and begin treatment immediately.

"Mum, I do not care how much it costs, we are doing the surgery and that is final"

That was how it began...