After a long evening of frying akara, Mercy was utterly exhausted. Dizziness and body aches overwhelmed her, and by the time she finished cleaning up, it was already 7:49 PM. The streets were beginning to empty, with most people retreating to their homes for the night.
Mrs. Sade gathered the items they needed to take home, insisting that Mercy should not carry anything due to her fatigue. As they walked, they engaged in light conversation, and before they knew it, they had reached home.
"Take the gate key and turn on the flashlight so we can see," Mrs. Sade instructed.
"Okay, Mum," Mercy replied, her fatigue weighing heavily on her.
So tired that she forgot to pray before going to sleep, Mercy fell into bed. Mrs. Sade, not wanting to disturb her daughter after a long day, knelt beside her bed to pray for both of them and their extended family, mentioning each name as she spoke to God.
Suddenly, three tall men dressed in black barged into Mrs. Sade's room. One was hefty, while the others were slim. Hearing the commotion, Mercy jolted out of her sleep, but before she could rush outside to help her mother, the men had already taken Mrs. Sade away. Weak and disoriented, Mercy screamed, "Somebody, please help me!" but her legs felt heavy, as if she were jogging in slow motion.
Mercy woke up in a panic, breathing heavily. Mrs. Sade rushed into her room, alarmed by her daughter's scream.
"What's wrong?" she asked, concern flooding her voice.
As Mercy recounted her dream, Mrs. Sade quickly dismissed it, insisting that it would not come true. "Nothing like that will happen to me. Go back to sleep, my dear. It is cancelled," she reassured her.
"Mum, is that all you have to say? I saw them taking you away!" Mercy exclaimed, still shaken.
"Lola, you worry too much. I said the dream will not come to pass because it is cancelled," Mrs. Sade repeated, trying to soothe her daughter's fears.
With the night still young at 11:34 PM, Mrs. Sade decided to sleep in Mercy's room for comfort, her heart still racing from the sudden fright of the dream.
YOU ARE READING
The Agony Of A Weeping Child
Mystery / ThrillerThis is the story of a Nigerian teenager who loses her inheritance after the death of her father and must navigate life's challenges without his support. It's a traditional narrative that takes readers through her journey of pain, hardship, and resi...
