It was seven thirty seven at that time. I was at Omole. I was confused at what to do first. I finally decided to take okada to Isalu hospital, hoping in my heart that I had heard the truth.
I rushed into the hospital and ran up the stairs to the classroom. I met Doctor Richard, my mom and an unfamiliar lady.
"Mirabel!" my mom and Doctor Richard screamed and ran to hug me.
It was mind blowing that my mom was well again and also amazing that Doctor Richard welcomed me even before I apologized.
Mom and I were crying. She released me from her hug and cupped my cheek, sniffing and sobbing.
"I hope I did not scare my baby"
"Mummy, I was scared. I even began to take drugs"
"Oh my child! I'm so sorry. I'm here now! I'm here now!"
She buried my face in her bosom and kissed my forehead.
A still, small voice whispered in my heart, "See, Jesus loves you!"
***
The lady in the room was Doctor Richard's sister! She had initially come to talk to her brother for the last time concerning my mom but then she met her brother crouched with his hands on my mom's shoulder and my mom nodding in tears.
She said she heard him say, "I hope that wasn't too sudden?" to her before she cleared her throat to announce her presence.
"My brother has something to tell you" she said, passing the microphone to him.
"Okay" he chuckled nervously, rubbing his sweaty palms against each other, "Mirabel, before you and your mom came to this hospital, I...knew her"
What?!
"We served together at Asaba and we were close friends. Our mates even teased us that we were a perfect couple"
Wow!
"There was a time things were hard for me that I could not feed. I don't know how but somehow, your mom knew I was seriously broke and took care of me without me asking her too"
This story sounds familiar!
"Wait, he's the Richard?!" I asked my mom.
He turned to my mom, "You've told her?" he asked.
She smiled, "Yes"
Yes, my mom had told me the beautiful story. When I asked her why she hadn't heard from him, she told me she lost his contact after she left Asaba for Imo because she got robbed. It was at Imo she and my dad met and a lot of things made her forget how Doctor Richard looked.
"I couldn't watch without doing something, anything at all, to get your mom well. It was my way of paying her back for her love and care towards me"
I looked at them and smiled.
"You guys are in love!" I blurted.
"What?" they asked, startled. They began to stutter and say meaningless things until, Miss Rachael, Doctor Richard's sister interrupted them, "They are in love"
I smiled. We all smiled at one another.
Things are looking up!
***
The next day, I went to the chemist's shop. I wanted to thank him for making Jesus available to me. When I got to his shop, it was locked.
YOU ARE READING
Handling Grief
Teen Fiction"Leave me alone, Dianne!" I protested, shaking my cousin's hand off my shoulder. "Mirabel, I'm only trying to help. Think about it na. Your dad is dead and your mother is insane...!" "...my mother is not insane...!" I screamed at her, raising my pre...
