I sat on my couch with my phone in my hand, staring blankly at the screen when a notification popped up. It was Nneoma. My heart sank as I realized I hadn't responded to her messages in days. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I scrolled through our conversation. She had sent me numerous texts asking what was wrong and had even called me several times. I had completely ignored her, and now I felt terrible.
I decided to call her, my anxiety was growing with each ring. Thankfully, she picked up.
"It's nice of you to finally remember me" she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you!!!"
"I'm sorry, Nneoma" I said, my voice cracking slightly. "A lot has been going on, and I just got caught up in everything"
Her tone softened. "What's wrong? You know you can talk to me, right? We're friends for a reason."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Are you up for a video call?" I asked, hoping she would agree.
"Yes, let's switch" she said, and we transitioned to a video call.
As soon as our faces appeared on screen, her expression turned serious. "Oh my God, what's wrong? Are you ill? Have you been getting enough sleep? What's going on with you? Talk to me!!!!!!!!!!"
I hesitated, unsure of where to start. "I'm fine" I said finally, trying to reassure her. "At least, I think I am..."
Nneoma's eyes filled with concern, and she looked like she was about to cry. "If you cry, I'll cry too" I thought, trying to hold back my own tears.
"What's happening?" she asked, her voice gentle.
I took a deep breath and began to tell her everything about the attic, the truth about my mom and dad, and how I was trying to find my mom. The words just kept on coming... Just like the tears.
Nneoma listened attentively, her eyes welling up with tears. We cried together as I shared my story, and she told me everything was going to be fine.
"I'll come and see you" she said, determination in her voice. "We can face this together"
I hesitated, knowing she lived in Ogun state, not too far from me. It was close by but that did mean I wanted to bother her. Especially with the traffic in Lagos. "No, Nneoma, you don't have to come. I'm okay, really"
But she was persistent. "I'll come, and that's final. We're going to get through this together."
We talked some more, and she tried to distract me with stories about school and upcoming tests. "You need to prepare and read for your tests" she said as her brow furrowed with concern. "You can't let your grades slip because of all this"
I smiled weakly. "I'll try, Nneoma. Thank you for being here for me. God bless you..."
As we continued talking, I felt a sense of gratitude towards her. She was more than just a friend she was a lifeline. Someone I could always depend on...
She told me about it what was going on in school, she had just ended her posting as she was a nursing student. She told me about the new building that the school was building and how they had built it up to the roof within a week!
I was shocked, but I believed because I know what Star University can and cannot do...
We ended the call on the note that she was coming to Lagos the next day.
***************
The next day, I decided to visit more church members, hoping to gather more information about my mom. I met with Elder Adebayo, who listened patiently as I recounted my story.
"I don't remember much, child" he said, shaking his head. "It's been a long time. But I do remember your mom. She was known for being a kind and gentle soul. She always had a smile on her face and a word of encouragement for everyone. I don't know what she did to deserve such a fate."
I smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. "That sounds like her," I said. "I've heard stories about her kindness."
"Wait, what did he mean by fate?" I thought.
Jerking me out of my thoughts,
Elder Adebayo nodded. "Yes, she was a special person. We all miss her dearly."
As I was on my way home, I was quiet, locked away in my own world of thoughts.
When I finally got home, I just walked around aimlessly until the corner of my eye caught a glimpse of the attic...
It beckoned me, It occured to me that it was a place where I might find solace or answers. I climbed up, got in and began searching for old boxes or clues. That's when I saw him my dad, standing at the attic door, concern etched on his face.
"Hey, kiddo" he said softly. "What's going on? You look like you've been crying."
I couldn't hold the tears back, I broke down, tears streaming down my face. He enveloped me in a warm hug.
"They killed her... Whyyy" I muttered underneath my breath as I shook.
"Let's talk downstairs," he said gently. "We'll figure this out together."
In the living room, he made me lemon tea, just like mom used to. The aroma brought back memories of lazy Sundays and cozy mornings.
"Drink this" he said, handing me a cup. "Then we'll talk."
I sipped the tea, feeling a sense of calm. My dad sat beside me, his eyes filled with a familiar sorrow.
"Tell me, Dad" I said, my voice shaking. "How did...Mama die?"
His expression turned somber. "Your mom...she was kidnapped. They never asked for ransom, the police tried, but We never found her body. We suspected someone, but the woman they caught wasn't the real killer... She was just there at the scene and she doesn't know where your Mum's body is but she confirmed that they killed her..."
I gasped, shocked
"Oh my... What else did she say?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"The woman kept shouting about giving back her child," Dad continued. "But we realized she wasn't talking about you. She was talking about her own child."
My mind reeled with questions. "Who is she, Dad" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle.
"We don't know for sure, but we suspect she's connected to your biological mother," Dad said. "The woman in prison...she's serving time, but I still have doubts. She's not talking"
I nodded, a plan forming in my mind. I would visit the prison, seek answers. I would uncover the truth about my mom's death, no matter what it took.
As I finished my tea, I felt a sense of resolve. I was ready to face whatever came next.
"Dad," I said, looking at him with newfound understanding. "I want to visit the woman in prison. I need to know what happened to Mom."
Dad's expression was a mix of concern and understanding. "I know you have a lot of questions, but be careful, okay? We don't know what we'll face. Besides you've got tests and you have to prepare."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "I'll be careful, Dad. I promise."
I began to make plans to visit the prison. I would confront the woman who claimed to know something about my mom's disappearance. I would demand answers, and I would not rest until I uncovered the truth.
As I stood up, Dad handed me a folder he took out from his bag. "I want you to have this," he said. "It's some information about the woman in prison. Maybe it'll help"
I took the folder, looking at my Dad. What would I find inside? Would it bring me closer to the truth or further away?
I looked at Dad, and he nodded. "You're strong enough to handle this," he said. "You're my daughter, after all."
I smiled weakly.
"Thank you Daddy" I said as I kissed him goodnight.