How many years has it been? For more than 25 years, I have been living with these people without knowing the truth about my birth, I have always seen them as my parents, but this shocking discovery changed my whole world.
I just came back home yesterday night, the journey from my school back home was energy-draining because I had to travel thousands of kilometers through the road. After I got home, my parents gave me a warm welcome. My mom was all smiling because she had missed me so much, I could see the wrinkle at the side of her eyes as her smile spread across her face. My dad was looking at me with so much joy in his eyes, I was so happy to be home because it had been a long time since anyone had hugged me with so much sincerity. I watched them argue about who would carry my bags to my room.
After dinner, I couldn't wait to be in my room because I was so tired, I was so happy to eat my mom's meal again, but I could sense a teased energy while we were eating, something like this didn't happen but why is it happening now? At first, I thought it was because I was tired and had missed the way they acted, I must have forgotten about it and was just overreacting.
"Good night sir, Good night Ma," I said my good night as I left the dining table promising them I would tell them everything that had happened at the university.
I got to my room in no time, jumped on the bed and I started dozing off. I discovered in the university that I wasn't a deep sleeper. Little sounds or noise could wake me up and that was exactly what happened that night. The whisper came very light like a radio playing music at its lowest volume. I opened my eyes and paid close attention only to realize it was my parent talking.
Dad: You can't keep the truth from him forever. He is a man now, let's tell him the truth.
Mom: Is that why you brought out the documents? Do you want to wake him up, and disturb his peace at this time of the night? Precious, we would tell him when the time is right.
Dad: Hmmm, Is alright. I will just drop this here and we will talk about it tomorrow. I just don't want him to hear it from someone else.
Mom: Yes, I know......
That was all I remember before falling back to sleep. Probably it was because I was home and I was used to listening to their voice. I felt at home and my home bed was so peaceful I could sleep through their whisper.
The next morning, I woke up so early and was surprise my parent were still sleeping. I didn't want to wake them up so I went to the kitchen to do the dishes just to find the document my dad was talking about. I stood still as I read through my adoption document, I was still reading it when my mom walked into the kitchen and was escorted by my dad in a few seconds.
"My dear, I am sorry. I didn't want you to find out like this," my mom said. My dad was about to talk when I cut him short.
"No Dad, don't say anything. Mom, why are you sorry?" I said to them. "You have kept me since I was a child, trained me to be who I am today, and not even this paper can say you are not my parent because if you leave me then I would become a real orphan"
I walked towards them, and I hugged them with tears in my eyes, asking them not to abandon me. They hugged me too, promising never to let go of me with tears in their eyes.
Thanks for reading. This is my response to the #hivenaija weekly prompt with the question
"You woke up one morning to find out that the people you have always known as parents are not your biological parents. With your adoption documents in your hands serving as proof, what would be your next move?"
Yeah, That would be my move if it were to happen in the real life. The story above is fictional and I hope you love it. Till we meet again.