I sat alone in my quiet room, the weight of my loneliness settling heavily on my chest. I stared blankly at the old photograph in my hands, memories flooding my mind like a broken water tank. It was a warm smile and gentle eyes engraved into my memory forever.
I remembered the countless things my mother did for me while she was alive. She taught me how to cook different types of food. She taught me how to care for other people. Whenever she is preparing a meal for the family, she used to do it in excess to enable other people to benefit from it. Because anybody can meet us when we are eating the food. At times, she will give a visitor her food to eat if there is no extra food prepared at home. She always has concern for others instead of her own. A brave woman.
She used to cover up when there was no money for my dad to spend on the family or dad’s siblings came for financial assistance. She will put money in her husband’s pocket in the bedroom without the knowledge of the children to settle both immediate needs and unforeseen contingencies. She is always there when the family is facing challenges.
One day, she fell sick briefly which led to her untimely death. During the burial ceremony in our home, her elder sisters came to me to pledge their continuous support to me. As my mother died and I still have a mother, I should not panic about what my mom can not do for me anymore. They are ready to do more than that, whenever I need their support I should knock on their doors. “You are our child, and we are going to take care of you.”
Immediately I heard these promises from them, my heart felt at home with hope that if I needed anything they would be there for me.
After some years, I finished my tertiary studies and completed my National Youth Service Corps. I left the Corps’ place after one year of mandatory service and returned to my state. Then I was on the road, and the vehicle I boarded developed a fault while on the road. The driver of the vehicle finds a means to get a mechanic to repair the engine of this vehicle and after he finishes work on it. We continue with our journey. When I arrived in my state of origin, the time had gone. It was midnight. I went to one of them and I was accommodated till daybreak. I did not feel my mother's impact until I needed her role in my life. No one has mercy on me. After two weeks, I completed the National Youth Service Corps, and I got a job. I was redeployed to my mother's hometown as my primary place of assignment.
I went straight to them to break the news about my new job, seek their accommodation assistance, and allow me to spend some time with them before getting my apartment. They said In fact, you don't need to rent a house. Our house is also your house, come and stay with us.
Immediately I heard this, I was glad that I would be able to save money and use it to do something else important to me.
However, after two months of living with one of them, I started to see the true colors of human beings. First of all, I notice that whenever she wants to observe morning prayer with her children, she will not wake me up to join them. And I said my mother will never do this to me. Even though, if she wakes you up and you pretend to be sleeping, she will splash water on you.
After some time, I was in the room resting on the bed after I left the office. My mother's older sister came to me to say that she will have a visitor and the room I am using is the one she would like to give this visitor to stay till he/she leaves. “I said ah! Where should I go now? But ma, what other rooms? Can you let that person stay in one of the rooms? There's nothing in the other rooms. No one occupied those rooms. It was just empty.” She said the person will stay for some days and then leave. “You can come back and continue to use this room.” She indulged in this act more than three times.
Meanwhile, I treated her as my mother because if I received my monthly salary, I used to give out of it to buy things at home. I asked myself, What did I do wrong? Nothing!
Later, I decided to vacate the place and I rented an apartment for myself to stay because I felt like I needed privacy. I thought, I don't know what I will still see from her.
In a nutshell, I got married and my wife delivered twins. All of my mother’s sisters were present during the naming ceremony of my babies and they left after some hours. But before they left, I approached them. Please, as you know that I don't have a mother likewise my wife doesn't have a mother alive who will stay with us for some time to assist with the newborn babies’ care.
They cut in.
“We can't stay with you for a day let alone a week. We have the business that we are supposed to take care of. God will be with you and your wife. We have done what we can do.” They left my home immediately.
I shook my head. I said to myself that I don't have any relatives. No one can fill the position of my mother