Breaking News

Must Read: "Reasons To Live" By Ajagbe Ayodeji (Episode 1)


REASONS TO LIVE (EPISODE 1) By Ajagbe Ayodeji

Episode 1

The office was so empty, you would hear the collapsing sound of a pin. The Doctor adjusts his sitting position so as to unveil the nature of my mother’s illness. Fear gripped me, sweat trickled down my face despite the chill of the room; an effect of the air conditioner hanging above the window behind the doctor’s chair. Just as the tension was becoming almost unbearable, the Doctor asked where my father was. I had thought to myself earlier that he would wonder why and how a young boy like me would stand in place of my father.
“You can talk to me doctor, I’m not a kid.” I said to him and pressed my face into my palms. “Besides, the man is in the lane, he died when I was 11.” The addition was meant to make him share what he was about to, without consciously belittling me. On the contrary, he said he was sorry for my catastrophe as if it mattered to me at the moment. He made the unfortunate gesture; his two palms behind the head. I shrugged, and asked about mother again. I was eager and nervous to know her condition as she has been bedridden for over 4 days.
“Son, I won’t lie to you. Your mom’s condition is quite critical but I strongly believe that she will be fine Insha Allah.” His soothing words gave me comfort and I believed my mother would be fine again, it is just a matter of time.
“Please go home and rest son, you’ve been here since dawn. And kindly bring her something to eat on your way back here.”
“Alright, sir.” I said, as I walked out of the Doctor’s office.

Ohh, I haven’t introduced myself… I’m so sorry, Na situation cause am. My name is Oluwatimileyin Turner, but you can call me Timmy Turner to make things easier. I’m a 100 Level student of University if Ilorin. This story you’re reading is my true life story. I grew up with a single parent. My Dad passed away when I was in JSS 1 and ever since then, my mother had to take care of my two brothers and I. Being the eldest son, I know how hard and difficult single parenting is and a typical example is a bird using a wing to fly. Almost impossible, isn’t it? Yeah that’s how it is. Life was so difficult for us with my mother raising 3 kids. She was a primary school teacher which wasn’t enough finance to cater for her boys and put food on the table. My mother still have 3 other side jobs aside being a teacher in which she engaged in daily, just to make ends meet.

My uncles and aunts from my paternal side weren’t helping matters at all. I could remember back in 2012, they accused my mother for his death. They clamoured that she was responsible for the death of my father. They called her a witch and all sorts of mean names. They took everything away from us. The car, the house, and the joint company which my mother and father operate together while he was alive. The confiscated everything from us.
Life was really tough after my father’s death. Being the first son, I had to hawk goods for my mother early in the morning before going to school and on weekends so as to put food on the table. I was exposed to the dreadful streets of Lagos at a very tender age.

“Timmy, you’ll become successful one day, and you will make me and your late father proud. I believe in you.” My mother would always say to me. Especially when I make huge sales.

No comments