Scars - Episode 14

 

Looking a the massive edifice, Esmeralda couldn't het herself to believe Mama had accumulated so much wealth, her mum has always been a hustler, of course life couldn't hold her down. She felt fear creep into her, what was she doing here? This could be her last day on earth. She had ruined her mother's second shot at love, she had no right to take away her mother's happiness.

Esmeralda stood, refusing to sit. She felt she was paying for her wrong doing . Mama's maid had come to tell her mama was coming to see her. She knew she.  was worse than the prodigal son.

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Esmeralda? Elda?
Mama couldn't believe it. Her long lost daughter was here. Her daughter has been lost for 28 years. Elda was only 16 when she got missing, now fate has been bountiful to adorn her with her daughter's presence.
Elda was her daughter but she still had to know why she left. She wanted to know why she came back 6 years after going missing and disappearing again.22 years of not seeing Elda, 28 years of loosing her daughter to the wild.
So having taken her time to look good. She gracefully descended the stairs to meet Elda.

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"Hello Love"
"Hello baby"
Nicolette was glowing today. Her husband had been tender with her this morning, her life was beginning to take form

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/scars

. Here she is talking to the love of her life. This is what heaven feels like; being loved in return.
"How are you?" asked James
"Am fine bae" Nicolette answered
"Nich, the guy I told you I got to find Esmeralda just called"
Nicolette was glad. News about her friend was coming to her again this morning.
"Tell me it's good news darling".
"He said he saw her enter House 153 at the G.R.A"
"Esmeralda has no friend or relation. She doesn't know anyone there" Nicolette replied with confusion.
"Exactly what I said. I hope she knows what she is up to."
"I should go meet her. I caused this."
"You only contributed baby, you didn't cause it. You are not going anywhere."
"Tell the person helping us to put an eye on Esmeralda."
"I will. You just stay put, Esmeralda will soon be home".

Nicolette dropped her phone in her bag, picked up her bag and headed for George's.

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Mama.
Mama was the same. No wrinkles. She was as young as the word "young". As soon as Elda saw mama, her eyes were filled with tears and she burst into an ocean of tears.
"I am sorry mama. Forgive me. I have wronged you. I killed your husband. My step dad"
Mama was motionless, no change in countenance, her face was free of emotions.
After twenty minutes of pleading,  wailing and no reply from Mama,  Elda stood to leave. Getting to the door she turned to Mama and said; " I am sorry. I should never have come. I understand. Thank you for giving me your time"
"Wait. Elda. Come back. We need to talk"
Elda walked back. She didn't know this new woman. Mama still had no emotion registered on her face.
" I had imagined a reunion with my daughter. I have missed you. I expected hugs and all you do is cry like you are seven. Come, I need you to hug me".

Was Mama deaf? I said I killed her husband! With fate,  Elda moved to Mama. Mama hugged her tightly and whispered to her; "I missed you, so . Don't run again,  you are my only link to Kayode".
Elda felt the tear building up again and she failed to withhold it. So again she began to cry.
"Sit down".
Elda sat, still confused.
"Jerome. I am sorry dear. I wronged you immensely. I got so busy chasing comfort, or so I thought and I became negligent of your person. I believed I had found a second shot at love with Jerome and with determination to not loose it, I lost you, my first fruit of love. Before your first flight into the wild I was few months pregnant. By the time you came back, I had put to bed a set of twin. You didn't meet them because as at your first return, which preceded your second flight,  they were at my mother's. One evening before your first return, I had returned unusually early to collect money from the house, the caretaker had come for the rent. I walked straight into my bedroom, and I was shocked. I became immobile, dumb, thoughts of how you had complained about Jerome to me came to mind, tear gathered like the rains in my eyes. When I finally found my tongue, Jerome was shocked I was home. I had seen an abomination, Jerome was being intimate with my barely six year old daughter Taye. I couldn't tell anyone,  I had seen something the mouth could say. The next day I sent the twin to my mother's. Then you visited and few days after you ran away again, Jerome died. Why did you kill him?"
"Mama, I am sorry." Elda narrated her ordeal, how she gave birth, gave her child our for adoption, her marriage that never came through, and the abortion to mama.
"I am happy Jerome is dead. I am sad it was by your hands"
"I am sorry mama."
"It is okay. He is dead. Long gone. If I had listened to your plight, I would have been saved the sight and you would never have left." Mama used her handkerchief to clean her tear-soiled face.

The room became so quiet, finally Mama broke the silence.
"Why have you returned?"
"I needed peace and joy" Elda replied.
"Is that all?"
"Yes mama."

Mama's phone rang.
"What is it? Henry"
"I don't want any visitor"
"I am busy"
"He can book an appointment at the office".
"Good".
Dropping her phone and redirecting her attention to Elda she said; "the gateman said one George wants to see me. I don't know how people trail people."
"Did you say George?" Esmeralda asked.
"Yes." Mama replied
"He is, no was my husband. How did he find me!"
"Was? Well I'd ask Henry to let him in. I hope he hasn't left already."
"No Mama.  Please."
"Yes. This is my house.

Read " Ada " by the same author ( Helen Nnamani )

. He is my visitor and so are you. At least I am yet to say "Welcome to the family". He is coming in and you are sitting here".
Mama called Henry, luckily George was still battling with Henry at the gate.

"Madam said you can come inside."
Henry was lost. This was the strangest day of his work. He has watched strangers suddenly turn to acquaintances in seconds.

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Nicolette had gone to George's. She briefed him about G.R.A house 158 and Esmeralda. He promised to stay put let them handle Esmeralda's return. However, as soon as Nicolette left. He headed for G.R.A house 158.

IG@ellen_lenny

There are ties that bind.

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