30/05/2025
HIS MOTHER 🦠 24
" Where is my mother? He asked.
" In her room sir"
" And what were you doing when I called you?
" I was arranging my room sir"
"Okay... Lead the way"
" Sir?
"You didn't hear what I just said? Leave the way to my mother's room" he said.
Esther led the way and they followed her to the mother's room.
*****************
When they got into Mama's room.
A strong foul smell hit their noses as they quickly covered it and ran out of the room.
They released their nose, trying to catch their breath.
" Esther, what's going on there? Why is that smell? Deji asked, furious.
" Sir?
" Why is that room smelling that way? Don't you clean it?
" Clean? Sir, I clean the room everyday"
" If you clean it everyday...then why is it smelling that bad? Deji raised his voice as he is already upset.
" Calm down Deji" Mariam said.
" Babe...the smell" he said
" I know"
" Now, tell me why that room is smelling?
" It's not the room that's smelling" Esther answered.
" Then what is smelling?
" It... it's...it's...
" Talk.... can't you talk?
" I can talk"
" Then talk"
" It's Mama"
" What,?!...
" My mother?
" Yes sir....she has been the one smelling for the past two days sir"
" Why is she smelling? Did she poo on her body?
" No sir...I don't know where the odour is coming from'"
" Is she still alive? Mariam asked.
" Yes "
" I'm wondering because she is smelling like dead body" Mariam said.
" Yes...you are right ma... but I don't know... she's alive..infact...I just finished giving her food before you came"
Deji sighed.
" How have you been coping? Mariam asked
" I use nose mask"
" Then where is the nose mask?
" It's in my room...I didn't wear it because I was rushing when you called me"
" Get us nose mask"
" I only have one sir"
Deji hissed.
Mariam brought money from her purse and gave it to Esther.
" Please... get us four"
" Four?
" Yes"
Esther collected the money.
" I will be right back sir" she said then left.
Deji looked at her Mariam who held his hand.
She understood the look on his face.
" So my mother now smells" .
" It's well"
" I can't even talk to my mother without nose mask on"
" Probably she's paying for her sins while on earth" Mariam said.
" Is it not better that she die... rather than all these"
" Well...I don't know....what matters is that.. she's still alive"
" Can she even talk?
" I'm sure...she can..."
Deji sighed
" Come on... Deji... everything will be fine"
Esther came with the nose mask and handed it over to them.
They collected it and put it on.
*********************
They went into Mama's room.
" Ayodeji" she said in her fragile voice evening though she's very happy to see her son.
" Mum" he said even though the odour makes him so much uncomfortable.
" Mariam...my daughter"
" Yes ma...how are you ma? Mariam asked...she can tell she's not fine.. because she looks so weak and more old than when she left the house. She has almost become skeleton on the bed... it's so hard to even recognize her.
" I'm happy to see you...thank you Esther for bringing them" she said with her weak voice
" No oh..I didn't bring them ohh...it's God that brought them.."
" Ayodeji...I miss you my son"
" What happened to you? Why are you like this? Deji asked as water already welled up on his face.
Even though his mother did all she did... it still hurts to see her like that.
" There's no need to cry Deji... I'm happy to see you before i leave"
" Mum"
" Let me touch you"
Deji moved close to her and she touched his face.
" I'm sorry" mama apologize as water rolled out of her face.
" Ayodeji... Mariam...ah! I regretted everything.. forgive this old witch"
Esther stood there, waiting to listen to all mama has to say or confess to Ayodeji.
" Mariam...you never did anything wrong to me...but I offended you...I offended your creator... please forgive me so God can forgive me as well.. please forgive me so I can rest and be free from pain. You don't deserve what I did...I was selfish Mariam... Ayodeji...I almost ruined your life..but I did it because I wanted to keep seeing you"
" What did you do mum? Ayodeji asked as tears is already rolling down from his eyes even though he knows everything, he still want to hear from his mother'.
" I'm a witch".
Esther gasped.
" This is the real me lying down on this bed. Many years ago..when I got married, I was unable to give birth for a long time. I had broken marriages because I couldn't produce a child. A friend of my introduce me to her group then I decided to join. All I wanted was a child...I met your father and I gave birth to you. I was so happy...I was so happy Ayodeji. I was the happiest woman on earth. When you were six, I was asked to bring you...to sacrifice you...but I pleaded with them...I couldn't. How would I sacrifice the child I join the group for? I just couldn't...but I was told, I have to pay a price...then I gave them your father"
" Ahhh!"
" Yes...I gave them your father and that was how he fell sick and die...I was behind it... please forgive me"
Ayodeji remove his mother's hands from his face.
Mama cried " please forgive me"
" As time goes on...I was getting old...older... But I really did not want to grow old...I wanted to live and see you....I want to see you forever. I was told if I want to see you forever, I must sacrifice a fresh pregancy or a newly born baby..but if I can't, it's either I die or I lose you..and I didn't want that to happen which was why I started pestering you to get married"
" Mummy!"
" Before they started demanding for pregnancies or new born babies...they demanded your s***m..."
" Ahh!"
" Do you remember when you told me, someone was having s*x with you in your dreams? ...I was behind it"
" Ahhhhh!"
" Please forgive me"
" Mum...! Mum! Why?
" It continued for years then they demanded for a lady that's carrying your child to retain my life or your life... Which is why, anytime your wife gets pregnant... I'm always here.. I'm not here because I am happy for you but because of what I want....I killed your children"
" Ah! Mama" Esther exclaimed.
" When Mariam started praying...it affected me. I was to make her run måd but it didn't work out as I always see her mother always on her knees... praying.. battling with me each time..I want to hurt her daughter...she fought with me spiritually"
" Ah!Mama" Mariam called in tears.
" Then...I tried to seperate you both...but you love her too much Deji...then I created hatred between you both...I wanted you to maltreat her...so when she gets tired she will leave. You maltreated her and accuse her for everything I did... then she left"
" Ah!"
" I was happy when she left... thinking I will convince you to get another wife, I tried all I could but no...luck was not on my side. I even used charm on you but I don't know why...it didn't work...I got tired, all I wanted was your pregnancies to renew myself...my power...I didn't want to die..I didn't want to leave you in this world...I didn't want to labour in vain...I didn't want to d!e.."
" Ahh mum...no...you shouldn't have done that"
" I'm Sorry Mariam... Deji... please forgive me... forgive me...when I couldn't sacrifice any babies anymore...then I became this way... I fell sick and I started smelling without dying... please forgive me... I'm in pains" mama cried
As everyone is the room is also crying.
" Please forgive me... please...after everything I did...look at what became of me...If only I know...I wouldn't have don't it. I wouldnt have listen my friend. I wouldn't have seek another face apart from God.. had I know..."""
Coined from Owie Oyindamola deck.
If you are in Deji/ Mariam's shoe... Would you forgive her?
I apologize for the late post.
I have been so busy with studies/ projects as my exam is fast approaching.
I love you all 💕
