CHAPTER 13 – THIS FAMILY CALLED MINE: COLOUR US UP

© Opeyemi Akintunde
As Inspired by the LIVING WORD.

Time Froze in that Minute!

The weight of Morayo’s words crushed me. It was as if a boulder had been dropped on my chest. My breathing became shallow, my eyes widened with disbelief.

“My God!” Pamilerin whispered, her voice barely audible. She stepped back from Morayo.

“Morayo… are you saying that our father…our own father…?” I summoned the courage to ask since everyone was tongue tied already…

“Yes!” Morayo screamed, the rage ripping through her like a wild animal finally unleashed. “I was his child! HIS child! yet he took everything from me!”

Her voice echoed through the trees, the pain so raw it felt like a dagger piercing through my own soul. I could feel her pain better than the others.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” I asked, my voice trembling.

” Did you tell us about Tobe?” She asked

She had a point! It was always hard speaking out when women are being hurt by family members.

“If I said anything No one would have believed me. I was just the rebellious child, the troublemaker. And Daddy made me feel like I deserved it, like it was a form of control and also a way of sacrificing myself for you guys and Mummy. He would threaten me that If I refused him, he would send all of us out”

Tears poured down her face, her body trembling with each sob. I could feel the pain radiating off her like heat.

“I ran away because it was the only way to save myself.” Morayo continued, her voice breaking. “And even after I left, the shame followed me. It’s why I became what I became. I was broken…and I didn’t know how to fix myself.”

The silence that followed was suffocating…

“You know why I became a call girl?” Morayo continued, her voice a whisper. “Because I thought… I thought if men were going to use me, I might as well make them pay for it. I thought that would make me stronger. But it only made me angrier. Angrier at him. Angrier at myself. Angrier at God.”

Pamilerin collapsed on the ground, her face buried in her hands. Her muffled sobs cut through me like knives.

Setemi looked like she had been struck by lightning. Her lips trembled, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“All these years…” Setemi whispered. “I thought you left us because you didn’t care. Because you were selfish. But it was him… It was our father who drove you away.”

“I didn’t have a choice.” Morayo said, her eyes glistening with tears. “Staying would have killed me. And then when I started living that life…when I started doing things I’m not proud of…I couldn’t come back. I couldn’t face you all.”

I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened with emotions I couldn’t identify.

We had judged her. We had abandoned her in her time of need. We had left her to fight her demons alone.

“I’m sorry, Morayo.” I whispered, my voice thick with tears. “I am so, so sorry.”

Pamilerin looked up, her cheeks stained with tears.

“All this time…we thought you were the problem. We thought you were just trying to be difficult. But you were fighting to survive.” Pamilerin said, her voice trembling.

“Yes. And I’m tired of fighting alone.” Morayo whispered. “I’m tired of running. I want my family back. I want my sisters back.”

Morayo’s words broke something inside of us. It shattered all the anger, all the resentment.

I moved towards her and wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight.

Pamilerin joined us, her arms encircling both of us.

And then, to my surprise, Setemi walked forward. Her eyes were swollen with tears, her shoulders hunched.

She knelt down beside us and pulled us all into her embrace.

“I failed you.” Setemi sobbed. “I was supposed to be the eldest…the protector. But I failed you. I was threatened by your strength, courage and boldness. I’m so, so sorry.”

Morayo shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Setemi. None of it was your fault. We were all victims of him.”

The four of us clung to each other, our tears mingling, our pain merging into something that felt like healing.

“From now on…” I said, my voice shaking. “We fight together. No more running. No more hiding.”

“Yes.” Morayo agreed, her voice steady. “We fight. We fight for what’s ours. And we fight for each other.”

A moment of silence passed between us, our bond stronger than it had ever been.

But then, the sound of movement shattered the moment.

We turned our heads sharply and saw Sister Bolade, still standing there, watching us. She hadn’t left.

“Why are you still here?” Setemi snapped, her voice like ice.

“I…I…” Sister Bolade stammered, her hands trembling. “I was waiting…to know if…if…”

“Waiting for what?” Morayo asked, her eyes narrowing.

“To know if you would let me keep one painting.” Sister Bolade whispered, her voice pitiful. “Please…just one. For my son. Your brother.”

The rage that flashed through me was immediate and unforgiving.

“You have the audacity to ask for a painting after trying to steal everything?” I shouted.

“I was desperate!” Bolade cried, falling to her knees. “Your father promised me…promised me that my son would have something. That he would not be left empty-handed.”

“Your son?” Setemi scoffed. “The son you had with our father? You want us to reward you for your betrayal? We hired you to be his Nurse, but you schemed your way to his bed”

“Please forgive me for taking the paintings.” Bolade sobbed. “I was only doing what I thought was right. For my son. I believe you will get his other properties”

“Leave.” Morayo said, her voice like steel. “Leave now, before we lose whatever little mercy we have left for you.”

Bolade sobbed as she stumbled away, her wails fading into the distance.

The air was thick with pain, but there was something else there too…the decision not to be like our father..

” Wait!’ I called out

If we left her son with nothing , then we were not different from our father. The boy was innocent like us. Just victims of our father’s irresponsible and wicked lifestyle. We can’t determine who births us, but we can determine how we live.

Sister Bolade turned back…

“What are you doing?” Morayo asked me

” If he is truly our brother, he deserves something. We refuse to be our father ” I said to my sisters.

“How can we be sure?” Setemi asked

“A DNA test will give us the answers ” I replied even if I didn’t know how it would be done. I had watched a movie where it was done.

“So Sister Bolade, bring your son to my house on Monday …if he is truly our brother , we will give him one or two paintings. .However, Let me warn you.. Don’t let my step cousin know about him…if he does, your son’s life would be in danger….” I gave her the best advice.

” Thank you ma”

Just then we heard something we were not expecting to hear….

To be continued…I believe this new story has been amazing , and I believe you have watched our new release ” SHOULD WE KISS?” …

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