A New Gift of Love

“I realize I have come here for quite some time now. I remember it was in this hut my aunt gave birth to Nkemdirim, but what I don’t understand is why it isn’t getting clearer to me what my husband is doing here”.

Goosebumps appeared all over her fragile body when Odu was helped out of the hut. He already lost much blood. Tears ripped out of her eyes. Her husband’s weak arms dangled showing how down he was. The sport-wagon driver reversed to position where it would be easy to help Odu into the car. She moved to the back seat where her husband seated supported at both flanks by two of his friends, Ibe and Ozo and stole a paranoid look at his face before the car zoomed off.

Sitting patiently backing the door post of the hut, Egejuru chewed her lips. The anger in her heightened. The woman who turned her husband’s attention away from her and her kids pretended to be a good relative. She broke down at the time she arrived and noticed that the hut where his husband was reported to have fought another man was a hut she regularly visit.

The albatross against her enjoying her husband’s care, Betty, ran as the men engaged in the brawl. Egejuru waited to tell her the bits of her mind for causing her delirium.

Curling inward like a frightened cat, she felt emptiness of life again like she did about five years ago when Obi her only son was run down by a car as he was coming back from school.

A word of comfort means nothing to her. She would not welcome one not even now nor in the near future would happiness decorate her face. That wouldn’t, I presume until she succeeds offloading her venom.

Five children was burden to care for alone. The torture was more for the children realizing that their father was out in the street in the warm embrace of another woman while they retire to bed in empty stomachs. Every morning, Egejuru woke up to warm leftover meal hardly enough for a baby of two years for her children before getting her goods – very scanty article of trade, but only comparable to a dispersing hair on a barded old man –  ready for sale at the village market.

Mothers are arguably some of the best multi-tasking humans today in the world. The huge responsibilities they need to juggle even in their discomforts makes them a combination of nurturer, caregiver, teacher, nurse, cheerleader, disciplinarian and more. I would know—I, myself knows certainly that Egejuru was a typical example of such a mother. If there is something even more challenging than being a mother, though, it is being a single mother with no husband to help out.

Unfortunately, juggling all of the things mentioned above did not translate into calmness and easiness of times for Egejuru. In fact, it often led her to role strain. There were times when she actually wished her husband did not skip out of their lives—such were times she sought that much-needed break.  She did not get that and the thought of losing her rights to that intruder irked her more. Her five daughters were precious to her, she most often abandoned her needs for theirs.  

However, there were rougher days when frustration set in. During those dark times, she continuously reminded herself of her reason for accepting doing that precarious balancing act: to provide a better life for her kids. When they were sleeping, she took the time to ground to pray and to ask God for the strength to do what was right.

Leaving the hut’s doorpost, Egejuru ruminated on those experiences. She couldn’t find good reason her husband treated her and the kids badly.

Four more days go by fast, like flash of lightening. Odu got discharged from hospital. Ibe and Ozo visited to help talk to Egejuru to give her husband another chance.

“I don’t know whether I can trust or make love to him again and I don’t know what his real motives are that made him to abandon us initially. Does he want me back because the grass isn’t greener or because he really loves me?” Egejuru asked.

“I’m not saying that what your husband has done is good. Also, I shouldn’t say his actions against you are unforgivable – although many others might. Life is long and love is complicated, so taking an absolute position not to give him a chance to mend what he destroyed is unhelpful”. Ozo chipped in.

“Meanwhile, if you were in my shoes” Egejuru joined, “you will do some hard thinking about whether someone who has betrayed you and left you bereft has really earned the right to a second chance”.

All this while, Odu said nothing. His reaction suggests he hasn’t learned his lesson. Having embarked on an ill-fated affair behind Egejuru’s back, he still appeared not remorseful.  In his current state of indulgence, he’s not to be relied upon, particularly as he’s still seeing his daughters as curse to his life.

Becoming increasingly ruffled about what she’s noticing, she flared up and said, “Now, my husband wants me back. He sees me happy and free from him, which of course is more attractive than a lamenting woman – he doesn’t want me to complain about his promiscuity –, I should hug him for that eh! That’s what he wants. Isn’t it?”

 “We know his behaviour falls way below the standard we’d expect of a good mate and a spouse. It’s even more disappointing seeing that he is declining co-operation. However, for the sake of your children, try and open up your heart and give him another chance”, Ozo said.

Looking Odu dead into the eye, Ibe said to him, “You are not helping the situation here! If you still remain defiant to accept your guilt, we will leave you with your problem to handle alone”.

Either Odu was a dangerously indecisive person or was so preoccupied with his own emotional needs that he’s entirely blind to everyone else’s.

Being brutally honest with herself on all fronts, Egejuru evaluated hers and the kid’s conditions. She knew she won’t go as a single mom for long. Rather, she took a decision to ignore Odu’s behavioural prompts, but to rekindle her marriage because of the kids.  

“I listen to your friends not because you are serious about wanting to return, but because our kids need our parental care together.” She rose and walked to Odu and held his hands. A smile lit up her face. She turned to Ibe and Ozo "Thank you! It's just what I wanted. "

“I’m sorry for being inconsiderate. I treated you and the kids badly and honestly, I’m not supposed to do that!” Odu chuckled as he held Egejuru firmly to his body.

Sobbing also under Odu’s warm grips, Egejuru whispered softly into his ears, “I have forgiven you! I have longed for this relationship with you to come back. You remain my best friend and we have so much in common to live for”.

They finished talking and savoured the joy of settling their disagreements.  In turn, Odu and Egejuru thought it worth doing to hand quality appreciation to Ibe and Ozo for standing by them and for making sure Odu’s life was saved. It felt as if Ibe and Ozo gave them a new union on a day life was being sniffed out of them. It was wonderful working out a new beginning for a family thoroughly living in dejection.