Chronicle Of Blog Visitor Narrative..

What a story!!

STAND ALONE SO LONG A CHRONICLE

It's a chronicle about my late sister. Today 23/03/ 2016 is the birthday of her son.

Below is the picture of her son and mine. You can hardly tell the difference. The light skinned is my son.

Have been waiting for this day to share my chronicle.

Let me tell you little about my background before my main story.

I am from a family of five, four girls and one boy which is the last born. My father was a teacher and a cocoa businessman. We live in the village. My father was a rich man in the village (village champion things lol).

When I was age seven, my Aunt (dad's younger sister) came to the village, immediately I saw her knowing she came from Lagos, I started crying that I want to go to Lagos. My mum wasn't okay with me leaving her, she cried her eyes out begging me not to go secretly that she will kill chicken if I didn't go, I started shouting to the hearing of my Aunt and Dad that "I don't want chicken ooooo, I want to go to Lagos in my dialect. My Aunt started crying that will she abuse me if I go to Lagos, why is my mum refusing me to go with her

I was allowed to go to Lagos with my Aunt, little did I know I was going to suffer. When I got to Lagos I started primary two. One week after my arrival I started hawking, from plantain chips to eba without soup (eba kolobe) in Yoruba to akara then I graduated to hawking fried fish which I did for seven years. A very light skinned, pretty naive girl hawking in the street of Lagos. So many people wanted to take advantage of me, some will even touch my dry chest all in the name of buying fish, I even escaped being raped. After hawking I will go home to fetch water, wash dishes and may be beaten for not selling all the fried fish.

For those years from 1994 - 2001, I didn't see my parents. Finally in August 2001, my father was doing age group in the village, I travelled to see my parents. Didn't even recognise my Dad when I saw him. I and my cousin travelled first before my Aunt later joined us. Before she came I narrated what I went through to my mum and she advised I go back but immediately I get there and she still maltreat me I should start coming home so as if it won't look like a plan work if I refuse to go back. I told my Dad, he called my Aunt and told her not let me hawk anymore (yimu) that I should start lesson after school which she agreed. All the years I stayed with her, my father was sending my school fees and that of her son who is my age mate, he also sends foodstuffs. The only thing I needed was civilisation and shelter. My father was sending money steadily.

When I returned to Lagos, I started JSS3, my Aunt went and register me in an evening class, will go to school, after school I will hawk, then go to evening class after hawking (all my body be smelling fish fish in the class). The maltreatment no be here ooooo. There were days I won't go to school because I didn't finish selling her fish, or won't eat because I sold fish on credit. I will wash her clothes, cook, wash dishes, fetch a drum of water and so many things I can't mention. Even take care of her grandson, because her second daughter gave birth out of wedlock.We were living in a one room face me I slap you house with her six children plus her grand son making ten people in one room. She was jealous of me as little as I was because I am finer than her girls and she wanted to disfigure me,but God didn't let her.

Finally I had the courage to call my parents, told them I was tired. Left when i was entering SS2 at the age of 15.

Thought new life had begin when I left her place, I was happy my father enrolled me in a boarding school where I finished secondary school.

When my WAEC and NECO came out I made all my papers in one sitting, my Dad was very happy and proud of her brilliant daughter.

My dreams shattered when I finished secondary school, just six months after leaving secondary school I lost my dad which happens to be my birthday. My mum just also delivered the last and only boy which was only 23days through CS.

Life was tough, we never expected it. Five children with me being the eldest. After his death the only thing we inherited was two bungalow and cocoa, house in the village is five hundred naira per room. The cocoa was sold and was used in buying ritual things for his burial because he was a chief. We were left with nothing.

To the main chronicle, I wrote my story so you all will understand where I am coming from.

My immediate younger sister wasn't too brilliant as much as I do, but luckily for her she gained admission into the university with an awaiting result, she struggled but along the line something happened.

She was supposed to graduate but after project she couldn't go for service, she was told to go back to 200level because her name was no longer in the department. When she was in 200level, she couldn't cope in her department so wanted to change to another department. She bought the form to change her course, was released from her department, getting to the new department she wasn't accepted. She just went back to her department unknown to her, her name was no longer in the department. She was advised to start all over again.

She got tired and travelled to the village. I wasn't aware, she couldn't tell me, all my mind was that she was waiting for call up letter.

I stay in my friend's house with her stepmother. Who happens to like me, took me like her own. I was working but my salary wasn't big but was paying little bills but couldn't afford to rent an apartment yet. When I noticed she was staying longer than I thought, I called my mum and asked about her. She was the one who narrated what happened to her to me.

I called her, consoled her, told her not to give up on her self, she might not have a certificate for now but not an illiterate. I told her to think of what to do that I will assist her.

I gave her money to rent an apartment in a neighbouring state where I graduated from, bought popcorn machine and a gas cylinder to start up a small business. She complained of low sales which I encouraged her to continue pending the time we will figure out a better business.

One day I was on SDK, I saw an advert on vacancy for a hotel job as a bar attendant plus accommodation, I called her and gave her the number to call. She was given the job.

The month she started, she met a guy unknown to me. Then she started complaining of loss making, that when she wants to remit after sales her money is never complete, that her salary is been deducted. Told her to go back to the state she came from since she still has her accommodation till she's able to get her feet on the ground. She refused, that she has gotten another job, that she replacing a girl that's leaving her job for another at the end.

The next month she called that she dreamt of having an abortion that she was bleeding heavily, that her pastor ask her to confess. Told her to be very careful and play safe. After some days she called again that she missed her period, told her to chill that it happens, but something tells me she was pregnant, I just kept quiet, waiting for her to tell me if the missed period later came. She called me after some days and told me she was pregnant. I wasn't surprised but was disappointed.

I begin to ask myself questions

How did it happen?

Was she pregnant before she came to Lagos?

She just came to Lagos not even up to 2months. I was really disturbed and angry but I kept my cool. I later called and ask her who was responsible.

She told me she met the guy where she was working, he used to be the former manager of that hotel. I asked her if the guy is aware, she said yes that the guy lied that the guy acted funny, that he wanted her to have an abortion. She said she just found out the guy has a daughter in the village staying with his mum and also has a son with another woman but never married, that she wanted to have an abortion but she's scared to have an abortion because of the dream she had. Told her I wasn't going to support abortion because I was TTC but no yet married, that whatever she decides, I will support her financially. Which I immediately transfer some money into her account. It was an agreement between my and my fiance to get pregnant before wedding but I wasn't living with him. I only visit on some weekends. Later she called that she and the guy had settle, that she should keep the baby. I requested for the guys phone number, called to meet him in person and ask what his plans are which we never saw.

He sounded nice on the phone, he said he loves my sister and would love her to keep the baby. Asked him about his kids, he said he impregnated a girl when he was in secondary school, that the girls mother is married with kids now, the other baby mama they met when he was in Abuja for training, they didn't even date, it was just to have fun, he was surprised after leaving Abuja the lady called him to tell him she was pregnant and not ready to abort. He said in December he will come for the introduction then the traditional marriage which never happened.

Two months after she got pregnant, God answered my prayers, I got pregnant too. I called her gave her the good news, I requested for her house address, she told me where she lives and I believed her but didn't have time to visit her. Anytime am chanced she claims to be busy also.

There was a time my mother wanted to send some money to me, told her to send it to my sister, immediately the money entered into the account the guy saw the alert, took her debit card which he knew her pin and withdraw the money same day. I called her if she has seen the money, she said no that she didn't receive any alert. I called my younger sister that sent the money to go back to the bank to verify if they posted the money. They did post the money but immediately the money entered, it was withdrawn via debit card at a location close to her.

I called her and ask if anyone has access to her phone and debit card pin. She said yes that it's the guy that impregnated that has access to it. She asked the guy but he denied. She said she knows he can't do such a thing, that probably the money wasn't sent. Told her to go to the bank to request for statement of account, she started giving excuses. I told her I don't think the guy his a good guy, that am pretty sure he withdrew the money and deleted the alert from her phone.

I told her I trust her because I know she doesn't lie to me but she should just go to the bank to confirm what I said. She started crying swearing by my father's grave that if she knows anything about it, let my father's grave kill her. She just hung up on me. I tried calling g her back to forget it, she didn't pick up. That was the beginning of our enmity. We were both pregnant.

She and her immediate were now very close, that I became their enemy. She stopped telling me her secrets or even called but rather she will tell her immediate. Her immediate started calling me all sorts of names. When I couldn't bear it, I reported them to our older cousins which are like our father. They invited us, and was surprised we were both pregnant. They settled it.

Then, she gave birth, she didn't call me to inform me she gave birth, it was my Aunt who informed me, I was surprised because I thought we've resolved our differences. I called her to wish her congratulations but didn't pick, I called the guy, was angry he didn't call me, which he apologised, asked for address, he promised to send it immediately after the call but he didn't. I was so worried, my sister number wasn't reachable. I got so worried.

She gave birth on Wednesday, couldn't visit her that day because we live at the two ends of Lagos and I had to go to work on Thursday, thankfully Friday was a public holiday. On Friday morning I woke up early to go visit her but I didn't receive the address from the guy. Her number was still unavailable and that of the guy, around noon her phone rang, she was reluctant to give me the address, but I persuaded her which she later did.

I planned staying with her till Sunday, because my mum was planning to come before she gave birth but she refused, even after giving birth she didn't want her to know her place. She finally agreed she comes on Monday.

When I got to the address I was shocked, I thought where I grew up was the worst part of Lagos. I didn't know a place like that exist in Lagos. All houses there are constructed with planks and roofing sheet with no ventilation.

When I saw my sister I broke down in tears, the guy abandoned her there. I asked why she didn't open up to us, that we can never forsake her, she's our blood. Then I looked at the beautiful boy and started crying. She started crying also. I asked her about the guy, that have been trying to reach him that he switched off his phone, she said he left this morning.

I asked how she was feeling, she said fine that she's dizzy, asked if the doctor was aware, she said yes, that is that migraine that she normally has. I called my Aunt because my mom's number wasn't available, I explained to her the condition I met her, I was told to bring her home but she refused, she said she needed to rest she can't travel long distance yet that after naming she will.

I couldn't sleep because I was heavily pregnant too, also I had to go to market to buy the baby clothes and some other stuff, so I left on Friday, Saturday morning my husband ask what was my plan about her, that since the place I met her is horrible that I should move her over first. I told him when I come back from market I will decide. I called her when I came back to ask if she has eaten and also if the guy has come she said the guy hasn't come, I was worried. I called his phone was still off. I informed my cousin about the situation. They called her she refuse to pick because she didn't want them to know where she was. She was angry why I told them, I ask her to pick the call that there's nothing to hide again. She picked and gave them the address.

Not up to 30 minutes when she called and my cousins were on their way to her place while I was with my husband still deliberating on what to do, I received a call that my sister fainted that they are rushing her to a hospital. About two private hospitals rejected her before they took a taxi to take her to a government hospital, the hospital declared her dead on arrival. When I was called upon, I went straight to the house to pick up the son before heading to the hospital, while in the taxi, was with three of her neighbours, praying to God, calling God of Adeboye to please save her. One of her neighbours phone rang, she was told in her language that she was dead before getting to the hospital.

She started lamenting but not crying because she knew I was pregnant, that my sister suffered, the guy abandoned her there, she would go without food with pregnancy. That he has wife and kids somewhere around.

The one that shocked me most was when I was told she delivered at home. Why on earth will my sister deliver at home and still lie about it, even when i ask her where she delivered, she told me in the hospital, I asked her blood pressure but she said she doesn't know it that it's the guy that knows it, I was angry with her that why on earth will you not know your blood pressure that don't they check it during antenatal, that even an illiterate know his/ her BP. My sister lied to me even at the point of death.

My blood pressure skyrocketed, I was heavily pregnant with pregnancy induced hypertension, now this is happening. It was her neighbours who revealed what she went through in the taxi on our way to the hospital.

On getting to the hospital, I was told she was dead, with the baby on my arms, some minutes later my cousins joined, I was asked to sit in the taxi while they made arrangement to deposit her body in the mortuary.

I left the hospital carrying the 3days old baby home, on getting home around 10p.m, we discovered the baby was running temperature, my husband and I set out to the nearest private hospital, they demanded for 250,000 deposit, we were told he had infection, jaundice and fever. Jesus what is this, I only have forty thousand naira in my account that has a debit card and hubby doesn't even have cash up to that amount or debit card because it was on a Saturday. We left the private hospital to three other government hospitals before we finally got one that has the facilities needed to threat him. We started our journey from 11p.m till 5.30a.m with my pregnancy moving from one hospital to the other.

My sister came from school to joined in the hospital. She told me she knew about her condition but she begged her not to tell the rest of the family, that they were going to move out of that slum, she even showed her the receipt of the new apartment they just rented. When she visited her the guy even borrowed her school fees which he hasn't returned yet.

My mum that was travelling on Sunday, was told to stay back that my sister will be coming to the village for proper care because they didn't know how to break the news that her daughter is dead. Immediately the guy knew she was dead, he went to carry his few belongings, even to her gas cylinder, the provisions I bought for her on Friday when I visited and the money I gave her.

My father's family member requested for the husband before she could be buried, it's our tradition since she gave birth out of wedlock for the man to pay her marriage right. He was contacted, he promised to be in the village, people that wanted to take him were ready the day they were supposed to travel he started giving excuses, before you know it he switched off his phone. He later called me while still in the hospital that he wanted to come to the hospital, told him to go to the village first then come back to see the boy. That was the last time I heard from him. Not only did my sister died, the disgrace was another.

They started carrying rumour that my sister didn't know the father of his child, why will he not come if she knows the guy. Some even abuse my mum that she gave us out in marriage without my father's family consent. Now my mum is still battling with high blood pressure.

I later delivered few weeks after, the baby and my baby are like twins, my husband adopted the baby, he bears same surname as my baby. In fact people call me Iya ibeji except those who know the story. I even changed his date of birth to that of my baby in case we want to travel to avoid telling story. The baby is a happy child, he's a blessing to my family.

Today is his birthday, I bless God for keeping him alive. Her one year remembrance will be in three days. Continue to rest in peace sister, we love and miss you. Your son is in safe hands.

What should we do, when he comes in future?

The man should keep running and never look back. He should forget he has a son. But he will never escape God's judgement. My sister spirit will continue to haunt him that he will never know peace till he die. He shouldn't come looking for him.

Thanks everyone for taking your time to read this one chronicle. May you all never experience such. God bless you. Thanks Stella for this platform.


*Happy Birthday to that handsome baby.