FREEDOM

Joyful Freedom Aunty Agatha and I were in tears while we listened to Lucy’s story. She had gone tru­ly through a lot. She would have given up on life if it was not for the grace of God upon her. We embraced her warmly and wept together for a while.

 The next day Aunty Agatha decided that she would pay for Lucy’s education at any univer­sity of her choice in the country. A young woman who had gone such a traumatic experience de­served every support and love. Oh how Lucy jumped for joy! She was going to share the good ­news with her parents who were already so eager to see her. I went with Aunty Agatha’s driver to accompany Lucy home in Edo State. What great joy there was in her family after seven long years!

When we returned to Lagos, I was exhausted and feverish. My body became weak from the shock, fatigue and relief from my experience in the hands of Mrs Laraba and her accomplices. I fell ill for some days and Aunty Agatha took good care of me, with Betty’s assistance.

 After I recovered, she made sure I ate and rest­ed very well before involving myself again in the activities of the house and shop. I never stopped thanking God for rescuing me from the evil ones.  A few months later I got admission into the university to study medicine. It was a tough course but I was determined to succeed. I ex­celled in all my exams and finally graduated as a neuro-surgeon. My joy knew no bounds when I was conferred with the degree of my dreams!

A Special Gift One evening, Aunty Agatha called me her room. She brought out a little box. I recognised it as the box that her late mother gave her. She gave it to me as a present and said I should have custody of it now that I was a grown woman.  I was moved to tears when I opened it. She never stopped being a woman of joyful surprises. Her reason for handing it over to me was to let me know that she was very proud of me and glad that I did not disappoint her.

In the little box was a special set of jewellery. She wanted me to use them on my wedding day. She then prayed for me and asked God to bless with a good husband and children. I could only sob out of joy and gratitude. Indeed my mother in heaven was watching over me and she had sent me to this good mother, my beloved Aunty Agatha.