Before she could finish, Okon gently helped her up.
“Come with me,” he said.
He guided her carefully back to the SUV.
People on the road watched quietly.
Okon helped his mother into the car and sat beside her. She was still trembling, tears in her eyes, overwhelmed by the shock of seeing the son she had not seen in twelve years.
Okon looked at the driver.
“Turn around,” he said. “To the nearest hospital.”
The driver did not ask questions. He turned immediately.
As the SUV pulled back into traffic, Okon held his mother’s hand tightly.
But in his mind, one question kept repeating.
“If I have been sending money all these years, then why is my mother like this?”
At the hospital, Mr. Okon sat in the reception area waiting.
His mother had been taken into the examination room earlier. His mind would not rest.
After some time, a doctor walked out and came to meet him.
“Are you the one who brought in the elderly woman?” the doctor asked.
“Yes, doctor. She is my mother,” Okon replied.
The doctor nodded.
“There is no serious illness,” he said. “However, we need to admit her until tomorrow morning for proper treatment and observation.”
“Please, go ahead with the treatment,” Okon said quickly.
The doctor nodded slightly.
“All right. We will begin immediately.”
He turned and walked away.
Not long after, Mrs. Madara was moved into a ward, and treatment started at once.
Okon remained in the waiting area, his eyes fixed on the direction they had taken her.
After several minutes, the doctor passed by again.
Okon stood at once and walked toward him.
“Doctor, how is she?” he asked.
The doctor gave him a calm, reassuring look.
“Don’t worry. She will be fine,” he said. “We have started treatment, and she is responding well.”
Okon let out a quiet breath.
“Thank you, doctor,” he said. “Can I see her?”
“Of course. You can go in now,” the doctor replied.
