Okon stood up.
“Good morning, doctor.”
The doctor checked Mrs. Madara carefully. After a moment, he nodded.
“You are doing well, ma,” he said. “You’re fine now. You can go home today.”
Mrs. Madara gave a small nod.
“Thank you, doctor,” she said softly.
“You’re welcome,” the doctor replied.
That morning, after she was discharged, they left the hospital.
Okon helped her into the car, but instead of going home, he took her to a quiet restaurant.
They sat down. Food was placed before them.
Mrs. Madara looked at the food for a moment before she began to eat.
She ate slowly at first, then a little faster. It was clear she had not had a proper meal in a long time.
Okon watched her.
His heart was heavy.
After a while, she looked up at him. There was confusion on her face.
“My son,” she said softly, “how are you able to take care of yourself over there?”
Okon looked at her, surprised.
“How did you even come back home? Chida told me you were not doing well. She said you were stranded.”
Okon’s hand stopped.
“What?” he asked.
Mrs. Madara nodded slowly.
“She told me things have been hard for you,” she added gently. “That is why I have not received any money from you for about three years now.”
She paused for a moment, then spoke again, her voice softer.
“And I could no longer continue my business because of my age,” she said quietly.
Okon’s eyes widened.
“For three years?” he repeated.
“Yes,” she said. “After your sister got married and left the house, things became harder for me.”
Okon leaned back. His mind was racing.
“I have been sending money every month,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I never stopped. Not even once.”
Mrs. Madara looked at him, confused.
“My son, it has been a long while since anything reached me,” she said quietly.
Okon shook his head.
“I called Chida many times,” he said. “Many times in a month, especially each time I sent your monthly upkeep. But each time, she told me you were fine.”
They both went quiet.
The truth began to settle between them.
Slowly.
Painfully.
