Okon looked away.
Now it made sense.
The missed calls. The excuses. The same words every time.
“Don’t worry. Mother is fine.”
Mrs. Madara held her chest.
“You mean…” she started, but could not finish.
Okon nodded slowly.
Neither of them wanted to say it, but they both understood.
Chida had been lying for years.
They sat there in silence.
After some time, Okon stood up.
“Mama, let’s go,” he said gently.
He helped his mother up and led her back to the car.
Before returning to the hotel, they stopped at a clothing shop where ready-made clothes were sold. He gently led her inside and asked her to pick whatever she liked.
She looked at the expensive clothes in the shop, then turned to her son.
“My son, are you sure? These clothes look very expensive,” she said quietly.
He smiled warmly.
“Mama,” he said, “I am here now to take care of you myself. Nothing is too expensive for my mother.”
She smiled for the first time in many years.
Slowly, she began to choose a few simple but beautiful dresses, picking each one carefully.
He paid for everything, and the shop attendants packed all the dresses into bags.
As they left the clothing shop and settled into the car, Mr. Okon leaned back for a moment, his mind heavy with thoughts.
He turned to his mother.
“Mama, did you say you have not seen Chida for over three years?” he asked quietly.
Mrs. Madara let out a deep sigh.
“My son,” she began slowly, her voice filled with sadness, “I don’t know what happened to your sister. She changed after her marriage.”
She paused, shaking her head gently.
