Let Her Go

   It was her dream come true, finding her family; not just her family, her real family. Chioma had always thought she was an orphan of the storms. Her adoptive parents had told her she survived a terrible accident which claimed the lives of her parents. Only for her to find out years later that indeed she had parents.

Chioma thought it right to go see her biological parents after missing them so much in their lives but her adoptive mother Clara didn't agree with her telling her that she was ungrateful. Chioma understood the pain Clara must be going through. Training a child through school and being with the child for many years. Of course it was hard to let go.

 Mr. and Mrs. Julius were so excited. They got the news of their lost daughter being found. Although they didn't know the address of where she lived, they were happy that after so many years of unfruitful waiting, they would finally meet their daughter. They were told she was dead in the accident and their child couldn't be found. 

Chioma needed the address of her parents and so, she asked Clara for it. Clara who couldn't bear the loss of a child even if she was adopted. She had taken care of her even when everyone had given up on her. They advised her to throw baby Chioma away because she was not sure of her origin or her background. She thought Chioma was being ungrateful by leaving her. So she decided to give her the untrue address. 

 She called her real parents to notify them of her coming. Lagos wasn't so far from Delta and she assured them that she would be with them before dusk. Clara wept as she bade Chioma goodbye but deep down, she had plans. Chioma spent her time through the journey imagining her parents' countenance when she arrived. She knew they didn't belong in the rich class like her adoptive mother, but Chioma hoped for the best. The savaging heat and stinking smell of sweat didn't even for once distract her from the beautiful scenery in her head. She could smell the sweet sweet fragrance of Mrs Julius embrace. 

She alighted at agbor obijunction and boarded another taxi which would take her directly to her location. The taxi man smiled at her and she was weirded out because his smile was creepy. She noticed the long scar that ran across his face as he showed her his thirty-two. 

"Aunty you are beautiful o." He said looking at her through the rearview mirror. She shifted uncomfortably at his statement. 

"Thank you." Chioma forced a smile on her face. Just last week, she read about an OUG bus driver that raped a seventeen year old. And this bus driver complimenting her was just giving her bad vibes and she immediately wanted to get down.

  "Oga abeg stop for here I want to come down".

She needed to go with her mind cause she didn't want to get in trouble with all she had been hearing on the news. Backed up by fear she made an attempt to run away but he stopped her. 

  "She paid me to take you to someone else. To kidnap you." 

Chioma was so confused. But what alerted her was the thought of kidnap. 

   "Who sent you? What do you want?" She stammered? 

   "Clara Jaiye."

He said focused on the road. He had increased the car speed so she couldn't make an attempt to escape. 

   "My mother you mean my mother?"

Chioma asked. 

   "She doesn't want you to meet your family. She feels angry that you want to leave her… I'm not supposed to tell you this." 

Ah! And to think I trusted her and I thought she was happy with my decisions. Kidnapping me is going too far

The driver knew that he was making a wrong decision at the moment and decided to see bow to help Chioma.

When he got a little further, he swerved to one part of the road, wind up the glass and said to Chioma:

"I'd let you go because I have a daughter your age. You'd have to tell no one about what happened today to save your head. If you do, your life may be at risk. 

After all that, he asked Chioma to pick another cab and sped off from the scene. 

Whereas, the Julius' have been waiting for the arrival of their lost daughter. They got so worried because she could not be reached on the phone. 

Could another accident have occurred?

 Several thoughts ran through their minds as they keep peeping through the window to see if she had arrived at the sound of every passing car or motorcycle. 

Chioma was walking and was getting tired when a good Samaritan asked to give a lift to the town. She refused bluntly because she is now suspecting every person that passes by as a part of the kidnapping syndicate around the locality. 

The good Samaritan who she later knew to be the neighbour of the Julius' told her that the locality was dangerous and a huge out for criminal elements. At this juncture, she entered the car still with a double mind. 

Efe, the good Samaritan helped Chioma that evening to his apparent where she refreshed and told the story of her life to him. When she mentioned that she was looking for one Mr and Mrs Julius, Efe asked to describe the people she was looking for. 

Her description was a perfect image of Mr Julius. When Efe accosted Mr Julius about the stranger in his apartment, he knew it was his daughter. 

They reunited and had a lovely life, despite the devilish efforts of Clara her adoptive parents. 

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