"My Aunt is a nice woman and loves to give. In fact my family loves to give which I took from my lineage. But you know we can't be perfect? You can't have all the beautiful traits in you without having a "But" in your blood. My Aunt is good though, but her bad attitude ruined it".
I will always iron to the extent that my body would start having high temperature, my hands would be paining me due to the big iron I carry still I can't complain because she doesn't give a damn. She would always appreciate when we do the right thing and insult when we do the wrong thing. I never heard the word "Sorry" from her even when she has accused me and at the end, she was at fault.
I have never seen a human being who claims to be perfect in all ways and sees no mistake in whatever she does but always seeing same thing committed by her from other people as not being perfect.
My Aunt would always find mistakes and blame me for things I do but when she repeat same thing, she sees it as normal thing. Why can't she forgive me too with same mistake? We are bound to make mistakes but my Aunt would never agree to such.
Many times, I have complained to my elder sister and my parent. It got to a point, they taught I was being wicked and bad not until they started seeing it themselves to the extent that our neighbors knew my Aunt and they would always encourage and calm me down to be patient.
Both of you would smile and gist in the morning but when it is evening, she turns to something else. It got to a point, I decided not to involve myself in gisting with her. I will always frown my face everytime but it doesn't last because I still find myself coming down to talk, gist and laugh with her. Those moments do not last for a day because she would find fault anyhow.
My mom wasn't happy the way she was treating me but she couldn't say a word because my father had the final say.
I couldn't go back to my parent because they couldn't train us to school. We were already becoming something else living with them and since I know what I want to achieve, I was enduring it.
I will be sincere with you that my life did changed from how I used to be. She tried her best. I always thank her till today for that.
WHEN I GAINED ADMISSION
I was then seeking for admission as this was the only way I could free myself from the torture and all night ironing without resting or even complaining.
Even when I am having menstrual cramps or sick, she doesn't look at my side. I must do her work or else, no food for me. She doesn't want to hear me sick because she feels she would have to do the work alone and I will still have to eat. She doesn't want that. Do her work and you will eat.
She did the same thing to everyone who comes to her including her twin brother. She would engage her brother to iron for her and at the end give him money for the work.
Getting admission to the University proved abortive and so, I was advised to go to College of Education for my NCE. My cousin was in that school and she would always help me check if my name was out.
I was always praying for the admission to click. On this day, we were both washing outside when her phone rang. It was my cousin and she told her my name was listed on the admission list.
You should come and see the happiness in me that day. I jumped for Joy, I screamed. All these, I did for one thing.
"Finally, I am free".
She once told me she will never miss me when I leave her place. Her eyes turned red when I was going. Lol
Despite that I was in school, I was still visiting her house. She was the only one I depended on then for money because it was my mom who was trying her best to send little money to me.
My Aunt will never send you money without you helping her to work. I will always come on Fridays, wash and iron and when I am leaving on Sunday, she would give me money for foodstuffs.
I called my Aunt in school one day to send me little money, she didn't give me. Not until I went to her house and did help her with washing and ironing, that was when she gave me money.
I wasn't capable of taking care of myself then even when I graduated from school. I still found myself leaving with her again in year 2015. I endured those moments and I was determined to be independent.
Along the way, things happened, my mom died, she sent me out of her house because my Dad refused to heed to their calls in the village. I stayed with my Dad from 2016-2018 and finally I gained admission into the University in year 2019 for my degree.
My Dad still couldn't help my journey in school. My sister advised and encouraged me to go back to live with my Aunt. She said she understands me that I should go because of what I needed and once I get it, that's it. I never wanted to return. This time, my Dad refused me but when he saw he wouldn't be able to train me in the University and her sisters were the only source, I went to stay with her.
I would always go to her place during holidays. At this time, my younger brother had started living with her. He would always complain same thing but do you know what I do tell him? Same thing I was told then "to be patient".
My brother is always happy when I come visiting because he knew we are now two who would always gist together but when I am leaving, he would be sad because no one to talk to in the house. He doesn't enjoy sitting with my Aunt because at the end, they will still fight. Lol
Whenever I am leaving for school, I would pity my brother because he would be the only one with her problems.
I gained my full Freedom late 2020 and stopped my frequent visit to her place when I saw that I have something to keep me busy especially when I started doing these online work from home. Ever since I started Noisecash and Readcash this year, I stopped depending on any of my Aunts. I started giving the little I have to support my Aunt.
My sister told me that it is time to be on my own. She said to me
"whenever you are on holidays, instead of going to her place, stay in school and work on your phone. You are a writer, keep to that and make money for yourself".
Now, I am independent and do not wait for them to send me money. My brother who always complained before is now happy because very soon, he will be leaving her place to his own school.
Things I learned while with her
No matter where you are or living with someone, someday you will leave. It may take years, you will eventually leave such place.
Be patient and endure with People like this. Endure till you achieve what you are looking for.
Take all lessons with you and when you are on your own, apply them and life would be good to you.
While you are with someone, work hard to be on your own. Never depend on people except God.
Today, I can say I am free. We do talk on phone often and even if I need to visit her, a day or two is okay because I have learnt to live my life and never to look up to anyone except my God.
Thank you for reading my story. Everyone has a story to tell.
|August 02, 2021|
Hmmm, you had learn something with your aunt, we should spend over with our relatives and Elders. They sometime feel harder natural but they care us they always try to make us to be perfect version of ourselves.