The poor widow - S01 E07

Story 6 months ago

The poor widow - S01 E07

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 7

The Poor Widow Episode 7

Jecintha sat down late one night and opened her savings book. She had been saving part of her profit every week. Slowly, the money had grown. When she calculated everything, she was shocked to find that she had enough to rent a small apartment and start a simple life again. She didn’t know whether to cry or smile. She had come far. From sleeping on the street to detention, and now, she had money in her name. But something was bothering her. The DPO had reminded her of their agreement, and she knew her time was running out.

She looked around her shop and sighed deeply. She loved her shop. It was her joy. She had built it from a simple table into a full supermarket. The customers loved her. People came from far to buy from Mama Junior Supermarket. Leaving it behind would be painful. But she also knew she couldn’t keep living in fear. Every day she stayed in the DPO’s house was like waiting for a bomb to explode. She didn’t want to be forced. She didn’t want to be used. She loved her business, but she loved her peace of mind more.

Jecintha started planning quietly. She didn’t tell anyone. She went to another part of town and met an agent. The man helped her find a two-bedroom apartment in a quiet area. It wasn’t big or fine like the DPO’s house, but it was neat, safe, and private. She paid the rent and furnished it gradually, using her savings. She bought beds for her children, a small table, and some kitchen items. She moved things little by little, pretending they were for the shop. Every time she stepped into her new place, she felt relief. It felt like freedom.

The hardest part was saying goodbye to her shop. She had grown attached to it. It was her pride. But she knew she had no choice. She would rather lose the shop than lose her dignity. One day, she gathered all her remaining personal things and packed her children’s bags. She waited for the right time. Then, on a Thursday morning, when the DPO had travelled for a meeting outside town, she made her move. With the help of a keke man she trusted, she and her children quietly left the house without noise. It was a risky escape.

Before she left, she placed a handwritten letter on the table in the DPO’s living room. She wrote, “Dear Sir, thank you for everything. You changed my life. You gave me a new beginning. But I can’t give you what you want in return. It’s too hard for me. Please forgive me. I have decided to leave with my children. May God bless you for all you’ve done.” She folded the note, placed it under a flower vase, and left. As the keke drove away from the compound, she looked back with tears in her eyes, but she didn’t regret leaving.

When she reached her new apartment, her children were excited. “Mummy, is this our new house?” Junior asked. “Yes,” she replied with a smile. “This is our home now.” The children hugged her, and for the first time in a long while, Jecintha felt truly free. That evening, she cooked for them and watched them eat with joy. Even though she didn’t have much again, she was happy. She could sleep without fear. She could breathe without waiting for someone to knock on her door and ask her to pay with her body. She was finally in control again.

But something strange happened. Days passed, and the DPO didn’t call. He didn’t send anybody. He didn’t even ask around. Jecintha waited, thinking he would come for her in anger. But nothing happened. One week passed, then two. Still, no word from him. She became confused. “Why hasn’t he called?” she asked herself. “Doesn’t he care that I left?” It felt strange. She expected him to be angry or chase her. But it was like he didn’t even notice that she was gone. At first, she was happy. But soon, she became worried. It was unlike the DPO to keep quiet.

Jecintha couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Maybe he was only pretending to like me,” she thought. “Maybe I was just one of many women he has helped.” The silence from him was too loud. She thought he would try to get her back. But instead, nothing. She began to fear that maybe he was planning something silently. “Is he angry and waiting to strike later?” she wondered. “Or has he moved on already?” The worry wouldn’t let her rest completely. She wanted peace, but now her mind was filled with questions. Still, she told herself not to panic yet.

To keep her mind busy, she looked for another shop to rent close to her new apartment. It wasn’t like her former supermarket, but it would be a new beginning. She wanted to start selling again. That was her talent. She went to the market and bought a few items. People in the new area didn’t know her story, so she was able to blend in easily. She introduced herself as Mama Junior and slowly began building a new life. It was not easy, but it was peaceful. Her children were her strength. They kept her going.

Every night before sleeping, she would look at them and whisper, “We are safe now. That’s all that matters.” Even though her heart still had small fears about the DPO’s silence, she reminded herself that God who saved her before would protect her again. She didn’t know what the future would bring, but she was ready to face it. She had escaped shame, pain, and fear. Now, all she wanted was to be a mother, run her business, and live in peace. Whether the DPO returned or not, she promised herself one thing—she would never go back to that life.

To be continued