THE FATE

FLASHBACK

HIS POV

October 6th held an eternal place in the annals of the Idara family's history—a date seared into memory, destined for the storytellers' lips. On that fateful day, Adin Idara came into the world, the fifteenth and final child of his mother, Mama Eko, and his ever-elusive father, a man entangled in the complexities of polygamy. Adin's father, a practitioner of a tradition that revered the supremacy of the male gender even in death, remained an enigmatic figure, shrouded in disappointment.

Adin's early years were tainted by the legacy of a father he barely knew, for at the tender age of three, his father passed away, leaving behind a complicated legacy. The weight of his mother's silence spoke volumes about the suffering she had endured beneath this man's shadow. Mama Eko's own life had been a tragic tale, forced into marriage with a man three and a half decades her senior, solely due to her maturation into womanhood. Yet, her suffering didn't end there; she bore the heavy burden of fertility, her body yielding fifteen children, a testament to her resilience. Her survival, at times, seemed a miracle from the gods themselves.

Adin's birth, when Mama Eko was fifty years old, marked the culmination of her maternal journey. She decided it was time to close the chapter on childbirth, her body frail and weary from the ceaseless demands it had endured. When her husband passed and her other children departed in pursuit of better opportunities, she remained with Adin, the final remnant of her motherhood and the child of her twilight years.

Adin, in the sheltered cocoon of his mother's love, grew strong. He nursed her back to health, but eventually, like his siblings before him, he too had to venture forth in search of greener pastures. The separation broke Mama Eko's heart, a fear gnawing at her that he, too, might follow the path of his siblings and never return. Yet, deep within her, she held an unwavering belief that he was different, that he would come back for her. She couldn't keep him confined to their village forever, knowing that he needed to forge his own destiny, even if it meant leaving her behind. And so, with a heavy heart, Adin left his mother, embarking on a journey that would lead him to the bustling metropolis of Lagos.

HER POV

Mirabel's life unfolded in stark contrast to Adin's tumultuous upbringing. In a world where family dynamics varied wildly, hers stood as a testament to stability and warmth. She was one of the fortunate few who had both parents actively involved in her upbringing, a rarity in their community. With just five siblings—three brothers and two sisters—she occupied a unique place as the second girl in the family hierarchy.

Her father, a respected merchant, and her mother, a dedicated schoolteacher at the community's remote primary school, formed a solid foundation of love and support for their children. Mirabel's upbringing was a reflection of this nurturing environment, where love was not just spoken but demonstrated through their actions. However, this didn't imply a lack of discipline in her life. On the contrary, Mirabel was known for her unwavering respect, politeness, and her willingness to extend a helping hand to those around her. These qualities were a testament to the values instilled in her by her parents.

Despite the idyllic nature of her family life, there was one aspect that weighed on Mirabel's heart—the limited time she spent with her mother. The demands of her mother's teaching job, located in the farthest reaches of the town, often kept her away from home. Mirabel keenly felt the absence of her mother, recognizing the profound importance of a mother's presence in a child's life.

As Mirabel's story unfolds, hidden layers of her life will come to light, revealing the complexities that lie beneath the surface. But for now, this is the beginning of her narrative—a tale colored by the love, discipline, and nurturing environment that surrounded her in her formative years.