Was Isabella shocked? No, she wasn’t. She was just sorry that Favour was dead and that she died the way she did. The thought that crossed her mind at that moment was “that could have been me”.
She sighed and went over to the grieving woman. She put her hands across her shoulder and drew her into an embrace. “I’m sorry about your loss, aunty. I’m deeply sorry. I have no doubts that uncle will come back some…” The reaction she got from her aunt was one she didn’t expect. “No!” the woman screamed. “Aunty, we may just have made the wrong assumptions”.
“No, assumptions here, Isabella. He killed Favour just like he would have killed you. You know what’s worse? For months Favour tried to tell me. She…” The woman broke down again.
Isabella got up from her seat and tried to pace the tension out. She feared that if she allowed herself feel anything for this people, she would complicate her own issues. When the older woman called last week, she had hoped for something else; something she knew was she needed. Needless to say that she sensed this was the situation and she was here to get that which it has provided for her.
When Aunt Salma regained her voice, it was shrill and resolute. “If he ever steps foot here again, my face will be last thing he sees!” Isabella looked at her smiled. “Tell that to people who don’t know you”, she thought.
For the longest time, Isabella believed her aunt knew of her husband’s activities with her. She believed that she only turned a blind eye because she needed to keep her marriage. There were stories around the area that she couldn’t bear children, and that her two daughters were adopted. So she allowed her husband that freedom so he won’t have to look outside. Cruel? That’s exactly how Isabella remembers it.
“I’m not sure of what to say, Auntie. I mean, I have been away from this life for so long I can’t even remember what it feels like anymore”, Isabella lied. “I know”, Aunt Salma replied. “It is the same reason I called”.
Now face to face with the younger woman, she knew it was time to do the hardest thing anybody could do. She was going to ask this woman to give her what she denied her. She had no other options and this was her chance to do right by her remaining child, Grace. “Forgive me, but please, let Grace come live with you”.
Image: The Guardian
CHINA TORI 
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