Chapter 13: Chapter 13
The following week, Valor resumed work. His morals were normal as if nothing happened. He received advice from friends and family that put him in shape. He also read books that motivated him to stay strong.
Whenever he gets home, he feels lonely. The house that was meant for couples is now lonely for him. He started finding his food to eat but had got used to seeing his food on the table whenever he got home. Sometimes he calls out to Alice and doesn't get any reply. He remembered what his mother told him about her being alone in the house.
Several months had passed, Valor received a letter condoling with him on the demise of his wife. At the end of the letter, it says, “yours sincerely Mboutidem.” Valor was moved by the unexpected letter, so he decided to pay a visit to her after work that evening. He met her locking her shop. “Miss,” he called. “Welcome my doctor. Good to see you again.” “thank you. You are closing early today.” “yes, no customer this evening. Can you help with the padlock?” Valor went closer and pushed the padlock and it locked properly. “Done,” he said. They stroll down the street as she begins the conversation. “The news came to me late and I could not stay without doing something, so I decided to write to you.” “I appreciate your effort, thank you very much.” “Alice was someone I never knew was related to you in any way, she has been coming to my salon to make her hair and we became intimate. It was after her demise that I realize she was your wife.” Valor did not like the idea of discussing a deceased person, he stopped her from continuing. “she’s gone, just don’t talk about her or mention her name.” she stopped, then asked, “what else do you want me to talk about?” he answered, “how is your business.” “everything is smooth.” “how about your apprentice.” “one of them is now an expert. she controls the business when I’m not present.” Valor asked, “what if I want to bring somebody to learn the work, how much will you charge.” “I won’t charge much if the person is coming from you, by the way, who is this person?” He replied, “that person is me.” They laughed for a long time. He said, “I have been seeing other men making hair.” “they do, but not your type. You are a doctor.”
Valor had good company with her, he never had such company ever since he lost someone dear to him. He didn’t bother himself to go home, even she, did not want to go home either. They were together as if they had never been in conflict.
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Richard had his first child for three months and Valor decided to pay a visit. After a warm welcome, they discuss their issues. Richard said, “valor my friend, I have heard from you but based on how Alice responded I can’t judge you. Since Mboutidem is pregnant for you and you don’t want her to abort it, you should marry her so that your daughter can have a mother. That’s the advice I can give you as a friend.” Valor replied, “I’ve heard your words as a good friend but there’s a tiny problem. After I convinced her not to abort it but stay, I asked her to let me meet her parents and she refused and said I should not worry about them. It seems as if I am bordering her. When I asked her if they were dead, she said no, but later changed it to yes. So now that’s the challenge.” “When she seems quiet, it means she committed a crime or maybe she ran away. But you can make investigations from people around her since she has agreed to stay with you.” “Am grateful for that. Richard, if only we could exchange problems, life would have been better because you always know how to solve other people’s problems.” Richard laughed and said to him, “Should I remind you that a doctor cannot treat his or herself. If we exchange our problems, you will regret it. This family I have married from is disturbing me for a big child dedication ceremony, but I don’t have much money. They will not understand. To be sincere with you, they are other challenges that I have not disclose it with you.” “I have to go so that I can prepare to go to work. I will get back to you.” Richard escorts him to the door as he leaves.
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After much investigation, valor had finally met a woman that was said to be Mboutidem mother. She explained everything to him. “Mboutidem is not my daughter. I took her in when she was a teenager and gave her a place to stay without collecting rent from her. I helped her because of what she told me.” “What did she tell you?” Valor was eager to know. She continues, “When she was little, she lived happily with her family until her mother gave birth to his brother which brought Joy to the family. They began to receive visitors and relatives coming to the house rejoicing with the newborn, but during her time she realized that no one came to visit her. As the child was growing, she was no more recognized in the house. Her mother became strict with her and maltreated her. She thought it was a joy of having a male child, but she was wrong, she was an adopted child. She began to have lonely days. She stayed back at home when the family goes out. The worst happened when her mother gave birth to another Boy. Mboutidem also revealed to me how she became suicidal, always felt like dying. At school then a Boy that he loves so much surprised her and saved her life.” “how?” “she planned on taking her life on her birthday, so this Boy bought a gold necklace for her.” Valor was surprised to hear a story about himself. He said, “That’s so great that the Boy saved her life.” “Yeah, and that’s all I can recall.” “Too bad for such a pretty girl, do you know if she was married or already have a child?” “There was a guy that came to marry her, but he cheated on her after promising her marriage. That also made her emotionally broken for a while. I know I shouldn’t be telling you this but since you have taken it upon yourself to search for her parents, I think you deserve to know the truth. She knew you were coming and told me to pretend to be her mother, but I can’t take something that’s not mine. Please I will advise you to stay with her and not leave. Coming into her life now has awakened something in her. Which is the ability to love again.” “I’ve heard you, madam, am not leaving her because she’s with my child. I’ll keep searching until I find her real parent.” “that’s what I want to hear.” The woman was so grateful for him. Valor left gratefully because he discovered that he had saved a life.