Reunion (Regrettable chapter😔)

25 December 2021

Seven years ago, I made a decision. I sold my ten-year-old son to a stranger. I needed the money to take care of my family. I did what I had to do to make life better for myself and my children. I don't feel ashamed. I don't feel bad about what I did. That single act doesn't make me a bad person.

Naturally, rumours began circulating in the community when no one saw him around anymore. Some said I'd sacrificed him for "money rituals". Others thought his father had come for him because of how I treated him. None of their opinions mattered to me. He was my own child, so what I chose to do with him was no one's business.

I didn't make much money from selling him, but, all things considered, he wasn't worth much. I can't say why, but I had a natural... contempt for him. With one less mouth to feed, and with the little money I made, I was able to enrol two of my children in school. The rest would have to wait a little longer. Someday, surely, one of them would be able to take care of me, so I spared no effort in doing what I could to give them the opportunities they needed to succeed.

I was a seamstress, but the money I made wasn't enough to cater for all of us, so I took up trading. Things were tough, but manageable. But then 2020 came and it left me shattered. It was the hardest part of my life, and for a while I contemplated selling my eldest daughter, Amanda, like I did Joseph. But I snapped out of it and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. By some miracle, we made it past all that, and things got better.

Amanda recently  got a job so she could support me. I made the right decision in choosing to keep her. I think for the first time in my life, I was actually happy. But my past refused to let me be.

This afternoon, a stranger showed up out of nowhere. He was formally dressed and his face was on the good-looking side. He wasn't alone; he had a boy with him. A scrawny, ill-looking boy, presumably in his teens. For some reason, the boy wouldn't stop smiling at me.

"Good afternoon, Madam. Are you Ms. Cecilia Mensah?"

"Good afternoon. Yes, can I help you?"

"My name is Adam Smith. I'm with the department of social welfare. I'm sorry to show up here unannounced, but it's important. Do you recognise him?" He directed my gaze towards the boy.

I took a good look at him, but he looked far too hideous to be someone I knew. "Sorry, I don't."

"I see... Would you like to introduce yourself, Joseph?"

Joseph?

"It's me, Mother. I'm not surprised you don't recognise me... it's been a while. How've you been? I've missed you."

"W-what happened to you?" I was stunned. I approached him and hugged him. Next thing I knew, I heard someone crying. But it wasn't me... it couldn't be me. I mean, I hated him. Right?