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#BN2015Epilogues: Fateema Plans to Live One Day at a time in 2016

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Happy new year to all our readers! As promised, we are continuing the 2015 Epilogues due to the volume of responses we got. We’d like to thank every one who sent an entry, and if you sent your story before the 15th of December 2015, you will see it published on BellaNaija.

If you’re reading this and wondering, ‘What on earth is the series about?’ please catch up HERE.

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I remember on the eve of 2015 around 10pm, my friend called saying , ‘are you not coming for the countdown? The whole Lagos is here’. I just gave a flimsy excuse and said no. The real reason is that my parents would never let me sleep out on such an important day. I have strict parents but they are also very loving and I’m proud to have them. At 12am I wished myself HAPPY NEW YEAR, drank some red wine and went to sleep.

There’s this fresh feeling that comes with January 1st. It’s like turning over a new leaf (sorta). I did my morning prayers and sat on my bed thinking 2015 what would you hold? I thought about my family. This is the 3rd year Pops has been laid off his job and Mom keeps hustling. I’m the first child. I have 6 siblings. What can I do to help? My faith is with you God.

JANUARY moved by quickly. I had just gained admission into the university after 3 years but I am all smiles settling in and hopeful to meet my future friends.
FEBRUARY and MARCH also moved along interestingly.

Then APRIL came by, an incident happened in my hostel and I was forced to leave. Oh dear exams are coming. Where do I stay? I prayed to God and he answered. I found a place and in JUNE, wrote my exams and went home for the holidays. I got home and a lot had changed. Things had deteriorated. Oh Lord what’s happening to us? The relationship between my mum and dad had slowly, but surely, turned sore. I cried myself to sleep most nights as my once almost perfect family takes the down road.

Late JULY, school resumed, finally something to take my mind off the family stress. I got a place and moved back to school. AUGUST and SEPTEMBER went by and it was just me, my makeup (I’m a makeup & hair pro) with my books all the way. I turned 20 in September. It was so boring.

Anyway, exams started again in OCTOBER. Oh my! I’m going back to that house soon. After my exams, I decided to stay in hostel a while before I go back to my house dilemma. I found interest in writing. It became a real hobby. It’s what I do when I feel helpless or depressed, also when I am happy.

NOVEMBER, I’m back home again. It’s all soo depressing around here. I hated seeing my ever soo jobless father in the house during working hours. My mom is sick with worry, but he keeps saying he got it all under control. I cried a few more tears and this time mum caught me. I’m soo heartbroken that this is what we’ve become. She reassured me that all is gonna be well.

And now it’s DECEMBER, oh did it all happen soo fast, the arguments never cease to stop, we’ve hit rock bottom, my brother came home from school last weekend and witnessed yet another rift which led to momc storming out angrily. I thought well it couldn’t get any worse. Guess what? It did, my three brothers school fees is yet to be paid, over 300k. What do we do? It has never happened. Luckily their principal understands and is giving us some more time. My brother left to school angrily saying he would never return.

And now it’s a Monday, dad is well at home in his room sleeping. I am angry but I also pity him. He’s soo prayerful, never fails in his prayers.

So here I am writing once again to free myself off the stress in this house. And for what it’s worth, Mum keeps me going. She’s soo strong. If only Dad knew her value, he would forever bow to her feet. She’s always filling the empty space. She’s my hero, a true epitome of the woman I want to be. I’ve just decided to live one day at a time and hope to God for breakthrough in 2016, can I hear an Amen…. (AMEN). Smiles.
Thank you.
Fateema

Photo Credit: Dreamstime 

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