His name is Joshua, he lives in the far timid part of Calabar south . Anantiga, a place where you have to do all deadly things to fit in . If you don't , deliberately, the intimidation will push you into it .


His disobedience was of the highest order , that there was no respect accorded to she that fed him, he lost his father when he was nine, and bad friends won't allow him sit and help his poor mom..


He is the only child she had, and she swore to the husband's grave that come rain come shine she will train him that is the apple of her eyes, she didn't have, a woman struggling to erect a duplex with her pittance , even to afford two square meals she rarely did.


The area led him astray, in order to feel among , he found himself in the middle of the worst gang,the innocent boy the mom knew now  smokes like a dragon and bleeps like a porn star, his name painted disgracingly black on the streets, and the whole shame humeranged on her .


She tried bringing him to order, but she got palpitations, regrets and insults from the child she gets a cut of knife to feed, at a time she would want to give up but still she didn't, the heart aches she endured with the hope of a better tomorrow even when things seemed worse, she'd just cry all night and pray to her God.


The worst started  happening. he beats her, maltreats her and uses cane on the woman who carried him nine months, he now plays the gun game, the crew he entered doesn't value a life. And this made her pass through sleepless nights. she couldn't bear the pain again as she is being recorded an high blood pressure patient medically, she gave up on her, and swore never to pour water on a stone anymore..


Few weeks after she gave up, she always felt that she had a responsibility she could not reach, she feels bad but she gets along because he that she is striving hard to help is paying her back woes in folds.


That faithful Saturday, she came back from her petty trade where she rarely gets a pittance for a gain, relaxing without knowing the whereabout of her son who looked so careless to look after her.


As she dropped her basket, and opening the door the son ran in, sweating and looking for a place to hide...


She was shocked

"osita nwam what happened, who is pursuing you?"


But he did not leave a reply as he hid
under the bed...

Before she could say the next word, a group of two invaded the house with guns and ready to pull the trigger.


"where is osita?.. The scary one shouted on her..


"if you don't provide him within 30 seconds you are dead, Time starts now"... The other short hot tempered one added..


She didn't know what to do, this is a life or death situation, she went into her Subconscious zone..


She started thinking about the insults , the pain he had caused her , the shame! The beatings she received , the disrespects, everything!

Tears dropped .


She looked them in the eyes " he is not here " 


And he reluctantly pulled the trigger .

She is dead .

Gone !

She saved a life that caused her pains .


©Oracle