A glimmer of hope

What will you do if your mother is critically down with cancer and you're the only living relative she has?

What will you do if you're about to miss your final exams because you can't afford the tuition, because you've exhausted all your resources on your mother's chemo and it's still not even enough?

What will you do if you're facing the worst form of depression because you're about to miss your final exams after 5 years in the university all because you can't afford the tuition, because you've exhausted all your resources on your mother's chemotherapy?

Welcome to my world! At this point of my life, I can say I'm literally living on the edge. Am about to lose my sanity. Everything seems to be going backwards!

My mother, my only family is down with cancer and I'm literally out of funds for her to continue her chemo, without which I don't know how much longer she'll last.

It's less than 2 weeks to my final exams and am yet to clear my tuition, without which I'll no doubt miss the exams, which will subsequently render my 5 years in the university useless.

I stared down from the edge of the roof of the 6 storey building I was sitting. That was my favorite spot where I usually go to clear my head. I contemplated dropping myself from that height and ending everything, but the thought of my mum lying helplessly in the hospital held me back.

"If she hasn't given up on life yet, then why should I?" I thought to myself.

I thought of everything she passed through to see me through my 5 years in school. All the pains and agonies, all the nights she slept hungry just to ensure I got everything I needed...

I wiped a teardrop from my left eye.
"Be strong" I admonished myself.

I stood up to leave and then I saw her...
She was standing right at the edge of the roof. Initially, I thought she was enjoying the view, but then I realized she was contemplating to drop herself 6 storeys down to the ever busy street below. I couldn't let that happen!

Suddenly, I forgot all my problems as I was preoccupied with saving that depressed young lady. I knew I had to be cautious, a little mistake and she's off the edge. I had to use my head.

"It's a nice view from here, right?" I called out casually.

She didn't say a word.
She took out a piece of paper, scribbled something on it and stretched it out to me.

"Do well and ensure that gets to Mr. Johnson"

"Mr Johnson?" I asked.

How on earth am I to Locate someone with just 'Mr Johnson' in this large city?

I took a good look at her. She was quite pretty, but the lines on her face made it obvious she's been crying her eyes out. Her clothing and jewelry showed she's from a wealthy home.
Why on earth will someone like her wanna commit suicide?

"It's a long way down, you know?"

"Yes I know" she replied dryly.

"Why do you want to do this?" I probed.
"If I'm giving this note to your 'Mr Johnson', then I deserve to know why. Besides, I'd say we are more or less in the same shoes"

"How do you mean" she asked.

I noticed that her curiosity was getting the better of her. I had to make use of the advantage.

"You see, some minutes ago I was contemplating doing what you want to do now. My final exam is in less than 2 weeks and I don't think I'll be sitting for it because I'm yet to afford the tuition."

She kept moping at me as I continued.

"My dear mother is lying helplessly in the hospital. She's down with cancer and I've exhausted all my resources and yet, it's not enough to continue her chemotherapy"

I sat down on am empty box and rested my head on the nearby wall. She joined me.

"This is a woman who has literally sacrificed her life to make sure I get to where I am. Now she's about to slip off my fingers and I can't do anything to help her..."

My voice was shaking at this juncture.

"And here I am thinking my case is the worst." She mused. She went ahead to tell me her story.

She loved a guy so much, so much that she spent everything she had on him. She gave herself to him totally, body and soul. She even went as far as raiding her dad's moneybox to meet the guy's needs. Little did she realize he was using all the money to process his and his other fiancé's travel documents to the UK.
The previous day, she got a message from him thanking her for all the good times and all the money and then telling her to move on with her life as he's getting married to his heartthrob in a week's time there in the UK.

That morning, she realized she was pregnant for him and that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. She decided to end everything by committing suicide.

I asked about her family. She told me that she had just her father and she was the only child. Her mum died while giving birth to her.

"What do you think will happen to your father if he hears that you committed suicide?" I asked her.

She kept silent for a while.

"I haven't thought of that" she finally replied.
"I've been so engrossed in my emotions and self pity and I never thought about him. Hell probably die of heart attack".

"Regardless of your current situation, you have a whole lot to live for" I told her in a very concerned manner.

She burst into uncontrollable tears as the reality of what she wanted to do dawned on her.

After about 10 minutes of tears and hiccups, she finally wiped her eyes and stood up to leave.

"Wait" I called after her. "Your note"

She smiled amidst her tear filled eyes. "My dad won't be needing it anymore" and with that, she left the way she came.

I smiled to myself, feeling a lot better that I saved a life, even though I couldn't save my mother...

END

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With love from #Mapens

Special thanks to the #minders community, @Stach