25/12/2024
Chapter Six:
THE REVELATION
The house was silent except for the muffled sobs coming from Tutuâs room. Her mother sat on the edge of the bed, her hand gently rubbing Tutuâs back as she cried into her pillow. The messages Femi had brought to her were still fresh in her mind, and they painted a terrifying picture of the situation Tutu had gotten herself into.
âTutu,â her mother said softly. âYou need to talk to me. I canât help you if you keep this to yourself.â
Tutu turned to face her mother, her face streaked with tears. Her chest felt tight, as though the weight of the past few weeks was crushing her. âMama,â she began, her voice breaking. âI didnât mean for any of this to happen. I just⊠I just wanted to feel special for once.â
Her motherâs eyes softened, but the pain in them was evident. Special? What do you mean?
Between sobs, Tutu poured out everything. She told her mother about Temiâs invitation to the Christmas Ball, about Tunde and his promises of glamour and sophistication, and about Chief Okaforâs unsettling behavior. She spoke of the texts, the threats, and the shame that had consumed her since that night.
Her mother listened quietly, her expression unreadable. When Tutu finished, she waited for her motherâs reaction, bracing herself for anger or disappointment. But instead, her mother wrapped her in a tight hug.
âMy daughter,â she said, her voice trembling. âWhy didnât you tell me earlier?â
Tutu broke down again. âI was scared, Mama. I didnât want you to think I was a bad person.â
Her mother pulled back slightly, holding Tutuâs face in her hands. âYou made a mistake, Tutu. But that doesnât make you a bad person. It means youâre human.â
As the conversation continued, her mother surprised her by sharing a story she had never heard before. âWhen I was your age,â her mother began, âI also made a mistake. It wasnât exactly like this, but it taught me a hard lesson about trust and choices.â
Tutuâs eyes widened. âYou?â
Her mother nodded. âWe all go through moments where we donât think clearly, where we let our emotions or the desire to fit in cloud our judgment. But the important thing is what we do afterward.â (Cont'd in Comments)