Break the cycle Already

 Break the cycle Already

After being out of the university for a while without a job, Ofure decided to learn a skill. 

Done and dusted, it was time to set up and reality knocked. 

No money to kick-start.  

As she ransacked her head for  options available she remembered her uncle. 

The father's younger brother. 

He has not been helpful in the past even when she almost couldn't pay school fees and he learned about it, he did not help.

Swallowing her anger and resentment over his past neglect, she decided to give it one more try. 

"Uncle, please, I need your assistance. I haven't gotten a job since I left the university so I learned a skill but getting started is also looking bleak as I have no hope of raising money" she said as soon as she was allowed into the office.

The uncle is obviously a man of means as his high tastes reflects in every single fitting in his office. 

From his pen to his curtain Ofure could tell that the uncle almost has excess money.

"No uncle, I didn't come to beg for money but to ask why you hate your brother and his children so much that you wouldn't care if they died from deprivation"  she said almost spontaneously. 

She didn't plan for this, she came to grovel at his feet.

 

It must have been  the rebranding of the office that obviously gulped good money that forced those words out of her and she was not ready to regret it.

Every time she visits, the office takes a more expensive look.

The uncle certainly has extra money to spare yet never extending to the brother.

"I see you on the news every time for charity work and I wonder why your brother doesn't deserve a spot in your heart.

You know uncle, I have always wondered, why you take my calls and allow me visit your home or office any time yet you never help me or even promise to but now the picture is clear.

You want me to see how good you are doing, you show me pictures of your family touring the world, pictures of your properties scattered all over, pictures of your charity work just for me to know that you are very wealthy, because you know I'll tell my dad.

Uncle is there something, I should know?" (Not waiting for answers she went on)

"You know what, I don't care about your money or help. 

I'll do what ever it takes to start my business, 

I'll sleep with men if I have to or even   push drugs as long as I am not hurting any one, I'll do whatever it takes and ill never bother you again"

With that said, Ofure stood up to leave.

 All the while she spoke, the uncle was either typing or pretending to be typing into the computer.

"Are you done Ofure?"

The uncle spoke for the first time still looking into the computer.

"I knew you'll figure out this drama because you are a smart girl but I guess you are not smart enough to wait for answers to your questions" 

Ofure hesitated a bit, not sure whether to wait for answers or storm out.

Not wanting to take chances, the uncle went on in a calm but hurt voice.

"Why don't you ask your father Ofure? He should tell you or is he too ashamed to tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Ofure asked sitting back.

"As a young boy hoping to go to the university, I came to live with my brother, your father, he was one of the big boys in town. He was comfortable and readily gave money to non family members so much that my peers envied me.

I came from the village to live with him, to school, learn a skill or  trade. 

Your father could have effortlessly assisted if he wanted to but no, he did not. 

Every day he had one excuse or the other.

I lived with him for 5 years and for those 5 years, I was an erand boy to him and his girlfriends. I'll cook, clean, wash his clothes and that of his girlfriends, wash his car yet I wasn't good enough to be empowered. 

Every day I had his promise to hope for yet they were all false hopes and broken promises.

Your father didn't care if I fed or dressed. 

I give to charity because charity made me who I am today.

I allow you into my office and home because at least he let me sleep in his house."

He pause, reached for the bottle of water on his desk and continued. 

"At a point, life made no sense because if my brother couldn't help me and I had no means then what sense was there?"

He drank some more water, looked at Ofure and said,

"I'll leave the details, I'm sure you can ask your dad for how he would rather pay his girlfriends' brothers' school fees than feed me."

He pause as if waiting for Ofure to say something

"When I started working, I had completely lost every information about my brother until the first time you visited.

Yes Ofure, I help the street, I give charity because the street made me, charity made me."

He added.

By this time, Ofure was already crying. 

Amidst tears, she managed to say 

"uncle, I have no excuse for what my father did, I have no apologies to give on his behalf but something I'll like to let you know is that, you are doing exactly what he did, you are abandoning your niece when she needs you the most same way your brother abandoned you when you needed him most.

You are fostering a cycle that may outlive you and your brother. 

Your brother had no reason to have treated you that way but you have and if this goes on, 

I'll have,

your children will, mine will and it becomes a generational practice.

Please uncle, don't foster this unhealthy cycle, break it."

With that, Ofure wiped her tears, stood up and left her uncle staring after her.

Hnmmm🧏‍♀️🧏‍♀️🧏‍♀️

Food for thought,

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

What cycle are you fostering in your family? 

What grudge or bitterness do you have against your sibling? 

Forgive for the sake of your children. 

Break the cycle already. 

©️Enimien Oruebor 

#thisisnotafiction