TEARS OF AN INNOCENT — EPISODE 26
The next day…
The morning sun had already risen over Amankwu village when a car slowly drove into the village.
Inside the car were Nkemdilim, Obinna, Maduka, and Ebuka.
Nkemdilim sat quietly beside Obinna, her mind still troubled by Chisom’s strange phone call from the previous day.
Chisom had refused to explain everything over the phone.
She had only told her to return with Obinna, Papa, and Ebuka because there was something very important they needed to hear.
Nkemdilim had barely slept that night.
Something about Chisom’s voice had frightened her.
It wasn’t simply sadness.
There had been fear in her voice.
As the car moved deeper into Amankwu village, Nkemdilim suddenly looked through the window.
Her eyes widened.
“Obinna…”
Obinna immediately turned toward her.
“What is it?”
Nkemdilim pointed toward the roadside.
“Stop the car!”
Maduka, who was driving, stepped on the brakes.
The car came to a sudden stop.
Everyone looked at Nkemdilim.
“What did you see?” Ebuka asked.
Nkemdilim was already opening the door.
She stepped out of the car and stared ahead in disbelief.
Across the road stood an old woman.
She was dressed in a faded wrapper, holding a walking stick in one hand.
But it wasn’t the woman’s appearance that shocked Nkemdilim.
It was her face.
Nkemdilim knew her.
“Impossible…” she whispered.
Obinna came down from the car.
“Nkemdilim, what is happening?”
She didn’t answer.
The old woman slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then the woman turned around and began walking away.
“Wait!”
Nkemdilim ran after her.
The woman suddenly increased her pace.
“Nkemdilim!” Obinna shouted.
He and Ebuka followed.
Maduka remained beside the car with Papa, who was now watching the strange scene with growing concern.
Nkemdilim finally caught up with the woman and grabbed her arm.
“Who are you?”
The woman turned slowly.
Tears were already running down her cheeks.
“You shouldn’t have come back here,” she whispered.
Nkemdilim’s heart began pounding.
“Why?”
The woman looked around nervously.
“Because the people you think are your enemies are not the ones you should fear.”
Nkemdilim froze.
“What are you talking about?”
The woman lowered her voice.
“Your family has been living a lie.”
Before Nkemdilim could ask another question, a loud voice came from behind them.
“Nkemdilim!”
Everyone turned.
It was Chisom.
She was standing several metres away, breathing heavily.
Her face was pale.
When she saw the old woman, she stopped abruptly.
“Mother…”
Nkemdilim’s eyes widened.
“Mother?”
She looked from Chisom to the old woman.
“You know her?”
Chisom slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
Obinna walked toward them.
“Who is she?”
Chisom wiped her tears.
“She is the woman who knows the truth about what happened twenty-five years ago.”
Papa, who had just arrived with Maduka and Ebuka, suddenly stopped walking.
His face changed.
He stared at the old woman as though he had seen a ghost.
The walking stick slipped from the woman’s hand.
“Eze…”
Papa’s lips trembled.
The old woman looked at him.
“You still remember me?”
A heavy silence fell over everyone.
Nkemdilim looked at Papa.
“Papa… you know this woman?”
Papa couldn’t answer.
His eyes filled with tears.
Obinna stepped closer.
“Papa, what is going on?”
The old woman looked directly at Nkemdilim.
Then she said the words that would change everything.
“Your father did not die the way you were told.”
Nkemdilim’s heart stopped.
“What?”
The woman continued.
“And the person responsible for his death is still living among you.”
Everyone gasped.
Ebuka stepped backward.
Maduka looked at Papa.
Obinna immediately turned toward Chisom.
“Is this what you called us here to hear?”
Chisom nodded.
“Yes.”
Nkemdilim’s voice trembled.
“Who killed my father?”
Nobody answered.
Then the old woman pointed toward Papa.
“He knows.”
Nkemdilim slowly turned to him.
“Papa?”
Papa lowered his head.
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
“I wanted to tell you…”
“Tell me what?” Nkemdilim cried.
Papa looked at her.
“That night, I was there.”
Nkemdilim covered her mouth.
Obinna stepped forward.
“What happened that night?”
Papa remained silent for a moment.
Then he whispered:
“I saw who killed your father.”
Suddenly, a loud scream came from behind them.
Everyone turned.
Chisom’s face had gone completely pale.
A man was standing at the entrance of the compound.
He had been listening to everything.
And when Nkemdilim saw his face, she recognized him.
It was the last person she expected to see.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Uncle…”
The man turned and ran.
“Stop him!” Obinna shouted.
Ebuka immediately took off after him.
Maduka followed.
Nkemdilim stood frozen.
The old woman grabbed her hand.
“Don’t follow them.”
“Why?”
The woman looked terrified.
“Because if he realizes that we know the truth…”
She paused.
“He will kill again.”
Nkemdilim’s blood ran cold.
And suddenly, she understood.
The secret that had destroyed her family for years was finally beginning to come to light.
But someone was willing to do anything to keep it buried.
TO BE CONTINUED…