Reunited

Chiamaka always felt there's something missing in her life, she have always longed to have a sister but she wasn't seeing the possibility so she lived her life with that hole inside of her.

She has always caught her mother starring at one picture she kept inside a worn-out bible but each time she approach her mother and ask her what that was. Her mother will always said "not now my daughter", she always sense that something is wrong but can't place her hand on it.

She have lived like that for years but one day, she wouldn't ignore the feelings any more. She was weeping the house and found the same picture her mother has been starring at for years, she look at it closely.

"This person looks like me, the same round face, the same eyes, the same crook smile" she said to herself, then she turned the back and saw where they wrote boldly in ink_ chisom -2000.

She became curious, who exactly is this chisom that looks just like me, many questions was running through her mind but she have no answers to them, then she waited patiently for her mother to come.

When her mother came back, she approach her and greeted her, then she asked immediately after the greeting "mama, who is chisom?" Showing her the picture she found.

Her mother was shock, she asked her " where did you get that picture from"

"Mama, you haven't answered my question, who is chisom " she said to her mother.

" Chi chi chisom is your sister, my first daughter" her mother answered with tears in her eyes as sat down slowly as if her leg can no longer carry her.

"My sister?" Chiamaka shouted.

"Yes, your sister" her mother said to her

" How come I have never seen her, where is she?" Chiamaka asked.

"she was taken away from me, when she was just three years old, your father's brothers took her from me during a family crises, they said I am too young, too poor, too unfit to take care of her and they promised to take care of her but they don't know that I was pregnant with you that time, after that incident, I tried to found her but all to no avail, all doors in founding her were shout." Her mother said to her with tears in her eyes

She was so speechless that she don't know what to say again, she went to her room with tears and in shock of what she have heard leaving her mother in the parlour alone who was already pains and was crying.

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The revelation burned in her heart. That night, she couldn't sleep. She kept looking at the picture, running her finger over chisom's face. Something inside her screamed: find her.

Days turned into weeks, and chiamaka began searching. She asked her uncle's, her aunt, anyone who might know. Most shrugged, some avoided the questions, others gave vague answers. But one old uncle finally spoke.

"They took her to the city. Lagos. I heard she was raised by a wealthy family, but after that, I know nothing more."

The information wasn't much but it was helpful, she thanked him and went back home.

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Weeks gone, chiamaka have already saved enough money to travel in search of her sister, she told her mother but at first she disagreed with her, telling her that she's afraid to loose her too like she lost her sister but chiamaka assured her mom that she won't loose her and she have not lost her sister. " I am going to find her, mama, please allow me to go and I promise I will come back with my sister, your daughter" she said to her mother.

After many plead, she allowed her to go but with tears in her eyes.

Chiamaka thanked her mother.

The day, she was leaving, her mother ea crying bitterly but she reassure her that she will come back soon with her sister.

They both hugged each other and wept together and after some minutes, she was ready to go, her mother prayed for her and she left to the city.

Chiamaka boarded a bus to Lagos . the city overwhelmed her- crowded streets, endless traffic, neon lights. But she carried hope like shield.

She visited orphanage homes, churches, and she asked anyone she sees that looks like chisom. But all to no avail.
She felt like her search was foolish when she wouldn't find anything thing that is helpful. But she continued searching, hoping that very soon she will surely find her sister.

Then, one evening at a small restaurant, she froze. Behind the restaurant was a young lady gathering plates to wash. Her face....it was like looking into a mirror.

She went closed to where the young lady is and said to her" please excuse me"

The young lady came "okay, how can I be of help to you?" She asked chiamaka

She said"please don't be angry, are you chisom by name?"

The young lady answered" yes, I am and how did you know my name "

Chiamaka froze as she brought out the picture and and showed to her "do you know the person in this picture" she asked.

"Yes, that is me when I was small, how and where did you get the picture of me?"

"I am your sister "she said"mama have been looking for you and I came to Lagos I search of you as soon I heard you are in Lagos"

Chisom took the picture and looked at it and then looked at chiamaka, the resemblance was undeniable.

She shouted and jumped up as she embraced chiamaka" you know, I thought all this year's that mama abandoned me because the people I lived with never for once talked anything good about mama".

"No, she did not, you were taken away from her when you were still a little girl, she tried all she could to get you back but all seems to be impossible, she have kept this picture with her ever since you were taken and every night she cry's with it hoping that one day you will come back to her and today God have answered her prayer".

They both cried and later went into the restaurant and eat as they shared their life experience with each other.

After some days, they went back to the village, when they reached their village, they took bike to their house.

Reaching there, their mother who have sighted them from afar, came out running to them. She couldn't believe her eyes, she pinched herself thinking she was dreaming so that she will be able to wake up but everything was happening in real life.

She embraced chisom tightly as if she wouldn't leave her again as she was crying but this time around it was a tears of Joy.

She whispered to her ears"I thought I have lost you".

"Me too" chisom said with tears in her eyes.

Then her mother turned to chiamaka "thank you so much my daughter "

"Mama you don't have to thank me, okay"

The house was filled with joy, laugher, and tears. Neighbors came to see the miracle, and for the first time in years, Mama's heart felt whole.

As night fell, chiamaka and chisom lay beside each other, whispering like old friends.
Though time had stolen many years from them, they knew one thing for sure: nothing could ever separate them again.

Because no matter how far apart life had taken them, they were always meant to find each other _sisters written into each other's destiny.

Thank you for reading to this point, I hope you love it.

Love you all @obioma12

Images generated by metal Ai