THE THINGS MAMA NEVER TOLD US

Episode Seven: The Secret Damilare Kept

I found Damilare waiting outside the house.

He looked worried, almost as if he had been expecting me.

“Start talking,” I said.

He looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“I knew Sade was alive.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Of course you did. Apparently, everybody knows something about my life except me.”

“Teni, please listen. I didn't know everything, but I knew Mama was keeping something from you.”

“How?”

He took a deep breath.

“Shortly before Mama died, I helped her organise some old documents. Among them was a letter from someone named Sade.”

I froze.

“Sade?”

“Yes. I recognised the name because I'd heard Mama mention it before. When I confronted her, she finally told me who Sade was.”

I folded my arms.

“And you kept quiet?”

“She told me Sade was your biological mother. She begged me not to tell you because she wanted to explain everything herself.”

I shook my head.

“So you agreed to keep me in the dark?”

“I thought I was protecting you, Teni. I was afraid you'd hate her. I was also afraid you'd misunderstand everything Mama did for you.”

I looked away.

“You should have trusted me enough to let me decide.”

“I know. I'm sorry.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he reached into his bag and brought out a small envelope.

“Mama gave me this. She said I should keep it until you were ready to hear the truth.”

My hands trembled as I collected it.

Inside was an old photograph.

It showed Sade holding a baby.

Me.

I stared at the photograph for what felt like forever.

There was something written behind it.

My little girl. I hope one day you'll understand why I had to leave.

My eyes filled with tears.

“Why would she leave me, Damilare?”

He moved closer but didn't touch me.

“I don't know everything, Teni. But I think you deserve to hear it from her.”

“From who?”

Before he could answer, someone called my name.

“Teni?”

I turned.

A woman stood at the gate.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and her hands trembled as she held the strap of her handbag.

I recognised her from the photograph.

It was Sade.

She slowly walked towards me.

“My daughter,” she whispered.

I couldn't move.

For the first time in my life, I was standing in front of the woman who had given birth to me.

And suddenly, I had a thousand questions.

But only one managed to leave my lips.

“Why did you leave me?”

She broke down in tears.

To be continued... ❤️