A home that was once known for peace and unity suddenly became divided. If my uncle and his wife weren't arguing, it was either his wife and my mother or my siblings.
We have tried countless times to make things right and bring back the unity that was once in the family, holding family meetings countless times, which often ended in disputes.
It became a thing of concern for me. I am a person who loves peace. I love my space and hate any form of disturbance. But living in my family's house, one can only dream of having such a life.
Most times, I sit quietly in my room and wish my Dad were still alive so that we could have peace and a serene environment once again, but wishes are not horses; we can't ride them anywhere we want.
My family house is no different from the marketplace; you can barely go three hours without experiencing any form of discomfort from quarreling in the house.
We were just living like wool and fire; everyone was looking for the slightest opportunity to create a scene. Small issues that could be solved amicably would result in something big that gathers a crowd.
The shame was much on me; sometimes I felt embarrassed to talk about my family to people. But I guess these things are common in family houses.
One of those days, I was taking a siesta after having a long and exhausting day. Just as I managed to get some sleep, I began to hear noise coming from the compound.
It felt like a dream at first, then it started becoming real as it became louder. I opened my eyes and sluggishly headed to the window to peep.
The crowd in the compound was unbelievable; it was as if the entire neighborhood was summoned.
At first, I thought it was something that happened to someone in the house. I quickly opened the door and stepped outside.
After managing to go through the crowd, I saw my uncle outside his door, knocking hard and exchanging words with his wife, who locked herself inside the room.
It was such a shameful sight, seeing elderly people around trying to calm him down to no avail.
I quietly walked back into my room and sat at the edge of my bed in despair. Different thoughts began going through my mind.
I thought of different ways to bring peace back to the family, but all that I reasoned was once done; however, it yielded no results.
I wanted a happy life again. I wanted somewhere I could wake up and not hear any unpleasant noise from a quarrel. I knew that my desire was possible, but the only way out was to leave that vicinity.
My father was building a house in a distant location, in another community before he passed on. The house was roofed and has doors and windows fixed already. It just needs a few things like fixing ceilings, flooring, and setting up the restroom.
A few days after the latest quarrel in the house, one fateful Sunday, after church service, I decided to talk to my mother.
She was still preparing for a meeting when I knocked at the door. “Yes, who is there?” she asked audibly.
“Mommy, it is me, Emreal.”
“Come inside, the door is open," she replied.
The room smelled nice; the fragrance of her perfume permeated the whole place.
“You look beautiful, Mom, and your perfume smells good.”
“Thanks, my dear,” she smiled.
“This one, you are dressed beautifully. I know you are going out,” I teased her.
“Yes, I have a meeting by 2:00 pm," she replied.
"But it's barely 12:00 pm. Why are you dressed already?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Mommy Glory is coming to pick me up by 1:30 pm. I don't want to keep her waiting when she comes,” she answered.
“Okay, I wanted to discuss something with you, but since you have somewhere to go, I will wait till you come back,” I replied.
She paused for a moment, then dropped the shoe she was cleaning and sat down. “Let's talk.”
“No, mom, I don't want you to be late,” I replied.
“No, I insist, let's talk,” She objected. “What is the problem?”
I sighed deeply, letting out my air from my nostrils heavily. “Mom, I am sick and tired of living in the commotion of this house. Since our father died, everything just went bad. I don't even know what peace looks like anymore.”
Hmm, she sighed, “I understand, my dear. I am also tired, but what can we do? Your father's house is in a distant location. I can't leave my business here to go over there. Even if I wanted to leave, the cost of transportation coming here and going back daily would choke me.”
“It's fine, mommy, but I am leaving. I have had enough of this house. I need somewhere I can have peace, and experience quietness, somewhere free from consistent quarrels.”
“Emreal, you have grown up. If that's what would give you peace, go ahead. I won't stop you from living your dream life. But you know there's still work to be done in that house, and I don't have money to support you right now,” she replied.
I paused for a moment and began to smile. It was as if I were released from a cage.
“Thanks, Mom. All I wanted was your consent. I have some money to fix a room in the house.”
“Okay, if you say so, you have my consent,” She replied.
The following day, I got a carpenter and we went to the site. He gave an estimate for everything I needed, and I bought them. Within that week, I fixed the room and relocated.
For the very first time in my life, I slept and woke up without hearing a noise.
I didn't believe that the day had truly broken.
When I opened my eyes, I checked my phone, and it was almost 8:00 am. I thought I was dreaming.
I had to open the door, walk around in the compound, and step outside to greet my new neighbors just to verify that it was not a dream.
I finally had the life I wanted. I slept and woke up, no quarrels, no noise. I could freely sit in the compound and have a nice time alone. I had peace in abundance.
Nevertheless, the first two weeks were not easy for me. I was missing my mother and my siblings, but after some time, I got used to being alone, and I never regretted making that decision.
Two years back, my mom and siblings also joined me, and we now have a full house: me, my mother and my siblings. Now I don't only have peace, I have love and family. It feels like old times when my dad was still alive.
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