Five years had passsd, and Ndukwe kept having different dreams of supernatural beings. However, he refused to say anything to anyone. Nobody understood him, including his parents and pastor.
Nobody believes him; everyone thinks that he is crazy or possessed by an evil spirit.
"I hate this world, and I wish I had not come to this world," he said while having a little argument with his mom.
"Well, I love you and want the best for you," his mom said," but you need to understand that you should face the reality of life and learn to talk to someone. When life becomes a dream, then death becomes a reality.
"What is the purpose of life?" Nobody understands me.
"Why would I talk to anyone when everyone thinks that I am crazy?" he said, as he ran into his room frustrated and crying.
Ndukwe! Ndukwe!! Ndukwe!!!!
"Oh my God, please God help my son," she prayed.
His dad was always away for business and would come back home only three to five times a month.
Ndukwe knew he was different from everyone else and felt like he was a prisoner of his mind. He became so bitter and hated everyone except a girl from his school named Ada.
One beautiful day after the close of school, Ada walked to Ndukwe who was sitting and had no intention of going home because he was so sad.
"The school is already closed, so why are you not going home?" Ada asked. "Nothing! I just feel like staying in school a little while longer," he replied.
"Ha ha ha ha," she laughed. "I know something is wrong with you; I can see it in your big green eyes. Well, you know that you can talk to me about anything" she said.
"Thank you so much, but I am okay. I just want to relax a little. The math homework is giving me a headache," he said. They both laughed.
"I don't believe you; you are the best in our class. Just stop lying to me," she said with a faint, low tone, looking into his eyes.
"Ada! Ada!! Ada!!"
she heard her name. "Oh, I have to go now; my mom is outside waiting for me. Please, go home. Everything will be okay," she said as she rushed to meet her mom.
Ndukwe stayed for about five minutes after Ada had left. 'Oh boy, I am still going back to that house, and face the world. A world where everyone thinks that I am crazy,' he said.
He knelt down and said, 'God, please, I have a lot of questions that I want to ask, but I just need you to make everyone know that I am not crazy. And please, I want you God to tell me my purpose on earth.' He prayed as little tears dropped down from his eyes to his cheek.
He took his bag and walked to the bus stop.
He sat at the middle sit of the bus; he pretended that he was asleep just to avoid people asking him so many questions. He heard people talking at the backseat of the bus.
Woman 1: (whispering) Have you noticed Ndukwe's green eyes and curly hair?
Man 1: (laughs) Yes, it's quite strange. I've never seen anything like it.
Woman 2: (snickering) I heard his mother made a deal with the devil for him. That's why he looks like that. Do you remember that his mom could not give birth to a child after ten years of marriage.
Man 1: (chuckles) That would explain a lot.
Woman 1: (smirking) But you know what? Ever since Ndukwe was born, our village has had good fortune.
Woman 2: (apprehensive) Yes, it's true. But still, there's something unsettling about him. I can't quite put my finger on it.
The bus jolts forward, and Ndukwe lowers his head, (pretending to be sleeping) feeling the weight of their words.
Man 1: (glancing at Ndukwe) Let's just hope that whatever brought him into this world doesn't bring any harm to us.
The bus continues on its journey, and Ndukwe sits in silence, feeling the weight of their words lingering in the air.
Ndukwe was sad! "I did not know that my parents spent 10 years of their marriage looking for a child" ( inner monologue).
But what about my birth? Was I wanted? Was I celebrated? Or was I merely a burden, an inconvenience that plagued those around me?
I can't help but wonder if my existence is a mistake. The world seems to constantly remind me of my looks.
What did I do wrong?
(I have a lot of questions to ask my parents)
Stop! Stop!! Stop the bus, Ndukwe said.
" I am coming down here," he wanted to give the driver money, (transportation fee) but the driver refused to accept.
"Greet your parents for me," the driver said.
I will, thank you sir!
He slowly walks into his home.
Ndukwe, how are you? His Mom said.
I am fine! Ndukwe replied.
"Why did you come home so late? I was worried about you, and I had to call Mrs. Chiamanda (teacher)," his Mom said.
"Mom! (Angry) Why did you call her?"
I had a really rough day in school and I decided to stay sometime in school to read a little," he lied.
"Anyway, okay. I was just worried. Go and eat, your food is in the kitchen."
All this time, he could not get the words he heard from those passengers out of his head.
'I will ask my mom about this,' he said.
He took a few bites of the meal he was eating but could not eat much because he had no appetite anymore. So, he went to shower and tried to sleep. (He was having a severe headache because of so many thoughts and unanswered questions).