Mom walks into my room with a bunch of cloths in her hands.
"Eyinjueledumare, I packed your clothes for you." She stared at me waiting for a response but she doesnt know I can't hear her at all. My ears are buried in thoughts. She walks to me and taps me and I regain stability.
"Ewaoluwami. Eyinjueledumare. My daughter. Why are you looking downcast? You have been like this for days. What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"
I cringe at the names she calls me. Those are my native names. Oh. I haven't introduced myself.
I am Grace Ewaoluwa Eyinjueledumare Thompson..
Grace was given by my grandmother. She claims it's God's grace that brought me to my family after 5 years of fruitless search for a baby. Ewaoluwa, meaning God's beauty, was given by my mom. I am as beautiful as her. She usually calls me Ewaoluwami, The beauty of my God. Eyinjueledumare, meaning The Apple of God's eye, was given by my best friend, my father. He never calls me Grace. He always refers to me as Apple or Eyin.
Hearing my mom call me these names, especially the one my dad gave me, brings tears to my eyes.
She looked alarmed seeing me cry and she buries me in a tight hug.
"Mom, I miss dad. Why did he have to leave me? Why did he leave us? Why didn't God save him?" I speak up amidst tears.
"Ewaoluwami, the bible says there is time for everything. God knows why your dad had to leave even though....." She stops when she notices I steel myself against hearing the name, God. The one name that doesn't exist in my vocabulary.
After staring at me for a while, she holds my hands. "Grace, I have good news for you." Neglecting my expression of indifference, she continues.
"Before your dad died, he had set up an account for you, in your name. The money saved there was to send you to the best secondary school in Nigeria and also to take you through university." My face lit up.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier on?" I look at her intently.
"Well, I got a call from the family lawyer yesterday,. The bank reached out to him and he gave me the good news. I have asked my friends to make recommendations on any good boarding school so you can start Ss2 next week. The term is already far spent. We are in the third week already."
Before she could finish, I hug her tight and smile to myself. Even if my bestie isn't here, I still feel him. He made the best choice for me as always.