THE CRY OF A WIDOW

In June 1997, during a rainy day, a woman found herself sitting in the rain, embracing her young child. They were both drenched and shivering. Addressing her mother's tears, little Amanda wiped them away and said, "Mummy, please stop crying. When I grow up, I promise to build you a grand mansion." The woman on the floor is none other than Mrs. Chinyere Okezie. Tragically, she lost her husband, Mr. Okezie, Amanda's father, to the hands of death on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 1996. Unjustly accused of his murder, Mrs. Okezie was left with nothing, stripped of all her possessions. The only treasure she had left was her beloved daughter, Amanda. Mrs. Chinyere, carrying her daughter, embarked on a journey to an unfamiliar destination. However, unsurprisingly, no one offered her shelter, as they all feared Mr. Okezie's brother, Obiekezie, who went by the nickname "Ekwensu" (devil). Known for his involvement in fetish and diabolic practices, he saw killing a human being as effortless as slaughtering a chicken or picking fruit from a tree, devoid of any hint of remorse. On the other hand, Chinyere, an orphan who grew up without any support, had no other choice but to start anew in a different environment. Awakening from her restless sleep due to a rustle in the bushes, Mrs. Okezie struggled to open her heavy eyelids when she suddenly heard approaching footsteps. In haste, she gathered her still slumbering daughter, who had been resting underneath the mango tree, and swiftly sought refuge in the nearby bushes. As the footsteps drew nearer, Mrs. Okezie caught a glimpse of four men carrying a travel bag. Despite the bright moonlight, she couldn't distinguish their faces due to the masks they wore. The men reached the mango tree and halted. "Someone has been here," asserted the tallest of the group. Adorned in black trousers, a black shirt, a pair of sturdy black boots, and possessing a resonant voice and deep-set eyes, this man named Austin called out, "Yes, boss," to which a thin man holding the travel bag promptly responded. "Search the area for any signs of danger," ordered the lanky man, handing off the bag to the person beside him, and sprung into action. In order to avoid being discovered, Chinyere crouched down low. After surveying the surroundings with a flashlight, the thin man reported, "Boss, it's safe." The four men congregated around the dwindling fire that Chinyere had previously prepared to keep herself and her daughter warm. Uncloaking themselves by removing their masks, they lit up cigarettes and emptied the contents of the bag onto the ground. The bag contained a substantial amount of cash and valuable items. As it turned out, these men were highway robbers, preying on unlucky victims.