Thread by @Tales4rmdHearth

She let the phone ring a couple of times.
Trying to mask her irritation, she breathed out before picking up her phone.
'Good afternoon?'
'Elo bem.'
'Dad?'
'Elo bem.'
'Yes dad,' she breathed out.

'Come home.'
'What?'
'Come home...please. '
An image of his eyes crinkling at the corners, came to her mind. When she was little,his eyes were full of mirth...always amused. But on that day when he had disowned her, those eyes had been red with anger and disgust.

'Elo, we have erred as your parents and we seek your forgiveness,' he paused, 'I cut off my nose to spite my face and I've been walking around with a festering sore. '

At that moment, every anger Elo had towards him...them, dissipated into thin air. She'd been praying for this

moment for years.
But wait! She thought. Isn't this how people say it happens?
Aging parents only reach out when they are about to die so that they leave you with guilt and burden of unforgiveness. Her eyes filled with tears. Her throat clogged with so much emotion

as she considered this manipulative angle. But one thing she was sure of is, she's tired of holding a grudge. A grudge of 12 years. A grudge that has separated her, her husband and children from her parents.

Manipulative or not,she was going to accept it, even though her heart told her it wasn't. Her father has forgiven his only child and daughter for marrying an osu. No! It's too big of an effort to be manipulative.

God! When was the last time I saw my parents?12 years and 7 months. 12 full years and seven months! She thought in despair and tried to choke back her tears.
'Elo bem, we want to see you and our grandchildren.Your husband too. We are tired of sleeping on your facebook page. '

That did it. That simple
acknowledgment
broke her down and she wailed. When she calmed down, it dawned on her that father had also been crying with her.
'Your mother wants to see you. She says she's too ashamed to talk you on the phone.'

'Tell her I'm also ashamed for not reaching out all these years. So much has happened and I want to share all with her.'

'Then do so. Come home that I may look upon your face again...or can we come visit you?' he asked tentatively.

Elo's husband came to her mind immediately.

' No dad!' Elo knew she needed to convince her husband. He was a good but so much bad blood exists and it would take all of them time to heal.
'Don't worry, dad. We will come home next week. We will be with you next week.'

@threadreaderapp pls unroll thread

Elo's dad broke into a song.
' I am serving a God of miracle, I know, yes I know...' Elo joined him and when they were done, he exclaimed
'12 years, 3 months and 2 weeks.'
'I know, dad.'
Then in a whisper, 'I'm so sorry.'
'Elo, I take the blame. It is well. Come home please.'

Elo's dad bade his only child  a good night, cut the call and then turned to his wife who was lying beside him the whole time. In an emotional voice, he quietly said,
'Ekwutosi, she's coming home.'
He reached out for her limp hand and held her as she cried quietly.

#FictionAt10am