Mend Broken Relationships.

"I think I should fix things with my mom" he said.

Isn't it amazing how many great reconciliations people make when having heard the sound of death's knock at their door.

Michael did not really have a great relationship with his mother , neither did Derrick. Their mother used to drink alcohol everyday ,she would come home drunk everyday and she would both physically and emotionally abuse them. Their mother started drinking alcohol and become addicted after she was fired at work, where she worked as a Journalist at a news company . She was fired after having been found for sleeping with her boss, the boss's wife found out about this matter and threatened the boss to fire the mother or else she was going to take this to the newspapers. Out of fear of losing his dignity and tainting his reputation, the husband / boss fired the mother . Derrick and Michael's mother did not only get depressed over losing her job but also losing her husband to divorce , after getting fired at work , She had to explain what she had done that made her get fired with immediate effect, The husband realised that he could not bare with such and decided to pack his bags and move to China after filing for divorce.

Since then Michael's mother became a drunkard , she drank everyday and every hour of the day and this continued for months and months until it was years , she abused her Children everytime she was drunk ,she would verbally , physically and emotionally abuse them. One day , Michael found a woman and decided to introduce her to his mother , "Mom this is Jada and.." ,before he could even finish his sentence,his mother threw a hot slap at him. "You have a nerve bringing ho*s in my house ,you think you're gonna be together forever? that's never going to happen , she's going to leave you because you're as useless as your father" she would say. ever since then , everytime Michael brought Jada home and his mom would see her ,she would swear at her and say all the painful things you could think of. But until one day when Jada had had enough of her mother In law's insults , she then made up her mind and decides that she would no longer go to Michael's place.

Then came their wedding , their first wedding . They did not invite Michael's mother because they knew she would get there and ruin everything and she was probably going to be worse when she saw Michael's father , but either way , she came and ruined everything. She poured beer on Jada's dress and swore at everybody who was there. That was the last strike , Michael and Derrick from that day on all moved from America to China to stay with their father , but Because their father believed that the newlyweds deserved their spaced ,he rented them an apartment in China and that was how they left.

"But do you think that's a good idea?" Jada asked.

"I mean , yeah. I can't die without making peace with my mom, I want to die peacefully."

"Okay I support you in anything you do , when are you planning to leave for America?"

"Aren't you coming with me?"

"No, I don't think I can face your mother after everything she has done to me".

"But baby we promised that we would use the time I have left to fix our mistakes ,and that means to mend Broken Relationships too."

"What if she still hates me Michael?"

"She never hated you Jada , she just had a lot going on , she took out her frustrations on people and I'm sure she has overcome that ,But we will never know until we go there. I'll also tell Derrick to come with us ,because I think he also needs closure"

Jada ended up agreeing so they both left to talk to Derrick to try and convince him that this was the best thing to do , Derrick being the soft hearted man he was ,he agreed to this. Although he was hesitant, he made sure to help fulfill every wish his brother had . They then packed their bags and went over Michael's father's house.

"Dad , we're going to American, I'm going to make amends with Mother . Would you like to come ."

"No ,but you may leave my little girl "

Both the brothers understood that maybe their father was not ready to face mother after all the Pain she had caused him ,so indeed they left Joy with her grandfather and a list of things he should do when she is crying or doing other things.

The two brothers and the wife indeed left the house and headed for the airport, and within a few minutes they arrived, they got into their flight and no one spoke to the other ,the tension could be cut with a knife . They were both so worried about the decision they had taken , they didn't know what they would do when they get there , what they would say and how they would look at her after everything she had done . They didn't know if they were really ready to forgive her ,if they would be able to put everything to rest and move on , but all of that depended on wether the mother was ready to change ,wether she was ready to apologize or not.

The flight landed in a few Hours and they headed for the Mother's house. They were unsure of whether she still stayed where they used to all stay back then but the only way to find out was if they go there. "Hey I'm Derrick, we're looking for Ms Alsina , does she still live here?"

"Who are you?"

"oh sorry , I'm her son, is she here?"

"Ohh Derrick Genaro, she always talks about you and Michael. you must be Michael ,Hey.." she said ,opening her hand to greet Michael. "I'm Asanda , I have been looking after Ms Alsina for the past 2 years , if you may please ,follow me." , she continued.

They all looked at each other wondering why their mother would need someone to look after her , or maybe she had finally found her feet and hires a maid or something. They continued to walk behind her as she led them to the bedroom. they were shocked at the sight of their mother lying in bed , looking as though life had already taken from her ,her soul and all that was left of her was the bones. They got closer and with a very small voice Derrick said "Mother , I am Derrick , I'm here with Michael and his wife Jada..Do you still remember her? they got married again"

"I know , I may be unable to do things for myself but I am still able to see."

Derrick took this offensively, he just wanted to stand up and go but Michael held his hand to stop him from going, they all were quiet and were looking at her.

"I have been waiting for you guys to come . I want to apologize, for everything that I have done and said to you , I know I wasn't the best mother you could have ever asked for , and I'm sorry for that , if I could go back in time ,the first thing I would really like to do is to try and change my ways. I would try to be the best mother you could ever have. And Jada , I'm sorry. I'm sorry for taking all my frustratio..." she coughed .Michael brushed her hand to motivate her to continue ," I'm sorry for taking out my frustrations on you . i really hope that one day you find it in your heart to forgive me" she said ,

"I forgive you mother ,I really love you. I did not want to leave this world without having fixed things with you "said Michael

"Leave this world..." she asked out of confusion.

"I have Cancer mother and I have only two Months left to leave"

"I'm so sorry son ,Derrick .. I'm sorry for all the things I did to you , please find it in your heart to forgive me"

"I forgive you mother" he said.

"I also forgive you Ms Alsina " Jada said.

"Thank you my children, for all those things I said to you, I apologize. please do know that you're worth it all and you deserve only the good things in this world" she said as they all gathered around her bed to hug her. as they returned to their seats she spoke again "Where is Joseph" referring to Derrick and Michael's father ,"He couldn't come because of uhmm work purposes." Derrick stuttered.

"Please call him for me" she begged.

so they did , "Joseph I would like to apologize for everything I did to you , there is no excuse in this world that can justify my actions ,please find it in your heart to forgive me, that's all I wanted to say , my soul will never find peace if you do not forgive me" she said

"I forgave you a long time ago Josephine "

"Thank you Joseph, Take care."

They hanged up and started to make some small talk.

" So ..we have a child now Mother"said Michael

"Ohh congratulations my children. Can I please see her "

"We will definitely bring her the next time we come here mother" said Jada.

"My child there will be no next time . Can I please see her picture"

Jada took out her phone to show Ms Alsina Joy's picture. she took the phone into her hand and she smiled , with tears coming out of her eyes.

"Thank you dear lord . " she said . " She looks just like her "

they all looked at her in confusion.

"She looks just like who ,Mother?" asked Derrick.

"She looks just like your older sister who left me 7 months after she was born."

"Mother you never told us about this" Said Michael.

"Because I was not brave enough to do so, I was never brave enough to do anything" she said

"mother don not say that "

"It's true , but I thank you for coming here . thank you for apologizing and giving me the peace my soul has been yearning for"

They all were getting emotional at this point, they regretted themselves for coming to mend relationships this late ,maybe had they come earlier to fix things ,maybe had they come earlier to see their mother , maybe , maybe then they would've gotten a chance to spend a few more years with her. "Name her Michelle , In remembrance of your older sister who you never met ,now that you have this child , we might as well take it as though you have already met her. Because this child is Michelle , in each and every way" she said

"Mother actually her name is Michelle" said Jada,

"Then the universe works in mysterious ways. Asanda my child, Thank you. I will continue to look after you even when I am gone." she said as she closed her eyes to sleep forever.

Everyone cried but none could match Asanda's cry. she screamed her lungs out .She was her pillar of strength, she loved her more than anything in this world and she treated her like her own daughter, Asanda now had no one in this world , the only person she had considered her mother was now taken away by death ,oh how painful this death thing was. Everyone gathered around and they hugged Asanda and tried to comfort her as much as they could , and in some way , the fact that their mother had tried to fix her mistakes through someone else made them happy , she may have not been a great mother to them , but she sure was to Asanda.

2 Days later , everyone who was in China , meaning the crew and Michael's father and child came down to America for the burial of Michael's mother. They buried her in a gold handle , white coffin , she was buried like a queen. After the funeral ,at the after tears , Aya met Asanda and fell In love with her at first sight . They spoke and we can indeed say they connected , could we say that maybe this was the one Aya would change for? we wouldn't know.

well now Mending Broken Relationships was finally scratched out from the list.

Michael and Jada asked Jada to love to China with them ,they rented her an apartment there and now she was like a part of their family. Infact ,she became family.