Chapter 5: Escape to Redemption

The Morning of Departure

Morning broke on Elsie's departure day with thick mist hanging over the village. The air vibrated with suspense, and the usual din of the village awakening was muted, as if the world itself waited with bated breath. Elsie stood by her father's compound, small bag of private possessions slung over her shoulder. She had packed lightly—some clothes, a picture of her children, and a small keepsake from her mother. Not much at all, really, but whatever she could muster.

Her three children stood around her, each reacting differently to the estrangement that awaited them. Emmanuel, the eldest, who was seven years old, held Ada's hand tightly, his small face set and determined. He was always the dutiful child, the child who tried to carry more than he should at his young age. His eyes were troubled with anxiety, but he was steady, trying to be brave for his mother.

Ada, the youngest of the three at the age of three, clung to Elsie's skirt, her eyes brimming with tears. "Mama, do you have to go?" she wept, her voice trembling.

Elsie fell to her knees, her own heart breaking at the sight of her daughter's tear-stained face. "Yes, my love," she breathed, pushing a strand of hair back from Ada's forehead. "But I promise I will come back. And when I do, we will be richer. No more hunger, no more poverty. Just you, me, and your brothers, all together."

Ada nodded, though the tears did not cease. Elsie enfolded her in a close hug, with her own eyes welling with tears. She hugged Emmanuel tightly as well, her heart racing with love and determination.

And then there was Emenike, the middle child, aged five. His siblings were not like him; Emenike was not bothered at all by the formality of the occasion. He sat on the ground with them, playing with a small twig, poking holes in the dirt with a smile on his face. He hummed a little tune to himself, oblivious to everything else.

"Emenike," Elsie called softly, her voice tinged with both affection and frustration. "Come here, my boy."

Emenike looked up, his eyes wide and innocent, but he made no move to get up. "Why, Mama?" he asked, his voice light and unconcerned. "I'm playing."

Elsie sighed, pained by his blank stare. She walked over to him and knelt down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Mama is leaving for a little while," she spoke softly. "I need you to be good for Grandpa, okay? And look after Ada and Emmanuel."

Emenike shrugged, his expression a blank. "Okay, Mama," he grumbled, before going back to digging holes in the dirt with his stick.

Elsie's heart twisted in response to his callousness. She knew he was too young to understand fully what was going on, but his carefree heart hurt her nevertheless. She wanted some expression of worry, some recognition that he would miss her, but Emenike lived in his own world, insulated from the emotions that surrounded him.

She extended her hand and ruffled his hair, being able to muster a smile on her face. "I love you, Emenike," she breathed. "Never forget that."

Emenike looked up for a moment and mustered a tiny, absent-minded smile before returning to his stick. Elsie's heart ached, but she knew she could not ask for more from him. He was a child, after all.

She turned back to Emmanuel and Ada, embracing them in a tight hug. "Be good to Grandpa," she whispered to them. "And don't forget, Mama loves you more than anything in the world."

Pa Nwoko's Blessing

Pa Nwoko stood with him, crossed arms on chest, his face a mask of stoicism. But Elsie saw the discontent in his eyes, the unease that he struggled so vigorously to hide. She went and stood by him, her heart weighted with the responsibility of what she had decided.

"Papa," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Thank you for taking care of them. I promise to send money and provisions as soon as possible."

Pa Nwoko smiled, his face easing. "You are my daughter, Elsie," he said, his voice firm but low. "And I believe in you. But remember what I told you. Don't let the city change you. Don't forget who you are."

Elsie nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I won't, Papa," she said. "I promise."

Pa Nwoko reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but kind. "Go with God, my child," he said to her. "And may He guide your path."

Elsie nodded, her heart grateful. She looked back at her children again, her eyes filled with love and determination. "I will be back," she said to them, her voice firm. "I promise."

The Journey Begins

Cynthia arrived soon after, her car parking inside the compound with a soft hum. She stepped out, her eyes shining with warmth and comfort as she smiled at Elsie and her family.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Elsie nodded, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. She hugged her children once more, her arms trembling as she held them close. "I love you," she whispered. "Never forget that."

With a final glance at her father, who gravely nodded at her, Elsie climbed into the car. As the motor roared, she looked out the window, seeing her children until they were gone from sight.

The trip to the city took a long time in silence. Elsie sat quietly, her mind riddled with images of what could be. She dwelled on her children, the home she had left, and the hardships that lay ahead. But among fear and doubt, there was hope—a chance to start over, to rebuild, and to ensure her children had the future she should have given them.

A Fresh Start

As the car sped down the road of dust, Elsie was overcome with determination. She had come to her decision, and now there was no turning back. She would fight no matter what the city brought her way, and she would be the better for it.

Cynthia glanced at her, a small smile on her face. "You're going to be alright, Elsie," she said firmly. "I'll be with you every step of the way."

Elsie nodded, her heart full of gratitude. "Thank you, Cynthia," she breathed. "For everything."

And when the city skyline came into view, Elsie's heart overflowed with hope. This was her moment, her chance at a new life. She was not going to let fear hold her back. She was not going to be stopped by doubt. She would struggle for her children, for her future, and for the life she'd always dreamed about.

And she would not quit until she got it.