“He was?”
“Yes, this ID is exactly the same as the one at home.”
“He has a home?”
“No, this used to be his home, their home with my mom, it’s where I grew up. Before they died…”
“He died?” breathed Samson.
“Yes, he got very sick after my mother died in a car accident. But before he passed away he told me he had a son. He said his was Samson, and that when he dies, he’ll come.”
“He said that?”
“Yes, he was a pastor, he believed so much. I have been waiting for you for a long time.”
“When did he die?”
“Two years ago.”
“So does he have other children, brothers or relatives?”
“No, I was the only one. He’s from Mozambique, that’s where our aunts, grandparents and the rest our family are,” Angel said, smiling, remembering her family.
“Huh, that’s far away. So how old are you?”
“Thirty one, and you?”
“I’m thirty five. He gave birth to you four years after me.”
“The sun is setting. Do you have any place to sleep?”
“No, I guess I’ll have to ask for your help.”
“You’re my brother, whatever you want, just ask. You’ll take one room, but it’s for free.”
“Thank you so much, I’ll pay you when I get a job.”
“You don’t work?”
“I used to work as a manager in the mines, but got retrenched and became a bricklayer,” Samson said.
“Oh! my husband is a builder too, I hope he’ll figure out something for you.”
“I’m very grateful.” Samson let out a breath and looked around. “So this place used to be his home?”
“Yeah, after they all died the house was left alone. As I live in my own home with my husband, I decided to build more rooms and rent them out.”
Samson settled in the room and the following day he met with his brother-in-law. He got to know his sister better, together with her husband. They started to work together and he started buying stuff for his room. Two weeks passed and still he hadn’t called Lulu. Each day, Lulu fell further into depression.
“Sister, what was father like?” asked Samson in thought.
“Lovely, kind and he loved church. He loved everyone around him and worked so hard to change people’s lives. He always talked about you. Every day he told me that I’ve got a brother but he didn’t know where you and your mother went.”
“Didn’t he tell you why he got separated from my mom?”
“Before he met with my mother, he wasn’t a pastor. He used to drink a lot, was abusive, which was why he separated from your mother.”
“He told you all of that?”
“Yes, he regretted abandoning you. That’s why he changed and became a pastor, but it was too late for him to find you.”
“And so he met yours?” Samson questioned.
“Yes, they met at church. They started dating and a few years later they got married, and gave birth to me.”
“Oh, so they left everything under your name?”
“Yes, but what’s theirs belongs to you too. We’re family. It’s his prayers that reminded you of home, and he guided you all way here.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
They talked all day and showed each other pictures of their lives, both past and present.
***
Tell us: Have you ever gotten to know a long-lost relative?