[STORY]:- The Darkest Side Of Love – Final Episode

Mercy left the country with the new man in her life. How she left, Jacinta didn’t know neither did she care.

Two months later, Jacinta got a call from her brother,

“Jacinta, Jacinta your hiding is over.”

“What happened?”

“Roy committed suicide. He killed himself.”

“Killed himself? How did he do that?”

“He left a letter. No he left a letter for both of you.”

“Letter? For me?”

“Yes. Members of his family brought the letter and Mercy is coming back for the burial. I think you should too. Roy is no more and can’t be a threat to you.”

Jacinta thought about it. She decided against travelling back to Nigeria. She asked her brother to represent her at the burial, collect her letter and send to her. She wanted to read what Roy had to write. She wondered why he would even want to write to her. She needed to close this chapter of her life and close it for good.

Eventually, the letter got to her. She opened it at night after her kids had gone to sleep. The letter brought tears to her eyes. This was a man she had loved with her whole heart. He had treated her like a queen and she enjoyed being with him and Mercy. If she didn’t discover the incest, they would still be happily married.

Dear Jacinta,

You are a wonderful, hardworking, loyal, caring and loving woman. You loved me so much that you believed anything I told you. I took your trust for granted. I should have told you about my relationship with Mercy but I knew that even though you loved me and you were so trusting of me, you also had strong morals. I knew you would not understand or accept the love Mercy and I shared. It was a bond that cannot be broken. I loved her in a way that I cannot explain. I couldn’t be apart from her just like I couldn’t be apart from you or the kids. I wish you understood, all this wouldn’t have happened.

I still love you very much. You gave me what Mercy couldn’t have given me morally. With both of you out of my life, there is nothing left to live for. I know you will take good care of my children. Please allow them to love each other. Allow them to have a bond. Don’t see it as wrong. It is love.

Everything I own has been willed to you.They deserve to know their father and also know that I loved them very much. I might not have done right by you but please let my children know me, know my family, bear my name and just be happy. Please, don’t overburden them with negative things about me or my family. Let them know me for good only. If this is all you can do for me please Jacinta, do it.

I have one more appeal. Please let Mercy be a part of the life of the children. Let them know their auntie. They mustn’t be close to any other person but let Mercy love them. She loves you too. Forgive us and give Mercy another chance.

I have to go. The people I loved the most in life have left me. I have nowhere to go. I have decided to take my life. I know ending my life will bring succour to many so it is better I go than everyone living in misery.

Roy.

Those words touched her. They pierced her heart. She cried. She cried because she fell in love with someone who loved her but loved someone else more. She cried because she knew that chapter of her life was and done with. She cried because she knew she could never forgive Roy for all she went through. She cried because she knew to love again will be difficult because she would have trust issues. Roy and Mercy had made her hard; she couldn’t trust anybody with her children. She was not interested in his possessions; all she wanted was to be left alone.

She got a call from her mother-in-law. She was surprised she got her phone number.

“Your father gave me your number. Roy willed some things to you. I have given the lawyer your contact. I know you don’t have interest in what he had but I will advise that the things be sold and placed in a trust for the children for when they are older. They would know their father left them something. They do not need to know the details. It can be a well-guarded secret.”

“What did he leave to Mercy?”

“It doesn’t matter what he left to her. Secure your children’s future.”

“I want to know what he left to me and what he left to her.”

“I will send you a copy of the will.”

She awaited the copy of the will from her email. Immediately it came in, she settled down and read it.

To my wife, Jacinta, I leave my house in Lekki, my shares, y royalties, my two cars, all the money in the bank and also all the money in my trust fund. I believe she will take good care of my children Mitch and Mirabel.

To my sister, Mercy, I leave the house in Surulere. It will be a reminder of when and where it all started. The house cannot be sold; it must be inherited only by family members who are genuinely in love.

Even in death Roy still held on to his desire for Mercy. He wanted her to constantly remember their incestuous lifestyle. It dawned on her then that most likely Roy was sick. The opportunity presented itself and he took advantage. He was crazy. She was glad he was gone. She had to check if her kids inherited his madness.

It’s been six years since the ordeal and life has moved on. Jacinta has refused to honour Mercy’s request for a visit. To her, it was like opening an old wound. She has not been able to have a relationship; her children are her life. She monitors the children very closely. They do not sleep together in the same room and they are never without supervision. She never allows sleepovers. She doesn’t leave them in the company of people she doesn’t know deeply. People think she is paranoid but this is always her response

“When you see people, they look normal but when you get to know them deeper; you will be amazed at thoughts or deeds they can be up to. In my own case, I saw a brother who loved his sister so much and showered her with so much love and attention. He married a wife and made her so happy and comfortable. The wife didn’t realize she was the cover up for their abominable acts. I never trust people I don’t know deeply. Never.”

For her children’s sake, she did not expose her ordeal. She wanted them to live a very normal life.

In Jacinta’s words,

I have forgiven Roy and Mercy and I have moved on with my life or what’s left of it. My advice to parents is “Be observant of your children. Create time for them. Don’t be too busy for them. Get close to them. Let them be able to confide in you. All topics should be open for discussion; don’t shy away from any topic. It’s our duty to protect and guide them. Change your schedules; older children know your pattern. Changing the pattern makes them uncomfortable to do things they can easily be caught doing. The best time to start is while they are young; the next best time is now before it is too late. It’s happening in homes but because of the stigma and scandal, it’s kept as a family secret. God help us.”