THE ABANDONED CHILD SHALL RISE AGAIN
CHAPTER ONE — The Birth of Hope
Once upon a time, in the peaceful land of Etinan, there lived a young woman named Ada. She was beautiful, gentle, and full of grace. Everyone who knew her admired her for her kindness, honesty, and the respect she showed to both elders and children alike.
As she grew older, her beauty shone brighter than ever. Many men sought her hand in marriage, but her heart was drawn to a man named John — a hardworking and humble man whose smile could light up the darkest night.
Their marriage was blessed with love and laughter, but as the years went by, sorrow crept into their hearts. They had no child.
For eight long years, Ada prayed endlessly, often crying to God in the quiet of the night.
> "Oh Lord," she would whisper, "what have I done to deserve this emptiness? Give me a child, even if it costs me everything."
Then, in the ninth year of February, God answered her prayers. Ada became pregnant. Her joy was beyond words, and she thanked God each day, singing praises as her stomach grew round with life.
But just when hope began to bloom, tragedy struck. John fell ill unexpectedly and died before he could see his unborn child. Ada's cries filled the whole of Etinan. She held his picture close to her chest and wailed,
> "If only you could wait a little longer, my love! If only you could see our child."
Despite her sorrow, Ada gave birth to a bouncing baby boy — her miracle. She named him Uduakabasi, meaning "God's Will."
Every night she would rock him to sleep, singing softly,
> "Sleep, my child, sleep.
For though your father is gone, his spirit watches over you."
Years went by, and Uduakabasi grew into a bright and loving boy. But when he turned nine years old, fate struck again. Ada fell ill and passed away, leaving the poor boy all alone.
He sat beside her lifeless body, crying and calling her name.
> "Mama, please wake up… please don't leave me too…"
But Ada was gone. The world suddenly became cold and empty for Uduakabasi.
CHAPTER TWO — The Trials of the Innocent
After his mother's death, Uduakabasi was taken in by his uncle, who promised to care for him. But his promise was hollow. Instead of love, Uduakabasi found cruelty.
He became a servant in his uncle's house — washing clothes, cooking food, and working endlessly from dawn till dusk. He was beaten for the smallest mistakes, and one day, his uncle stopped his education altogether.
> "You don't need school," his uncle barked. "You'll work for your food!"
Heartbroken and weary, Uduakabasi decided to run away. One night, while everyone was asleep, he slipped out of the house and disappeared into the darkness.
When his uncle discovered the next morning that the boy was gone, he only laughed.
> "Let him go," he said to his wife. "Good riddance."
Uduakabasi walked for miles until he reached the city. But life there was even harder. He had nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and no one to turn to. For four nights, he slept on the cold streets, hungry and shivering.
On the fifth day, a man announced he was looking for a house boy. Uduakabasi quickly stepped forward.
> "Sir, I can do the job," he said softly.
The man, Mr. Francis, studied him from head to toe. His clothes were torn, his face pale with hunger, but his eyes shone with honesty.
> "You start on Monday," Francis said. "Let's see if you're truly hardworking."
Uduakabasi began work and proved himself trustworthy. A month later, Francis's wife, Angela, returned from a trip abroad. The moment she saw Uduakabasi, her eyes lingered on him in a way that made him uncomfortable.
At first, he ignored it. But soon, Angela's looks turned into words and her words into temptation.
One afternoon, when her husband travelled for business, Angela called from her room.
> "Uduakabasi!"
> "Yes, madam!" he replied and hurried upstairs.
He found her wearing nothing but a towel. Before he could speak, she said boldly,
> "I want you. Come and make love to me."
Uduakabasi stepped back in shock.
> "Madam! You are my boss's wife! I can't do that."
Angela's face darkened.
> "If you refuse," she hissed, "I will tell my husband you tried to rape me."
Tears filled his eyes.
> "I will never fall into your trap," he said firmly. "Even if it costs me everything."
When Francis returned from his trip, Angela lied to him, crying crocodile tears.
> "Your house boy tried to rape me!"
Francis was furious. Without listening to Uduakabasi's explanation, he shouted,
> "Get out of my house! You're a devil in disguise!"
Uduakabasi begged, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Broken and humiliated, he wandered the streets again.
Then fate smiled on him once more. A woman walking past dropped her purse, and Uduakabasi ran after her to return it. She checked the contents and gasped — everything was still there.
> "You're an honest boy," she said. "Take ₦20,000 as a reward."
Uduakabasi shook his head.
> "No, ma. I don't want money. I just need a job."
The woman, Mrs. Peace, was touched.
> "Come with me," she said. "I'll take you to Abuja. You'll live with my family."
CHAPTER THREE — A New Beginning
In Abuja, Uduakabasi began working as a gatekeeper in Mrs. Peace's home. She had three children — Samuel, Joy, and Praise. Samuel was twenty, Joy eighteen, and Praise sixteen.
They welcomed Uduakabasi warmly. Over time, they became good friends, playing and laughing whenever their mother went to work. Mrs. Peace, who returned home every evening by seven, was pleased to see how well they got along.
One evening, Joy asked gently,
> "Uduakabasi, where are your parents?"
The question pierced his heart. Tears welled up in his eyes.
> "They're gone," he whispered. "My mother died when I was nine. My father before I was born."
Joy's eyes softened.
> "I'm so sorry," she said, holding his hand. "You're not alone anymore."
Her words comforted him, and soon a deep bond grew between them. But Joy's feelings turned into love. She tried to confess many times, but fear held her back.
One morning, Uduakabasi told them he would be travelling back to Etinan to visit an old friend. When Joy heard the news, her heart broke.
As he packed his bag, she burst into tears.
> "Don't go, Uduakabasi! I love you… I can't live without you."
Uduakabasi froze. He looked at her for a moment, then smiled sadly.
> "I'm coming back, Joy. But I'm not in love with you…"
He turned to leave, but before stepping outside, he added quietly,
> "…not because I don't want to — but because I'm afraid of losing my job."
Joy's tears stopped. She smiled through them, realizing what he meant. She hugged him tightly.
> "I'll wait for you," she whispered.
CHAPTER FOUR — The Rise of the Abandoned Child
Months later, Uduakabasi returned from Etinan. His love for Joy had only grown stronger, and together, they continued to build their dreams. Their love remained pure — guided by respect and patience.
Through hard work and dedication, Uduakabasi began to prosper. He started a small business that flourished and soon built a beautiful house for himself and Joy.
One evening, under the soft glow of sunset, he knelt before her and said,
> "Joy, you came into my life when I had nothing. You saw my pain and gave me love. Will you marry me?"
Joy covered her mouth in surprise, tears streaming down her cheeks.
> "Yes, Uduakabasi," she said. "A thousand times yes!"
Their wedding was the talk of Abuja. Friends, family, and even neighbours who once doubted Uduakabasi came to celebrate. Mrs. Peace gave her blessing, proud of the man he had become.
Years later, Uduakabasi fulfilled his vow. He returned to Etinan, reclaimed his late father's house, and drove out the uncle who had once mistreated him. He sold the property and used the money to expand his business.
Soon after, Joy gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. They named them Prince and Princess.
Uduakabasi looked at his children and smiled. From an abandoned boy to a man of success, he had truly risen above his past.
> "God's will has truly been done," he whispered.
And from that day on, the abandoned child never looked back — for he had finally found his place in the world.
Moral:
Even when the world turns its back on you, never lose faith. Destiny may delay, but it never denies.