Why are you here?

Though there was still some doubt in her heart that it could all be fabrications. Ego accepted his story; she had nothing to lose. What other things could be making a grown-up man cry if not genuine hurt and pain? With compassion and pity, she said; "Come here!" and gave him, a hug, Still, at it, she whispered into his ears "You have been through a lot, my dear. I can feel your pain. It must feel like the gods of your fathers have forsaken you. But take it from me, your journey to a better life, one far better than those of your wildest imagination is about to commence. After all, it is after the darkest hour comes to light; so don't lose faith" she concluded gently tapping him at his back.

Gently pulling away from the hug and flashing a smile he said "Thank you; it feels good to hear those comforting words from you".

Returning his smile, she said, "I'm a little confused".

"Why?"

"How long have you been banished?" she inquired.

"Well over a year now. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering whether if it was on the same day that you were banished that you saw me in the forest, but clearly it is not. Why then were those people after you that night?"

"I was ostracized with nothing, not even a keg of water to quench my thirst with. I hurriedly traveled to our neighboring village with high hopes that the son of a popular trader was going to be welcomed. But to my greatest surprise, the words of my banishment got there before me. I was rejected by the villagers and the so-called associates of my father. I had to result to begging for water and food in other to stay alive. I went from village to village seeking for where I will be accepted but somehow I kept meeting the same fate. I never stayed in a village for more than a day until I got to this forest. This was the only place that accepted me fully. I found my place here". He paused to catch his breath and took a look at Ego who was paying him undivided attention, before proceeding.

"Now to answer your question; three days before we met, I traveled to my village to check on my uncle, stepmother, and sisters. I was curious about their well being. I got there to discover that my uncle has inherited all my father's belongings including my stepmother and they were living happily

together. At the sight, I became furious with anger. How can he with the help of my step-mother murder my parents in cold blood, had me banished for it and was now living happily with what is rightfully mine? It was extremely hurtful to have seen them happy after terminating the life of my parents and basically mine.

I was still planning on to deal with them when I was spotted by Okenwa; the first son of my uncle. He quickly raised an alarm but I made sure I gave him a beating he would not forget in a hurry and then fled. I ran and they followed me back here" he said sounding pissed and angered.

"They must have been the people I saw that night while I was outside the hut" she stated.

He took a deep breath, exhaling some of the anger.

"Was your uncle not previously married?"

"He was, to Ndidi. She gave him three sons Okenwa, Onyeneke and Emenike. For those two days, I watched them from afar, I never set my eyes on her. Maybe they got rid of her; my stepmother would never agree to be a second wife".

"What about you, were you not married?"

"No, but I was betrothed to Ukamaka. The marriage was arranged by my father. It was aimed at bringing both families closer. I only met her once, when we were children. My parents died before the fixed day of the marriage. Right from the unset, I was not interested. It was one of the issues we quarreled about".

"That means you have been living here for a while now. How have you managed to stay alive amidst all these evil wildlife?"

"I had my fair share of the craziness. I deal with the evils one at a time. But as for the wildlife, they are the reason why I'm still alive having the conversation with you right now. Earlier when I just got here, I basically hunt just to stay alive; consuming whatever I caught. But after a while, I was getting more animals than I could consume, especially rabbits. So I did a trick my grandfather taught me. I bathed the rabbits with warm water, made a cage and kept them. At night, I left them out in search of food to return the next morning. I began rearing rabbits and with the trick, I kept them under control. Took the fully grown ones to the nearest village path and made an exchange for other needed items from the traders" he concluded.