chapter 8

. A month had passed since Roses's departure, a month filled with tears, fears, and missed opportunities for the truth to be told. Adebayo, immersed in the daily rhythms of parenting, found a measure of comfort in his son's smile and the warmth of their relationship. Nadia, in the meantime, was still struggling to deal with the guilt from her lie and clung to their phone conversations like a lifeline. Adebayo and Anjola's voices were a comfort to her broken heart. However, Roses's calls grew less frequent as the days went by.

Adebayo, his heart heavy with worry, tried to shake off the gnawing sense of unease that had taken root in his mind. Rose's sudden absence, her silence, it all felt like a harbinger of something he couldn't quite name. As the days stretched into weeks, Adebayo's anxiety grew, his calls to Rose going unanswered. The silence, like a thick fog, enveloped him, casting a shadow over the joy he found in his son's laughter.

Adebayo, his mind raced with unanswered questions, he knew that something had gone somewhere and Rose wasn't coming back to him again and he also knew his son deserved the best of him, he knew he needed the warmth and love that he had once gotten from his mother. Adebayo with a heavy heart, then packed a bag and headed to his mother's house in Lagos, leaving Anjola in the care of his grandmother. Anjola was enrolled in school by his grandmom. Because of his cheerful personality which was a magnet for friendship, he started his primary school journey in the warm embrace of '' Mountain Top.'' On his first day of school, the young boy's laughter and sparkling eyes charmed his classmates, forging a bond between them on the playground and the classroom alike. As Anjola continued his schooling at ''Mountain Top'', his teachers couldn't help but notice the bright, inquisitive spark in him. He was not only friendly, but also very smart, and his teachers loved how he always listened well and worked hard in class. Anjola's first year of primary school was a shining success, his hard work and natural intelligence propelling him to academic stardom at '' Mountain Top.'' As the year drew to a close, he basked in the admiration of his peers and teachers alike, earning straight distinctions in every subject and becoming one of the school's most outstanding students. His grandmother beamed with pride, her heart swelling with joy and love for the bright young boy whose future shined like a star on the horizon. With each passing year, Anjola continued to ascend the academic ladder, his name becoming synonymous with brilliance and hard work. His classmates watched in awe as he topped his class with ease, his name regularly adored the honor roll. But as Anjola basked in the glow of his success, a storm was brewing on the horizon. One day, In the weeks leading up to the biannual inter-house sports competition, the excitement at '' Mountain Top'' reached fever pitch. Anjola, his passion for sports burning bright, eagerly volunteered to represent his house in the race, eager to showcase his speed and agility. The preparations began in earnest, the students grouping for daily practice. But one fateful day, as Anjola paused for a break after a strenuous run, an excruciating pain shot through his body. He cried out in agony, the sound ringing through the air and piercing the joyous atmosphere of the practice field. The teachers, alerted by Anjola's cries of distress, rushed to his side, their faces pale with concern. They tried everything they could to help alleviate his suffering, but the pain only seemed to intensify. As Anjola writhed in agony, he continued to scream, his cries echoing through the air. '' My bones, they hurt !'' he wailed, tears streaming down his face. The teachers, at their wit's end, quickly made the call to Anjola's grandmother, their voices trembling with fear and urgency. Anjola's grandmother, her heart pounding with worry, raced to the school, her thoughts consumed by the pain in her grandson's voice. When she saw him, his face twisted with agony, she cradled him in her arms, the warmth of her embrace a feeble shield against the onslaught of his suffering. '' Grandma, its hurts, it hurts,'' Anjola cried, his voice a high-pitched plea.'' '' I  know, my dear, I know,'' she soothed her voice a calm oasis amid the storm. Anjola's grandmother, her arms wrapped tightly around her grandson, carried him in her car, her eyes never leaving his face. With a single-minded determination, she drove him to the nearest hospital, her heart pounding with a desperate hope that the doctors would be able to provide some relief. As they arrived at the hospital, Anjola's pain seemed to intensify, his cries growing louder with every passing second. The nurses rushed him into the emergency room, his grandmother at his side, her hands clasped in prayer. The nurses, gentle but firm, led Anjola's grandmother to the waiting area. '' Please, stay here, ma'am,'' one nurse said kindly, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. '' The doctor will be with him soon, and you'll be able to see him then.'' Anjola's grandmother nodded, her eyes fixed on the closed door, her mind consumed by the thoughts of her beloved grandson. She waited, her heart racing with every passing second, her hands clasped in a silent plea for his comfort and healing. The wait seemed to stretch for an eternity before the doctor finally emerged from the emergency room, his expression gloomy. Anjola's grandmother stood, her legs trembling as she faced the doctor. '' How is he?'' she asked, her voice barely audible. The doctor sighed, his eyes filled with compassion. ''I'm afraid your grandson has sickle anemia. That's why he is experiencing so much pain. He'll need to be monitored closely and given appropriate treatments.'' Anjola's grandmother, her face a mask of shock and horror, sank back into her chair, her heart shattering into a million pieces. The doctor, sensing her distress, leaned forward, his tone was stern but compassionate.'' Anjola's biological parents must be informed of his condition as soon as possible. We'll need to develop a treatment plan with them. In the meantime, we'll give him some injections to help manage his pain and monitor him closely. He'll need to remain in the hospital until he's stable enough to go home.'' Anjola's grandmother, her mind spinning with a whirlwind of emotions, nodded numbly. '' I'll call them right away, '' she said, her voice cracked as she spoke. Anjola's grandmother dialed Adebayo's number with trembling fingers, her heart aching at the news she had to deliver. '' Adebayo, she began, her voice quivering. ''it's Anjola. He's in the hospital. He has sickle cell anemia. and the doctors need to speak to you right away.'' Adebayo's world seemed to collapse around him as he absorbed the words.'' I'll be there tomorrow,'' he said, his voice filled with fear.

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