Abandoned - S01 E08

Story 19 hours ago

Abandoned - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

ABANDONED, Episode Eight

Benny remained in the hospital for days, trapped in a cycle of hunger and helplessness. She was allowed to stay with her babies, but nothing more. The nurses gave her small meals, barely enough for one person, let alone a breastfeeding mother of four. Her body became weaker each day. Her bre.asts stopped producing milk. Her babies cried endlessly, hungry and restless. Benny tried everything to comfort them, but she had nothing left to give. She lay on the hospital bed, tired and defeated. She felt forgotten by the world, unsure if anyone still cared or remembered what she was going through.

Meanwhile, at the construction site, the manager continued to worry. He remembered the woman who had worked under the sun just to feed her babies. One afternoon, Clara, the woman who worked with a charity organization, arrived at the site with her team. She had watched the viral videos and felt deeply moved.

"We are looking for Benny," she said. "The woman with the four babies who was arrested."

The site manager stood up quickly. "You came just in time," he said. "She was taken back to the hospital. Come with me. I'll take you there myself."

They entered Clara's van and began searching. They asked around, went from one hospital to another. Finally, a nurse at one small clinic confirmed it. "Yes," she said. "The woman with quadruplets is here. She's in the ward at the back."

Clara and the manager rushed in. What they saw broke their hearts. Benny was lying on a thin mattress, her babies beside her, looking pale and sickly. She looked up slowly when she heard footsteps. When she saw the manager and Clara, she tried to sit up but didn't have the strength. "You found me," she whispered. Her voice was weak.

Clara ran to her and held her hand. "Yes, we found you, Benny. It's over. Everything is going to be okay." Benny couldn't believe it. She blinked rapidly, still unsure if she was dreaming. Clara asked to see the hospital administrator.

She was told that Benny could not leave until the N780,000 bill was paid. Clara opened her bag and brought out cash. "Here's one million naira," she said. "Clear her bill and let her go. She needs real care."

The administrator was shocked. "Who are you people?" he asked.

"Good people," Clara replied. "Unlike you."

Benny and her babies were discharged immediately. Nurses helped her carry the babies out of the hospital. As she stepped into the sunlight, she took a deep breath. It felt like breathing fresh air for the first time in weeks. Clara brought out bottled water and some biscuits and gave them to her. Benny ate quickly, then turned to the site manager.

"You came back for me," she said. "You remembered me." The manager smiled. "I had to. You're strong, Benny. You didn't deserve what happened to you." Benny nodded slowly, too overwhelmed to speak. Then she looked at Clara with wide eyes.

Clara smiled warmly and said, "You don't have to suffer again, Benny. You don't know this, but people all over the country watched your video. They saw you carrying water on your head.

They saw the police take you and your babies. away. And they helped. We received over N20 million in donations."

Benny gasped. She stood up slowly and then dropped to the floor. She rolled over and began to cry. "God, thank you," she said repeatedly. She held Clara's legs. "You saved me. You saved my children. I don't know what I would have done without you."

The site manager also knelt beside her and helped lift her to her feet. "This is just the beginning," he said. "You'll never have to come to the construction site again. You'll never carry water again. You'll never sleep hungry again." Benny turned to look at her babies. They were calm now, wrapped in clean clothes and sleeping peacefully in a new bed Clara had brought. Benny knew her life had changed completely. She felt as if a heavy load had been lifted off her shoulders. For the first time in a long while, she smiled without fear or pain.

That night, Clara took Benny and her babies to a hotel. A doctor came to check on the babies. They were fine but needed better nutrition. Clara promised to take them to a good hospital the next day for full check-ups. She had also arranged for an apartment for Benny to move into within the week. "You'll have a small business," Clara said. "Whatever you want to do, we'll help you start. All we want is for you and your children to live well." Benny cried again, not out of sadness this time, but because she was finally free.

The news of Benny's rescue spread online just like her arrest had. Bloggers posted photos of her smiling and holding her babies. People celebrated her victory. "We did it," someone wrote. "This woman's life has changed forever. "Clara thanked everyone online who donated and supported. She also called out the hospital for their inhumane treatment. "No woman should be punished for being poor," she said. "She didn't steal. She didn't lie. She just needed help." Many others echoed her words, calling for better treatment of struggling mothers in the country. Benny's story had become a symbol of hope.

As Benny lay on the soft hotel bed that night with her babies beside her, she closed her eyes and whispered, "Thank you." She no longer had to wonder where food would come from. She no longer had to hide or run. She no longer had to feel alone. Help had come when she needed it the most. She promised herself that she would work hard, raise her children well, and use her story to encourage others someday. For now, she just wanted to rest peacefully. After everything she had been through, she had truly survived.

To be continued...