21/04/2025
Before I Die: A Mother's Final Plea
“My dear child, I pray this letter reaches you before I die. I am asking God Almighty to grant me just one more chance—to see you again and apologise.”
Tears streamed down Gertrude’s pale cheeks as she scrawled her final words to her daughter. The doctor had given her only a few weeks to live. The cancer had ravaged her body; chemotherapy was no longer effective. Frail, broken, and burdened with regret, Gertrude was ready to leave this world—a world now filled with haunting memories and overwhelming sorrow.
She had wronged her daughter deeply.
Grace was a gentle, intuitive spirit—so unlike her mother, who constantly sought attention and praise. Gertrude never understood Grace’s quiet strength, and instead of nurturing her, she belittled her. She humiliated her at every turn.
After the death of Grace’s loving father, she became the sole recipient of her mother’s scorn. One day, young Grace had asked, with teary eyes, “Mummy, are you sure I’m your real daughter?” The pain of that question lingered in Gertrude’s heart, unanswered for years.
Grace’s life changed when an old schoolmate visited Port Harcourt with a job offer that would take her to Lagos, and eventually, London. The opportunity was a miracle, a doorway out of pain. She took it—and never looked back.
Five years later, Grace had built a beautiful life in London. She was thriving in her career, married to the love of her life, Jeffery, and raising their son, Daniel. On a quiet evening, she stood by the window, watching the rain fall, when a letter arrived. The handwriting was unmistakable.
Her hands trembled as she opened it. Memories came crashing—of cold words, shame, and bruises no one saw. Still, she read:
“My dear child, I pray this letter gets to you before I die. I am praying to God Almighty to allow me see you once more and apologise to you. I am deeply sorry for the way I treated you. I was jealous of your calm spirit. You carried wisdom I did not understand, and I feared people would love you more than they loved me. Imagine a mother thinking such things. I believe the cancer is my punishment. Please forgive me. I long to see you once more…”
Grace let the letter fall from her hands as sobs overtook her. She had always longed for her mother’s love, despite everything. Wiping her tears, she began making arrangements to return to Nigeria. She prayed she wouldn’t be too late.
I am Lady Jane Kalu Ndukwe, a woman on a mission to awaken the conscience, guide you in self-discovery, and reveal the power of embracing respect.
©️ Jane Kalu Ndukwe, 2025