“He was only one when his father left home, never to return. After a few years of waiting, I got news that he had settled in another city and started a family with another woman. It was difficult living with his mother in his rented place when he had already abandoned me and his only son. How can you abandon your own son? His mother did not treat us well either. My brothers would come to visit me and lend me money and ration. That is how I was able to raise my son. Today, it is only after a lot of struggle that I am able to send my son to school. I cannot ruin his life because of my misery. It has already been nine years and I do not expect my husband to return home to me. But at least he could be a man and come explain to his son the reasons he had to leave. The kid comes home from school and talks about how his friends’ fathers come to pick them up at school. He asks me about his father and I am tired of making things up. I am tired of ignoring his questions. I am tired of giving him false hope.”