Concealed

By Ayo Olufemi

This is it! I wish I could hold it back; I wish I could seal my mouth and not pour out my emotions. To some people, this might be a cliché, but to others who can relate, I'm sure they would see themselves in my story.

Whether you are a parent who might have been extremely harsh and abusive toward your child, or those children who were victims of child neglect, abasement, and as a result might have suffered some horrible childhood experiences, I hope this book has met you at a very good time.

It is a time for self-reflection, a time when you can look deep down and employ mental exercise as you heal, and forgive everyone who has hurt you, and then forgive yourself.

This is the final straw, as I begin to self-reflect; as I begin to draw the curtain down, as I begin to exit the stage of this emotional outpour, I want to leave the past in the past.

This story must be told so that I can concentrate on what is in for me now, and what the future holds, a brighter life ahead. The euphoria of a better tomorrow has been the motivation that had kept me till this moment. I will get there, we will all get there.

I believe!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emphaloz
• Release date: Aug 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386180265

Book preview

DEDICATION

To my jewel, Funmilayo, thank you for accepting me even after hearing my story and for encouraging me to share it with the world.

To my first child, Kevin Pelumi, you are a rare gift.

Thank you for choosing to come into my life. I see a reflection of myself in you, each time I look at you.

To my amazing set of twins, Daniel and Danielle, you both give me courage and an assured future; my lovely ‘Ejire.’

Finally, to Mrs. Iretioluwa Akintunde, I appreciate all you have done for me. You are a God-sent; my godmother. Thank you for everything.

FOREWORD

If we dare to be sensitive and thoughtful; amongst the many questions that our experiences as well as others pose at us daily, we would come to the realization that life is not fair.

It is my unwavering conviction that there is an omniscient God who holds all the cards, seeing the very end from the beginning and He chooses ‘real life’ case studies to buttress His point that He can do the miraculous with the Most Unlikely subjects ...such is the heart-touching story of Ayo Niyi Olufemi.

He has chosen this book, CONCEALED to reveal insights, encourage and answer pertinent questions about the everyday struggles that are faced by the rejected ones amongst us.

Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy this ride. Ayo has just picked up his brush; he is ready to paint a beautiful story on the canvass of your hearts. At pivotal seasons of your life when you are about to give up, you would look back, remember this book and give life another push of hope.

-James Akinwande

Legal Representative

UNITED KINGDOM

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This is it! I wish I could hold it back; I wish I could seal my mouth and not pour out my emotions. To some people, this might be a cliché, but to others who can relate, I’m sure they would see themselves in my story.

Whether you are a parent who might have been extremely harsh and abusive toward your child, or a child who was a victim of neglect, abasement, and as a result might have suffered some horrible childhood experiences, I hope this book has met you at a very good time.

It is a time for self-reflection, a time when you can look deep down and employ mental exercise as you heal, and forgive everyone who has hurt you, and then forgive yourself.

This is the final straw, as I begin to self-reflect; as I begin to draw the curtain down, as I begin to exit the stage of this emotional outpour, I hereby leave the past in the past.

This story must be told so that I can concentrate on what is in for me now, and what the future holds; a brighter life ahead. The euphoria of a better tomorrow has been the motivation that had kept me till this moment. I will get there, we will all get there.

I believe!

Ayo Niyi Olufemi

For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalm 11:2-3

THE GENESIS

There is an age when all a child could ask for was love, care, compassion, connection with the parents and all family members. It was quite unfortunate that I wasn’t as privileged as that. I couldn’t define what kind of relationship we had growing up in our home. Although, I still won’t conclude that my parents were the worst in the world at parenting. I just thought they were very young when they got married and had me as their first child. My father was 23 and my mom, 20. More so, one year after my birth, my dad joined the Nigerian Army. He was gone for almost one year for his recruit training, in Zaria.

It was untraceable where things went wrong, what really caused them to be the way they were. I must tell you; it was from my parents that I personally learnt that there is more to marriage beyond the rendezvous and wedding parties. The marriage of my parents sometimes to them was never meant to be. I heard the story of how they got married. There joining was because of my paternal grandmother’s scheming. Yes! My parents were match-made. That was one of the greatest cultural flaws in those days, where parents would marry their children out to a husband or wife. So, I believe that explains the frequent quarrelling, and sometimes fighting. I don’t think my father was an abuser, likewise my mother. However, I had no other way to define the kind of relationship or marriage they were in. I’d witnessed my mom pack her things, saying she would leave my dad. The cause of their quarrel or fight at that time still remains a mystery, because many times it would happen just suddenly. But what they failed to understand was that their attitude consciously or unconsciously had negative impact on the lives of their little kids.

Seeing all this behavior exhibited by two grownups who should have lived in peace and love as husband and wife, my personality was messed up. I would be ashamed to walk in the streets, among my friends on the playground, and even at school, because other kids would laugh at me and sometimes reenact how my parents had fought and quarreled the previous day. It became