The Power Of A Sincere Apology.

Nobody expected the apology,especially not from Kunle.

If there was one thing everyone in the neighbourhood knew about him, it was that he would rather argue all day than say he was wrong.

His friend Musa always joked that Kunle would argue with a traffic light if it talked back to him.

Kunle would only laugh, "Person wey know say him dey right no fit apologize."

That was his favourite line, then one Saturday morning, everything changed.

It started with a missing envelope, Mrs Adeyemi had been saving money for months to pay her daughters school fees, the envelope was inside her wardrobe.

By evening it was gone, she searched everywhere, she could not find it,
Then nothing, the next day, rumours started flying.

"You know say Kunle dey always enter people's compound."

"I hear say him even dey owe people money."
"I no dey trust that boy."

Nobody had any evidence, but somehow, Kunle became the main suspect.

When Musa heard the rumours, he went straight to Kunle.
"Guy, people dey talk your matter."

Kunle frowned.
"My matter?"

"They say na you carry the envelope."
Kunle almost laughed.
"Me?"

"I know say you no do am."
Kunle shook his head.
"Forget them."

But the rumours refused to die, whenever he walked past people, conversations stopped.

Children who usually greeted him suddenly avoided him,e ven shop owners started looking at him differently.

One evening, he walked into Mama Bisi's shop , "Mama, one bottle of malt."

Mama Bisi hesitated.
"You go pay this time abi?"

Kunle looked at her.
"Mama... since when you dey ask me this kind question?"

She looked away.
"No vex."

But the damage had already been done, a week later, Mrs Adeyemi's younger son entered the store room looking for an old school bag.

"Mommy!"
"What happened?"
"I see your envelope!"

Everyone rushed inside, the envelope had fallen behind an old carton.

The money was still complete, silence filled the room.

Mrs Adeyemi covered her face, "Oh God..."

Her husband sighed, "So all these days..."

She nodded slowly, "We accused an innocent person."

The news spread almost as fast as the original rumour, people suddenly started saying different things.

"I always knew Kunle could not do it."

"I never believed it." Musa rolled his eyes.

"Na una same people spread the gist."

The following afternoon, Mrs Adeyemi walked to Kunle's apartment.

She knocked,
Kunle opened the door,

"Oh... good afternoon, ma."

"Good afternoon."

There was an awkward silenceFinally she spoke.

"Can I come in?"

Kunle stepped aside, She sat down quietly.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything, then she took a deep breath.

"I came to apologise."
Kunle looked at her
"I shouldn't have believed those rumours."

She lowered her head.
"I never saw you take the money."
"I just assumed"
"And because of me, other people started believing it too"

Kunle didn't interrupt her, she continued.

"I know saying sorry won't erase everything that happened."
"But I am truly sorry."

Kunle leaned back in his chair, "You know the painful part?"

She nodded slowly, "It wasn't even the rumours."

"It was seeing people who had known me for years believe them without asking me anything."

Mrs Adeyemi wiped her eyes.

"I know"
"I failed you"

Kunle stayed quiet for a while, then he smiled a little.

Ma, I will not lie. It hurt, A lot but If you are genuinely sorry..."

He stretched out his hand.

"I forgive you."

She looked at him for a moment before shaking his hand.

"Thank you'

As she stood to leave Kunle stopped her.

"Ma " he said.

She turned.

"What?"

" Next time ask first " he said.

She nodded

"I know."

A days later life slowly returned to normal, people greeted Kunle again.

Children played football in front of his house like nothing had happened.

One evening Musa sat beside him outside.

"So you have forgiven everybody?" Musa asked.

Kunle laughed.
"I never said everybody."

Both of them laughed then Kunle became serious.
"You know something? An apology does not change what happened."

Musa nodded.
"That is true."

"But it gives people a chance to make things right " Kunle said.
Musa looked at him.

"So if she had not come to apologize?"

Kunle shrugged.
"I probably would have moved on."

"I would never have looked at her the same way again."

Sometimes people think saying "I am sorry" is a sign of weakness, it actually takes courage to admit you have hurt someone.

Mrs Adeyemi could not erase the past, he could not take back the days Kunle spent feeling judged.

What she could do was own her mistake without making excuses, Sometimes that is all a sincere apology is.

Not pretending the pain never happened, not expecting everything to return to normal overnight.

Just having the humility to say, "I was wrong " because healing often begins with those three words: I am sorry.

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