David stood outside the examination hall, staring at the list of names pasted on the wall.
His name was there.
David Okor.
Seat 47.
He smiled.
For three years, he had imagined this moment. Three years of waking before sunrise, attending lectures, working part-time in the evenings, and studying whenever his tired body allowed him to.
Today was his final examination.
After today, he would finally become a graduate.
His mother had promised to be waiting outside when he finished.
She had been talking about this day for months.
When you graduate, David, I will wear my best dress.
He had laughed when she said it.
David reached into his pocket and touched the small envelope containing his examination clearance slip.
Then his phone rang.
It was his younger sister, Hannah.
David?
Something was wrong with her voice.
What's happening?
Please come home.
David looked at the examination hall.
My exam starts in twenty minutes.
There was silence.
Then Hannah whispered,
Mum collapsed.
David stopped breathing for a moment.
What?
"She was cooking this morning. She suddenly fell down. The doctor at the clinic says we need to take her to the hospital.*
Is she conscious?
No.
David looked at the students walking into the hall.
He looked at his examination slip.
Three years.
One examination.
His entire future seemed to be standing on one side of the road, while his mother was lying helplessly on the other.
Which hospital?
Hannah gave him the name.
David started walking.
Then he stopped.
He closed his eyes.
His mother had sold vegetables for years to pay his school fees. She had borrowed money from neighbors when his fees increased. She had once gone three days without eating properly because she wanted to make sure he had enough money for transportation back to school.
And now, when he was finally about to graduate, she needed him.
David turned away from the examination hall.
He ran.
At the hospital, Hannah was sitting on a wooden bench with tears covering her face.
Where is she?
The emergency room.
David rushed inside.
His mother was lying on a bed with an oxygen tube beneath her nose.
She looked smaller than he remembered.
The doctor approached him.
Are you her son?
Yes.
She needs immediate treatment. We are running some tests, but she has a serious heart problem.
David's stomach tightened.
How much?
The doctor told him.
David reached into his pocket.
His fingers touched his wallet.
Inside was the money he had been saving for his graduation.
It wasn't enough.
Not even close.
He called his friend.
Nothing.
He called his uncle.
No answer.
He called three other people.
Nobody had the money.
Then the examination started.
By noon, David was sitting beside his mother's bed.
His phone kept vibrating.
Messages from his classmates.
Where are you?
The exam has started.
David, you have only thirty minutes left.
He stared at the screen.
Thirty minutes.
That was all he had left to save three years of work.
His mother suddenly opened her eyes.
David?
He leaned closer.
Mum.
Why are you here?
He smiled.
I wanted to see you.
She looked toward the clock.
Your examination.
David said nothing.
She understood.
No.
She said
"Go and and write it.*
"I can't leave you."
She grabbed his hand weakly.
David, listen to me.
Her voice was barely audible.
I didn't struggle all these years so you could abandon your future because of me.
He shook his head.
My future is not more important than you.
She smiled.
Maybe not.
She squeezed his hand.
But a mother doesn't raise a child so the child can spend his whole life standing beside her.
David looked away.
Tears filled his eyes.
His mother continued.
Go and write your examination.
But the exam is almost over.
Then go and write whatever you can.
David stared at her.
David returned to the university.
The examination hall was almost empty.
He stood at the door.
The lecturer looked at him.
You're late.
I know, sir.
You have twenty-three minutes.
David nodded.
He sat down.
The question paper was placed in front of him.
For several seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then he picked up his pen.
He wrote
When the lecturer collected his paper, David walked outside.
He had no idea whether he had passed.
He had no idea whether his mother would survive.
For the first time in three years, David had no plan.
Three months later, Result came out.
He opened it slowly.
RESULT: PASS.
He laughed.
Then he cried.
Hannah ran into the room.
You passed!
David nodded.
She told him
"Mum wants to see you."
His mother had survived.
Not only had she survived, but after months of treatment, she had begun walking again.
David rushed to her room.
She was sitting near the window.
When she saw him, she smiled.
So?
David held up the letter.
I passed.
His mother smiled.
I knew you would.