The Pain of Regret

The thing about regret is, no matter how much you wish and hope you could rewind time and undo what was done or left undone we just can't.

It's a privilege we only wish we had every time the nagging thought comes to mind again and again and again.

Yesterday, when I picked up Seun from school, he said; mommy, I could have been made a prefect if I'd come to school last Monday.

Me: really, they were going to make you a prefect?

Seun: with a look of painful disbelief he looked at me and said, so you didn't think I'll be a prefect?

Me: no that's not it.

Seun: mommy I don't believe you.

The trip home was quiet, I heard him snivelling in the back seat. I knew he was hurt that I his mother seemed to have let him down TWICE!

A while after we got home I called him and asked, what is the yardstick for selection of prefects?

Your leadership skills.

How you relate with others.

How people respond to you.

How friendly and how caring you are about others.

And your academic performance.

So how do they find out about all these?

Your previous teachers will give reports about you, when you are recommended. And because I wasn't in school on Monday, I was passed over, they assumed I'd gone to secondary school.

I'm so sorry son. For not believing in you enough, and for making you stay home on the first day of school. If I could turn back the time I would gladly do so.

I do not doubt that you'll be a huge leader in time to come, you know why?

You have a big heart.

You are honest always.

You are not afraid of a challenge.

You care about people.

You are fair and you're never cowered, and those are some of the traits of a good leader.

I have wished so badly I could go back in time and change the trajectory of this story. But this is a regret I will have to live with.

Chaiiii!

Dear Ogwa, you no try o!