File photo of a worried woman
Dear GhanaWeb,
I wronged a colleague three years ago and the guilt has never left me.
We worked at the same school as GES staff. She was young and the firstborn of her family, carrying enormous responsibility on her shoulders. Her father had passed away, and her mother, who was in her late 40s at the time, was battling breast cancer. The cost of treatment and medication was overwhelming, and she bore it all alone while also supporting her younger siblings through school.
She worked tirelessly, yet her salary was never enough. I knew her struggles. I knew her story. Despite that, I betrayed her.
She borrowed money from several colleagues at work, including GH¢300 from me. Eventually, she applied for a government worker’s loan to clear her debts and continue paying for her mother’s treatment. She discussed the loan with me openly. I even knew the exact day she was going to receive the money.
On the day she brought the GH¢80,000 to school, something changed in me. Although I initially felt sympathy for her, greed took over. I convinced myself that the money would be “wasted” on a sick mother who might not survive.
I did the unthinkable. I sneaked the money away and hid it among some books.
When she realized it was missing, we searched everywhere but found nothing. She cried uncontrollably. She was devastated, rolling on the floor and speaking incoherently like a child. Watching her break down shattered me, but I was too afraid to confess. I feared being exposed as a thief, so I remained silent.
She was never the same after that day. She came to work daily in tears. She lost significant weight. Six months after her mother passed away, she fell critically ill herself. Eventually, she resigned from GES and disappeared. She never repaid the loans she had taken from colleagues, but everyone sympathized with her situation.
At work, people constantly cursed the unknown thief, wishing misfortune upon whoever had stolen the money. The guilt became unbearable. I eventually requested a transfer because I could not live with the constant reminders of what I had done.
We never heard from her again after she came to inform us of her mother’s death.
Now, life has brought me face-to-face with something I cannot ignore. I recently discovered a lump in my breast. After a medical examination, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was detected early, and treatment has started. I am only 32 years old.
I don’t know if this is a coincidence or karma, but it has forced me to confront my past. I regret my actions every single day. I don’t even understand why I allowed myself to commit such cruelty.
I want to return the GH¢80,000 and sincerely seek her forgiveness. I want to make things right while I still can.
How do I go about finding her and asking for forgiveness? I need your help, please.
FG/EB
Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s exposé on the ‘dark side of Kayamata’ and its devastating impact
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com