The day I learned my father's silence is louder than any scream

Two years ago, first semester at UNN. My father sent my school fees and upkeep together. One lump sum. I was 19 and felt like a big man with all that money in my account.

First mistake: I lent a guy from my department 25k for a 'quick business'. He said he would double it in two weeks. Second mistake: I bought a new Tecno on credit, 15k down payment. Third mistake: I was eating out every day, buying drinks for people, acting like money was my mate.

When the fees deadline came, I was short by 80k. 80,000 naira. My hands were cold when I called my father. I told him everything. The silence on the other end lasted maybe ten seconds but it felt like an hour. He didn't shout. He just said, 'I will send what I can. Your mother will sell her groundnut oil stock.'

That silence broke something in me. My mother, who wakes up at 4am to fry groundnut oil in Awka, had to sell her business stock because of my stupidity. I swear, I have never touched money the same way since. Every spending decision I make now, I ask myself: is this worth my mother's groundnut oil?