Mother’s Love – Episode 10
MOTHER’S LOVE – Episode 10
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A story by Jochrine Kunda
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After having breakfast I took back the pictures where they belonged and went back to my bedroom where I face timed with Austin since I missed him, I told him about what happened and he was dead laughing especially when I described her, I told him how I felt and he told me to concentrate on my studies and we’d deal with her when we were done with our exams then I remembered that I’d never studied since I got to the house “that woman is a devil who wants to affect my studies, the devil is a liar it won’t work,” I said to myself
A week went by and I decided to visit Austin who was locked up in his bedroom studying, his mother was glad to see me just like I was coz I hadn’t seen her in a long time then I was allowed to go in….. His bedroom had books and passed examination papers scattered on the floor then I threw myself on his bed
Me: hey stranger
Austin: what topic are you studying on?
Me: I’ve been in no mood to study ever since that woman happened
He got up from the table and came to the bed.
Austin: I understand how you feel and this will seriously affect your studies, we’ve got an exam to write by the end of the year couldn’t have uncle brought her at another time?
Me: he shouldn’t have even brought her, I’m sure she fed him something coz dad doesn’t behave like he is so if he wants to push her into my life I’ll fight back
He looked at me with pity
Austin: don’t worry we’ll deal with her
Me: I trust you on that one
He led me back to the table and explained what he was studying to me which was another way if studying for me, I had such a great time that I even forgot about the incident. I spent a night there and only went home the following evening where I found dad and Monica in the lounge chatting, I was just going to avoid them like I hadn’t acknowledged their presence until Monica spoke
Monica: hey Lucy
Me: hi
I faked a smile
Monica: I missed you
Me: don’t worry I’m back
I attempted to walk away
Dad: Lucy, get back here
“Not again,” I said to myself as I rolled my eyes
Monica: umm…I’ll be in my bedroom
She left and I took a seat
Dad: Lucy, why are you doing this?
Me: dad, why are you doing this?
Dad: DON’T ANSWER ME WITH A QUESTION, DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?
I huffed and saw dad trying to calm down but I didn’t care coz he was being selfish, he was supposed to make sure I fared well with the shocking news he delivered and get rid of the woman because women like her would do anything be with dad since he’d be her meal ticket but he was lashing out at me which got me angry too
Dad: where did you go to and where did you spend the night?
Me: Austin’s house
Dad: and you didn’t bother calling to tell me that you were spending the night
Was that such a big deal?
Me: why not monitor that woman?
What was happening? I thought I was saying that to myself not knowing that I’d said it a loud and until I saw dad’s hand raised in the air ready to slap me
Dad: you’re only 18 and I’m capable of laying a hand on you if you think I can’t.
Me: for that woman? Go right ahead and you’ll never see me, couldn’t you have picked another time to do what you did?
Dad: I wanted you to know rather than finding out elsewhere
Me: you’re not planning on bringing her here, are you?
Dad: Lucy
At that point we were both calm and he touched my shoulder
Dad: you’re growing and will begin to understand how some of these things work but it’s been 4 years since your mom left us and one ought to leave the past behind and move on
Me: then why didn’t you tell her on her hospital bed that you were willing to throw everything you built with her in the mud and replace her?
Dad: nobody knows the future and I didn’t know it would happen
Me: maybe she even caused mom’s death
Tears flowed down my face as memories of her played in my mind
Dad: no, no, no
I chuckled
Me: and one thing you’re not seeing is that she decided to appear after all our struggles are gone, she wants to reap where she did not sow something mom prayed so much for all her life but couldn’t experience
Dad: don’t think in those lines
Me: I’ll think whatever I want about her it’s either you choose her and lose me or the other way round, excuse me I’ll have an early night…
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I was glad that the holidays were coming to an end coz I couldn’t wait to leave home, that was the worst holiday I’d ever experienced. I kept myself busy by hanging out with the girls, Austin, Monica sometimes or just lock myself up in the bedroom and I never studied except when I was with Austin and I always had early nights so I couldn’t remember the last time I spoke to dad not to talk of seeing him
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.
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I was in a forest searching for dad who left me at a certain spot to look for Monica and told me to wait for him which I did and it started becoming dark then I heard footsteps approaching me
Me: dad?
I called out
Me: dad, is that you?
I saw a shadow of a woman and couldn’t believe what I saw when I looked up so I started running as she chased me, I ran in the forest cutting through trees and tall grass and I kept screaming for dad to help me but he didn’t show up so I took a glance at my pursuer and I stumbled on a stone then fell down
Me: Fl…Flo…Florence
I tried getting up but she approached me with a machete knife her hands, and the smile on her face was just something else
Me: please, don’t ki*ll me Florence
Florence: yes, I’ll ki*ll you for coming in my way
She said that with so much hatred then she raised the knife ready to stab my heart….
Voice: Lucy
I got up and it was Monica who was roughly shaking me while shouting my name, I had chest pains and they were getting frequent by the day but I ignored them thinking it was some heartburn
Monica: you scared me, your breathing wasn’t normal
Me: well, I’m okay. You’re all dressed up, going somewhere?
Monica: dad and I are going somewhere
Me: where exactly?
Monica: uh…umm…to….see Florence
Me: no, no, no, no
I shook my head countless times
Me: you’re not going anywhere, you hear me? Where’s dad?
Monica: bu…but I want to go.
Me: that woman is a witch and has probably bewitched you
I touched her forehead
Monica: she hasn’t, we meet up with her and her daughter and she’s a nice person
Me: HER WHAT? anyway she’s not what she seems she wants you to like her and only pretends to be good but when she comes to this house she’ll make sure you cry on mom’s grave and that’s what I’m preventing. You can ask any of your friends at school how they’re treated by their step mothers
I went out to look for dad and found him opening his car door
Me: so this is what we’ve gotten to taking one child to private visits while the other one isn’t awake?
Monica joined us
Dad: I knew you wouldn’t accept coming with us that’s why I did it
Me: good, then Monica isn’t coming with you anymore and please write a fair will dividing your property between Monica and I equally because I have this strong feeling that we’ll be orphans soon
Dad: Princess, aren’t we leaving?
Monica: no dad, I’m not coming anymore
Dad: oh
He said disappointed and locked the car door then went in the house then we followed him, I wasn’t going to tell dad about my dream because I wanted us to bond since he wasn’t going anymore and I was returning to school the following day but dad stayed in his study and Monica was in the cinema room so I also decided to lock myself up in my bedroom, we even had lunch in those rooms. I took out our family picture which was on my dressing table and starred at it for some time
Me: we’ve fallen apart why did you leave us? I’m even afraid to tell dad about her threat in my dream for fear that he won’t believe me. If only you were here we wouldn’t have been like this and that ugly woman wouldn’t have shown up acne-filled led face and we’d be happy. If dad’s memories of you have faded away then mine are still fresh and I’ll fight her, I ask for your protection mother…
To be continued…
