Dear Anita
Episode Four
When I woke up, I was really hungry.
I had no choice but to go to the kitchen to search for something to eat.
If I stayed angry, I wouldn’t eat for the day, and she just wouldn’t care.
I went to the kitchen and opened the pot. She had prepared rice and stew with the money she got from our neighbor!
I ate the food, after all, it was my sweat.
She came into the kitchen and saw me eating, but her question was the most disgusting thing I have heard in my whole life.
“Did you enjoy it?”, I looked at her bottling my emotions and waiting for the day it will finally explode.
I didn’t say anything to her, I quickly finished eating and left the kitchen.
In my room, I retrieved my dad’s picture from where I hid it .
I had a lot of questions to ask him, I had the conviction that the woman wasn’t my mom.
The way she treated me was different from the way she did with Liam.
I didn’t eat dinner, I spent the rest of the day in my room..
I got up early and prepared to go to school, although I still felt pains on my lower abdomen I tried my best to act like I wasn’t in pain.
Going to school was the only temporary solution to my problems.
I had wish I didn’t go home from school because the thought of going back to that house was like signing my dēath warrānt.
After preparing for school, I realized she made breakfast for just herself and Liam.
“Mom, there is no breakfast for me, I had called her attention to the dinning table where she kept the breakfast.
“Anita, you won’t have breakfast with us today”, she responded lightly, “to keep it simple, you are not going to school again, I can no longer afford your fees.
We will need to focus on your brother after all a man will come and pay your dowry then take you home and your level of education will be a wāste.
Hearing this, I felt numb for a moment, I couldn’t move my body.
“Why will she do this to me? I had thought.
She decided to take away the only thing that made me happy.
I nodded in affirmation, after all whatever she said goes.
I took a step, about to go into my room to ponder on everything she said to me.
“Anita,” she called, “did you care to ask who will pay your brother’s fees? You know I’m not working, and you’re in charge of everything in this house, from our meals.”
“Yes mom”, I responded. The word “mom” felt so heavy in my mouth at that moment.
I walked fast to my room I didn’t want her to see me cry.
I entered room, locked the door and allowed the tears flow freely.
She left with Liam to drop him off at school, the only thing she does in the house aside from cooking.
She came back an hour later, and I didn’t bother asking where else she went because I was tired of hearing her talk.
It seemed like she didn’t have anything positive to say to me.
“Anita,” she screamed my name. I heard it the first time, but I refused to respond until the second time.
I walked reluctantly to the sitting room where she sat with her legs crossed.
Didn’t you hear me calling? she asked, but I didn’t respond.
Then she lifted her face and said, “Well, I have something for you.
There’s a politician who just returned from the United States, and he needs someone to stay with him.
My friend called to ask if I had someone. You’re here, wāsting away, and the only way you can be of use to me is by bringing the money home.
I stood there puzzled. I was truly convinced she wasn’t my mother because a mother wouldn’t deliberately send her daughter to commit such an abōmination.
Dad used to say fornicātion is the highest sin and here is this woman trying to send me to an early grāve.
“I’m not going. I won’t keep doing this for you!” I screamed at the top of my voice.
I knew even God was in support of me.
“Then get ready to leave my house,” she retorted.
You won’t throw me out that easily,I said quietly, my voice filled with a mix of sadness and disbelief.
Thessycute Ekene
