LOST
Episode Five
Before Jennifer’s uncle came to pick her and her younger brother, I had already asked her to come stay with my dad and stepmom.
But knowing the kind of father I had, she politely declined, saying it was better to stay with her uncle.
She mentioned that people from her father’s side didn’t joke around and would take care of her.
I felt bad because mine wasn’t that way.
I prayed for him to pick me along with her, but when he came, he said he wouldn’t take me without my dad’s permission.
I watched as he took her away, and at that point, I felt like everyone was just leaving my life.
I didn’t have a choice but to go back and stay with my father, who cared less about me.
I really missed Jennifer, but there was nothing I could do.
I just prayed that our paths would cross again, at least one more time.
On the first day I stepped foot in my father’s house, if I had another place to go, I would have just left.
But I didn’t, so I had to reluctantly follow him home.
He didn’t come to pick me up in his car; instead, he used a cab.
I didn’t mind. As we opened the gate to go inside, I realized everything in the house had changed, including our garage.
It went from housing our usual three cars (one for mom and two for dad) to now having five.
Three for dad and two for my stepmom.
It seemed like she went to the market because she came in just as we opened the gate to enter.
Dad ordered me to open the gate for her, and I did as he said.
We all went inside, and then dad dropped a bombshell. He said there was no money in the house and that I would need to manage with food.
“After buying two more cars,” I thought to myself as my stepmom brought me melon soup without meat.
Dad had never allowed anyone to cook without buying meat for the house.
I just looked at the food with disgust and told them I wasn’t eating.
My stepmom got really upset and called my dad to speak with him.
When he came back, he brought a cane with him.
He said, “Catherine, if you’ve come back to this house, you need to be careful.
I don’t know who spoiled you, but you’ll eat whatever you see in this house.
Now get up and eat that food.” He commanded my stepmom to bring the food to me again, and I ate it while crying.
Dad looked at me and said my tears were fake and that they didn’t move him.
He told me to be grateful that he came to pick me up because otherwise, I wouldn’t have had anywhere else to go.
I finished eating, then I went to the kitchen to wash the plate.
As I was washing, my stepmom came in and said I shouldn’t enter her kitchen again.
She even mentioned something about not knowing if I was a wītch.
She told me to wash outside if I wanted to. I just nodded.
Then, dad heard her voice and came into the kitchen too.
He agreed with everything she said.
I wasn’t surprised. Deep down, I knew there was something strange about him.
Even the way he looked at her seemed suspicious.
Well, at least he didn’t hīt her but time will tell, I knew he wouldn’t pretend for long.
The break was over, and it was time to go back to school.
My school sent everything I needed to start the new term to dad.
I was supposed to enter SS3 and write WAEC.
The total amount was one hundred and fifty thousand, like always. But dad said it was too much.
One day, he called me and said, “Catherine, your school sent the amount you need to pay for the new term.
I don’t have that kind of money,
It seems I will just withdraw you to a free school.
You will still do well there.
As you can see, I will need money to take care of my beautiful wife here,” he said, holding my stepmom’s hand.
She adjusted herself in the chair and sat there smiling, while I was crying inside.
That man didn’t even want my progress at all.
I didn’t say anything to him. I stood up to go to the tiny room he gave me.
My stepmom had occupied both my mom’s room and mine, and the one I was staying in was for the cleaner.
As I stood up to leave, he held me back and said, “Catherine, you think you are now a big girl, right?
You will soon leave my house and continue this attitude outside.”
He asked me to apologize for walking away, and I did.
I tried my best to hold back my tears as I left his side and went to the room.
I opened the door and let it out. I felt really pained.
I kept blaming myself for what happened to mom.
If she didn’t come back for me, she would still be alive.
But she chose to stay because of me. She should have had a second thought about everything.
I didn’t want to forgive her for leaving me that way, with no one to take care of me.
Everything in that house belonged to Mom, and she would have been the one enjoying it if only she had listened to me.
I just stood up angrily and said, “Mom, if you’ve never heard me before, I want you to hear me now.
Āvenge your dēath. Don’t let your kīłłer go scot-free.
They must also pay for what they have done.”
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