Melancholy...

Chapter 31

**Crystal's POV**

It has been 3 months since my sister left. I was mad at her for leaving us just like that,but at the same time,I understood her. Life had not been easy since she left. I was just 14,quite young I must say,and taking care of Mia and the house all by myself was one hell of a task.

I sold water on the streets after school and on Saturdays and Sundays. I had begged Sister Owusuwaa not to tell Franklina about it. It was risky,but I had to do it. I needed to support my Sister and there was nothing I could do but sell on the streets.

Mia had not been the easiest person to take care of since Franklina left. This is because Franklina was stricter and had a no-nonsense voice. I on the other hand was soft hearted,sensitive and was so positive that I could barely raise my voice. Though Sister Owusuwaa had told me to come to her whenever I needed something,I couldn't go everyday because she(Sister Owusuwaa) had a life on her own and was sometimes too busy. I didn't want to disturb her too much.

Christian always came here to check up on Mia and I. When I started selling water,he was so against it that he threatened to tell Franklina if I didn't stop. It took me two whole weeks to beg him not to tell her,and he only accepted on the condition that he'll choose where I sold the water and will be around to monitor me. He even went the extra mile and helped me sometimes when he was less busy. He was a good guy,a very good guy.

Deep down,I knew that he had something for my sister,but I never asked him about it. Don't tell Franklina I said this,but they'd make a lovelllyyyyy couple.

Franklina called 3 times a week to check up on us and those were the best days in the whole week. She usually called around 6-7pm so I made sure to be around whenever she did. It was such a relief to hear her voice again and whenever she did,I made sure to crack some jokes so I could hear her laugh. There was so much pain behind her laugh,but at least I knew that she had a smile on her face wherever she was.

Sometimes I'd hear people calling her harshly and her whispering that she'll call back later,and it broke my heart to know that she was probably being abused because she wanted a better life for us. I hated my father just like she did. I had not set eyes on him once after he left our lives,but each day I planned the perfect punch I would give to him,just in case we met.

Each Saturday,I went to the hospital with Sister Owusuwaa,Mia and sometimes Christian to visit my mother. She was always so happy to see us and always told me to tell Franklina to come visit her when she called. However,whenever I told Franklina,she'd pause for a while and say "okay I will" but mother always told me that she never did.

I stared at the peaceful face of a sleeping Mia and sighed. She had come down with a fever yesterday and I had to skip selling on the streets today to take care of her. I placed the wash cloth in the small pail containing cold water and squeezed the excess water out,wiping her forward slowly with it. Christian came around this morning and said he was going to buy her some drugs. I was sleepy but I kept myself awake. Last night,I couldn't sleep because Mia cried the whole night,refusing to sleep or eat anything.

Life was so hard for us and it took everything in me not to explode into tears. I looked at the plate containing rice and stew and looked away. I had completely lost my appetite.
Somewhere in me I felt like something was not right. I didn't know what but I could feel it. Something in me told me that Franklin's was in some kind of pain. I was so close to Franklina that sometimes I could feel it in me when things were not going like they had to.

My heart skipped a beat and I began to panic. Dear Lord,please protect my sister for me.

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Xoxo,
Arianna