Beckoned Through The Dark

74 // Dineo // Grownish

You know, sometimes I just wish I was older and independent. I wish I had a job, money, I wish I was happy. Not that a person needs money to be happy, they say money can't buy happiness, right?

Anyway, here I was, living this life full of lies and secrets, and I was really getting tired of it.

No one smiled anymore, no one laughed; we were torn apart – I barely ever saw my parents.

I missed school and I missed my friends, but my mom said that we couldn't hang out with anybody, because not only would I put my life in danger, but I will put other people at risk too.

It hurt.

You know what hurt the most? Seeing Lesego so broken. It was like I was dealing with a stranger, worse than when that imposter was living here.

The Lesego I knew wasn't always happy given the circumstances that our mother was a creep, but she tried her best to make her life worthwhile; but now, all that was gone.

I didn't know what to do anymore, I wanted my sister back.

I tried cheering her up on a daily, but she was drifting away. Her twin sister had brought nothing but destruction in her life; she lost her friends, failed her exams, and now she was losing Clay.

"Lesego, open up." I knocked on her door for the nth time.

Everyone else tried to get her out, even our uncle.

She was so devastated when Clay stopped by to pick up Karabelo.

I don't think anything could have prepared her for that.

I could tell Clay was hurting too, but he had no way out...I wonder what Karabelo had on him, because we all knew that he would pick Lesego at any given time of the day.

"Dineo, go to bed!" She yelled.

"I can't sleep, can I sleep with you?"

"Just go your room and keep yourself busy by reading one of your novels."

"I read all of the novels in my room." I think I heard her sigh. "And phone, send me the ones you have on your phone."

I tried harder to convince her to let me in, but she was not budging.

"That's not a problem, switch on your Bluetooth."

I groaned.

"Oh, come on! Just let me in, how am I going to see which book I like?"

"You will like it once you start reading, don't judge a book by its cover, sis. Learn from me." She muttered sadly.

I sighed and leaned against the door while cooking up the next plan.

I didn't really need her books, I already read them, I just wanted to see her.

I must have sat there for close to an hour before she opened the door without warning. "Ouch!" I yelped as I fell into her room.

"You can come in," She said sarcastically.

"That's very sweet of you," I snapped back.

She rolled her eyes and got back on the bed.

"Oh, why, thank you!" She grinned.

That was a good sign, sarcastic Lesego was better than sad Lesego any day.

I think I'm going to enjoy my stay here. I thought with a cheesy smile.

"You look terrible," I teased although it was true.

She had bags under her eyes, her hair looked like a bird nest, and her face was swollen.

She shrugged. "So, the books?" She asked with a raised brow. I cleared my throat and scratched my head. "You tricked me, didn't you?"

"I was worried about you," I admitted.

She sighed and looked at me as if trying to figure out what to do with me.

"Fine, you can sleep over. But don't ever trick me again," she warned.

I sighed in relief and climbed into bed.

"Tell me a bedtime story." She lets out a lengthy breath. "Please," I begged.

"Okay, but first get under the blankets and make yourself comfortable, that's the only way you can fall asleep while I'm reading to you." I smiled in excitement and did as I was told. By just getting comfortable, I could already feel my eyes getting heavy.

"I'm ready," I said once settled.

"Well, don't say anything, just listen." I nodded. "Good. Once upon a time, there was a young beautiful woman who thought she had everything under control..."

She kept pausing and running over the same line again and again.

I just felt myself falling asleep, as was she, I could hear it from her tone, she sounded as if she was completing the story in her head and she was getting bored of it.

I couldn't believe Karabelo was still hell-bent on destroying our lives, this was just the tip of the iceberg, and I think that was what had Lesego worked up more than anything.