The Manifest

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Water flowed into her mouth, she opened her eyes and pushed herself out of the tub. Gagging and trying to catch her breath. She wrapped herself in her towel with a swift move then unclogged the tub chancing a look at the mirror. For a split moment she saw just how frightened she looked.

She sped to her room and oh so grateful it was empty.

It is all in my head, all in my head.

Even if it were the case, she wished she had someone she could talk to, like Lady Teeyah De Tara. But how could she get to her. Her aunt did not believe in phone, the post office no longer function even if it did Eesha knew nothing about letter writing. And Mama will never let Eesha go and see her.

Eesha found herself squinting to carry a clothe. Outside was getting dark fast and it wasn't about to rain. No, the sun was setting. Had she spent so long in the bathroom?

Dinner was more engaging this time, despite Eesha being hungry she could barely stomach a bite. Maria kept her focus on her book only bringing it down everytime Mama reminder her to eat. Joy spoke about work, about the million braid she made all by herself in under four hours. Happy showed Dad her design if she were to recreate the dress Mama gave Eesha. Maya spoke about many things, telling a story that was quite crazy it was comical. Baby was quiet as usual, only laughing where she felt like.

Mama excused herself first, beating Eesha to it. Dad followed. One by one they all retired leaving Eesha and Maria at the table. Maria gave Eesha a quick look over her book and continued her reading.

Eesha ate, if pushing food around and taking it to the mouth then returning it back to the place was considered eating. Eesha's skin prickled from the tiny legs that moved up her calf. It took everything in Eesha not to scream. But her leg gave a quick jump, she tried to conceal it by scratching the place. She used that opportunity to carry her eight legged form. Maria gave her the look stating she was acting suspicious.

Eesha yawned. "Okay I'm off, been a stressful day mm" She carried her plate to the kitchen where she heard door open and close. The dining room was empty when Eesha returned back to it.

It's Time.

She looked left and right then attempted to cross the living room to the garage door hidden behind the curtain. Halfway through Mama's room door opened, revealing the mother of the house herself, dressed now in her night gown and an old Ankara wrapped around her chest. Though her eyes were squinted they quickly found Eesha.

"You've not slept yet?"

"I was about to"

"Oya now" Mama stoot and watched as Eesha went to her room. She closed the door seeing Mama's eyes locked on her. Eesha sat on her bed and waited. She heard the distinct creek if the bathroom grazing on the cement floor. She heard wafer running then the groan of the toilet being flushed. She heard Mama retire to her bed. But she did not make any move until she heard Mama's loud snore.

Still she kept calm. So calm, see began to drift away. It was s distant sound that woke her up, rhinestone butt was glistening before her eyes. Something was going through her head. It took a moment to remember what exactly; the spoilt picture, the camera, the quill, the mysteriousness.

Eesha was very curious. Even if she wanted to let it be. She was too curious

"I just have to know. It's nothing maybe but-" She carried her form and phone - she almost forgot shehad that. That's when she checked to see if she had any notifications, she had three, All from MTN. She tried to keep her hope up by convincing herself that maybe if she checked her message app she will see something, anything from James- There was nothing.