THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE WOODS

they will never change

I could hear voices from a distance,
unsure of who they were or what they
were talking about. I began to wonder,am I in heaven? I hoped it was true.Maybe I had finally escaped that life.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, regaining
consciousness, only to find myself still
in hell their I was laying in the school clinic.
There they were, grinning at me. Nala
and her minions sat on my left side,
and to my right, I saw Stephan sitting
quietly. He actually looked worried,
unlike the rest. Near the door stood Mr.Sam, his face twisted into an evil
smile.
Now fully awake, Mr. Sam asked, "lychee Why were you shouting and yelling like a maniac?"
I couldn't speak. I began shedding
Sad tears,realizing l couldn't
escape my terrible fate. I sat up and
looked at my bandaged hand. Then,
turning to Nala, I asked,
"why cant You let me die in peace?"
Nala looked confused.
"Excuse me?"
"You can't even let me die in peace, why?,"
I repeated , my voice cracking as tearsstreamed down my face.
"Why can't you let me die in peace? Why do I have to keep suffering every day and night,why do I have to wake up just to come to this hell called school, where everyone treats me like an animal?,why? "
I stood up, my voice rising in anger
and despair.
"Is it my fault that my mother chose a disgusting job? Or Is it my fault that all your dads cant keep it on thier pants? You all treat me like an
animal just because you're afraid I
might be related to one of you?
What a bastard child I am. Then why won't you let this basttard child die in peace?"
I began yelling, "Why won't you let me die? Why won't you let me die? Just let me die, let me die already"
Nala slapped me across the face, and I
froze, an awkward smile appearing on my face.
"Even on my sick bed, you still won't change, will you?"
Nala grinned. "Why would I change just because you slit your wrist? I didn't ask you to try and kill yourself, and I never tried to kill you either. Look leach Nobody hates you we just don't like your mom. So if I
could give you some good advice,
Leech, stay alive ok. We need you, We need you so we can take our frustration out on you. So stay alive. Be a hero. Take all our hatred."

Nala grind before turning around and her minions walked out with
Mr. Sam behind them. Stephan
remained, looking at me with concern.
"Are you ok?" I quickly cut him "don't... don't ask me
if l'm ok," I said bitterly. "Just listen to me lychee" He said I quickly got furious "I can't
believe you couldn't stand up for me,
but here you are pretending to worry about me. When you couldn't even speak up for me.
Stephan sighed. "Leech, I really wanted
to talk, but you know how Nala is."
"Yes, I know. She has a big crush on
you, and you keep rejecting her. Now
you want to put me in trouble by
making it look like you care about me.
That way, she'll keep hating me more do you want her to kill me? .
Is that what you want? Just stay away
from me Stephan. I really don't want
you near me. Not now, not ever. Stop
pretending you care about me. Stop
being near me just stay far away. If you don't like Nala, it's fine, but
don't put me in a pit you don't have the courage to get me out".
I layed back on my sick bed and pulledthe blanket over myself. Stephan stayed for a while staring at me before finally leaving.
A few hours later, there was a knock at my door, and my mom came running in with her pretentious tears and hugged me. "Oh, my baby, how are you? Why would you try to kill yourself? Who did this to you my child ? Tell me. Talk to Mommy. Talk to me."
I pulled back
"Who is this 'Mommy' you speak of? You? Oh, please don't pretend to care. Nobody is here. There are no men to please or impress with your perfect mother thing. There are no Women to make jealous either. It's just me and you. So let's not pretend. You don't care if I liveor die, so don't start caring now. Just go back home. When I'm discharged,I'Il come home on my own ."
"You can't talk to your mother like that. Even though I don't care, I still carried you in this tummy of nine
months meaning you owe me. That at least should give me enough respect in your eyes."
"That respect you're looking for
expired a long time ago. In fact It expired way before I found out what your job was and way before I realized you didn't know who exactly
my father was. I'm grateful you don't
know, actually Because if it was one
of thier fathers, I would have been dead a long time ago. Those kids out there are not kids. They're monsters. And you have put me out for those monsters to feast on. And I can't see you trying to save me."
I expected my mom to apologize and try to fix things but then she said
"Lychee It's free. And you know how much mummy loves free just hold on a bit when you go to uni you will forget all about it.
I wasn't surprised at all In the name of free she have given me to the wolves. "Please leave. Just
leave." I yelled and she scoffed in annoyance "you are an ungrateful child you know"
She picked up her bag and headed
toward the exit "better be home early Alhaji sani is coming and he loves seeing you around"

I layed back and closed my eyes shut as she left.