Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

Chapter 33: Hurting people hurt people

"I'm trying..."

The voice trembled.

"I'm trying my best."

I slowed down as I approached the housemistress's office. The voice was familiar.

I peeped through the slightly open door and froze.

Moyo.

She was holding the housemistress's phone tightly against her ear, pacing around the room. Her eyes were red and glossy, as though they were one blink away from spilling an ocean.

Why did I always have to walk in on her like this?

The past week had been chaotic. Between the drama with Moyo, the OFE seminar, the essay competition and Dara's emergency, I barely had time to process anything.

Thankfully, Dara's asthma attack hadn't been as severe as we'd initially feared. She'd been taken to a nearby general hospital and discharged a few days later. My parents had finally decided to visit her, although they had done so at the hospital rather than the school.

I hadn't spoken to either of them since the incident.

Today, I decided to call Mum and find out how Dara was doing.

But as I approached the housemistress's office, I heard Moyo's voice again.

"No, Mum, please!"

She suddenly raised her voice.

"I promise I'll do better. I will. Just please—"

She stopped.

Her shoulders dropped.

The person on the other end had hung up.

Moyo stared at the phone for a few seconds before slowly lowering it.

"Thank you, ma," she said quietly, handing it back to the housemistress.

She turned towards the door.

I quickly stepped aside, hoping she wouldn't see me.

Too late.

Her eyes met mine.

She stared at me for a long moment before walking past without saying a word.

That look sent a strange shiver down my spine.

And somehow, it only made me more curious about her.

There was obviously more to Moyo than what I saw every day.

If she would let me, I'd sit her down and talk to her for hours. No insults. No hostility. Just a proper, honest conversation.

But Moyo hated me.

At least, that's what I thought.

"You want to make a call?" the housemistress asked.

I turned towards her.

"Yes, ma."

---

"Your sister was discharged today," Mum said.

I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding.

"That's good."

"She's doing much better."

I was quiet for a moment.

Then the bitterness I'd been carrying all week slipped out.

"You should have at least come to visit her."

Mum sighed.

"Doyin..."

"Maybe this wouldn't have happened if you had come."