SIXTEENTH

EIGHT

"I'm not going to move an inch from this house,"
" what do you mean, "
"I'm getting married?
"to who?"
" enough, Dad, I'm not even 15 and you want me to get married,?
" how? "I asked as tears ran down my cheeks.

********

It's been two months since I found out about my dad's illness, I decided not to tell him anything just to respect the fact that he had his reasons for not telling me about it. I kept a close eye on him though. I watched him grow thin and slim every day like a flower withering under the sun. The doctor has been frequenting our house more and every time I asked, he assured me everything was fine.

I got back from school not long and was trying to take a nap, when my dad knocked on my door and said he wanted to have a conversation.
Somehow, I wished he was going to tell me about his sickness and maybe I could hug him afterwards and tell him everything was going to be fine.

The sunny afternoon became gloomy as my Dad let himself into the room and sat by the edge of the bed, I sensed he wasn't going to tell me about it, because he didn't wear his glasses this time and when he wasn't wearing his glasses it meant serious business.

"Hmm..hmmm, " he cleared his throat, before talking. I straightened my blouse and sat up to listen to him.

" Princess, you see, long before you were born, your mother and I had little to nothing, and when she became pregnant with you, I had to take a step towards building a better future for my child, I asked my then boss whom you now know as your uncle, Christopher. Well you see, I had to ask him for financial help." he paused and looked at my face, probably trying to make something out of my now really confused face.

Uncle Chris was his boss? wow
I sat still and readied my mind to see where this was going.

"Wellll.... I had a plan and all I needed was an investor, so he lent me a lot of money to start up my company and in return, he asked for something instead of the money" This time he took a longer pause.

"He proposed that our children get married, so, in the end, the company would become his, I was desperate so I accepted the offer, and when I told your mother found out about it, as a result, she had you earlier than expected, and she died in the process". He was crying now and his voice was croaky, I could barely hear him.

Okay, the whole world seemed to have melted away as the only thing I saw right now, was pitch black and a wincing sound that welcomed me into this darkness.

I wanted so badly to wake up from this nightmare, but the emotions I was feeling felt too real to be a dream, my dad was in front of me and he was crying too, this nightmare felt so real.

"So Dad, where are you heading with all these ?"
I can accept the fact that I would eventually not get married for love, but why was he telling me all these now". Nothing made sense right now.

"Your uncle Chris wants the two of you to get married in two weeks" he broke the silence.
"What?, two weeks? Dad, you have to be joking, okay, this has been going on for too long now, cut the joke, you had me there for a minute", I was sweating now, it felt true but I wanted to believe this was a joke.

"This isn't a joke, I know it's hard, but once again I need his help my love, and this is his only condition", he hung his head so low, I've never seen my dad like this before.

"I'm not going to move an inch from this house,"
" what do you mean, "
"I'm getting married?
" enough, Dad, I'm not even 18 and you want me to get married,?
" how? "I asked as tears ran down my cheeks.
"This is child marriage, how did it ever cross your mind that I'd want to get married right now, I'm basically still a child. YOUR CHILD. I can't carry on someone else's responsibility talkless of having my own home, dad are you listening to me?"

He stood up and wiped the tears off his face, straightened his shirt and looked at me in a way I've never seen before.

"Get ready by six, Chris is coming with his son and you both will get engaged, you had better not mess this up," he said and made to walk out of my room.

" Dad please, I'm begging you, why are you doing this, why are you accepting to do this? Dad please" I hurried off my bed and made to hold his hands when he snatched his hands away and looked at the door behind him without looking back not even once.

I have never seen my dad like this, does he not love me anymore? Did I do something? Was this a prank to test my obedience?
I sat behind my door and cried my eyes out, I could agree to the marry someone I don't love, but not at sixteen. So I won't have a handsome senior year prom date, what about my dreams to become a lawyer like my mum was, what about my vacation plans with Leah for when we become much older, or becoming godmothers to each other's children?

My whole world was crumbling, my entire existence had been a lie.
Leo and I don't even see eye to eye, how am I supposed to marry someone that hates me?

"Mum please, do something, I need you, please don't let this happen to me, mum please " I held onto the pendant my dad gave me and cried, hoping that by some miracle this is a dream from the nap I was going to take before my dad came into my room.

I won't sit back and watch my life and dreams go down the drain, just like that. Never.
Everyone has had their time, making decisions about my life and expecting me to just sit and do as I'm instructed. It's time I hold the reins and control my life.

I cleaned my eyes and sent Leah a text to tell her I was coming over and I would be staying a couple of days.
I packed an emergency bag and made for the door.
I held the handle of the door and made to open it, but the door didn't open, I tried and tried several times.

My dad locked me in????
So all these are real?
My dad wasn't joking?