Hold on pain ends

Chapter 2

Work that's all I ever do I'm currently sitting with mother doing yet another home test that she prepared for me. Its the third one in the last 2 hours and my hands starting cramp. My visions beginning to blur and I still have a 3hr study session to go after this, followed by another test first thing in the morning. Something's off about mom lately she's gotten more strict and.......distant. I'm 7 now and since my preschool teachers told mom about my intelligence she just won't let it up my studying hours are long and rigorous. I haven't had a breather since my 6th birthday, by the way I have a sister now. She's adorable and I got to name her. Her name's Emily Dahlia Anderson. Mom completely ignores her though I would get ignored too if she didn't spend most of the day testing me and making sure my grades stay up to par. Now anyone who hears a mother keeping their kids grades up must think hey, she's just doing what's best for you and your future. Yet I know the difference this wasn't just simply being a good mother, she was addicted it seemed so to me. The only conversation we did have was of future jobs math, science and on occasion my school attire. The people I conversed with also a topic although that was more of unpleasant conversation. She didn't approve of anyone, no one was allowed to talk to me, the same people who she taught and smiled with. The ones who have nothing but good things to say about Mrs. Grey-Anderson were people she considered as bad company and I shouldn't associate with them. Polite conversation allowed but no liming on the Standard 5 block and definitely no hugging. We, the students, got along but there was one thing I never agreed with them on. At least in my thoughts I disagreed, they were right yet wrong my mother was indeed patient, caring, an exemplary teacher, she'd worked with the slower learning children in fact she specifically chose the slow ones making sure they came out as top scholars. She was a loving woman everything a mother should be there was one thing wrong about that though.... she was never that woman at home her children not even husband got that kind of treatment. She changed.
She had a terrible borrowing problem always asking dad's friends and family even her colleagues at school for money. It was tiring we never knew where the money went, it certainly didn't go on bills or her online courses because dad paid those.
At first I thought she was doing drugs but she  shows no signs of a drug abuser and trust me my mother is no alcoholic, she'd drink beer and the closest she'd come to alcohol is when she's putting it in black cake.
"Reine" I jumped out of my reverie,now realizing mom had been calling me.
"Yes mother.." I trailed off not sure what excuse to give her really.
"You've been zoning out for the last 30 mins, you need to focus, your education is important,you can't afford to be tired I'm not finished with you and you still have to study, you think this is a game, your future isn't a game....."just then I heard my dad's car pull up in the driveway and from the way she trailed off she did too.
" Daddy" I exclaimed running outside to greet my father with the biggest smile on my face. Clearly I was daddy's little girl.
He greets me with a smile on his dimpled face one thing I wish I got from his looks was his dimples.
Walking into the porch.
"Good evening sweet heart, what has my pumpkin been up to today, besides having your head in the books all this time?"he asked.
He unfortunately thought that this was my choice I had nothing against studying. I loved reading, I'd read anything from fiction to even mails. Hell I'd read the dictionary if I was bored enough which I did do by the way. Their were however limits that even I knew and I was tired of my head being stuck in school books and test papers all the time. As I said before this was not my choice.
"I was just about to let her get a break and catch some TV time before she starts again." My mother butted in before I could answer. She knows how much dad hates when I'm in books all days he wants me to have a normal childhood.
" Good evening Jane, what have you been up to all day besides melting our daughter's brain and where is Dahlia?"he joked although I saw the serious tint in his eyes when he asked.
"She's sleeping" I answered quickly knowing that my mother had no idea where Dahlia has been for the last couple hours nor has she asked.
"I'll go wake EMILY up or she won't sleep tonight." She says stressing on her name. Dad and I hardly ever called her Emily.
I wasn't complaining though at least I got a break I could watch my favourite shows now that dad's home because mom want bother me for a couple hours.
We loved to watch movies together I'd watch his actions and karate movies and he watch my cartoons and comedies or any show for kids in these days. But we had one specific genre in common we both adored horror movies. We both just couldn't get over how dumb these people were. Granted they did get paid as actors and actresses to be dumb but nevertheless it was entertainment to us. Mom hated them she never understood our "obsession" as sh called it with these movies. Dad and I hated her movies though she'd watch Nigerian movies most times.
"I have a surprise for you," dad whispered," look in the trunk. "
Excited, I ran outside and opened the trunk and my eyes teared up. I can't believe it dad got me a ps2, I'd always wanted one that me and dad could play on we just loving doing stuff together. That being said I'd asked for it and was told we couldn't afford it and I was contented and forgot about it. I just couldn't believe he remembered that.
I'd wanted one since my dad's sister was living with us and my cousin, D'ante he had one and wed always play Mario  together. They didn't stay with us very long though well a year isn't long to me.
" Thank you dad I love you so much you really didn't have to." I cried hugging him.There's something about me that dad doesn't know though and no matter how cool me and my dad are I'll never tell him and it will scar me for the rest of my life. I blame mom, I blame that sick high school boy and mostly I blame myself for keeping my mouth shut. I know that it will haunt me always be in my thoughts my dreams. I feel a tug at my heart when I realised I made a promise to myself to never speak about this to anyone , not even to my dad and when I make a promise I keep it.