Amandla

Chapter 2

Edited chapter.

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Chapter 2

Doctor Forrester had informed Leo that his wife had a simple stomach bug as per her request and that it was nothing to worry about. She prescribed some "antibiotics" to help with the bug but the pills were actually prenatal vitamins.

Throughout the day the couple was on my mind. At first glance they seemed like the perfect couple, they were both attractive, they had money quite a lot of it if I'm not mistaken, they were young and they had the opportunity to start a family but for whatever reason Sophia felt it necessary to hide the news of their pregnancy from her husband. Maybe the baby wasn't his, now that would complicate things. Or maybe Leo didn't want children. For whatever reason, she decided that she wanted to hide the pregnancy I hoped she eventually mustered up enough courage to tell him about it, or else the truth would reveal itself in the most punishing way.

I slumped against the bench in the changing rooms with a heavy sigh. I slowly managed to lift my shirt over my head without getting any of the disgusting vomit in my hair. I too had to check on Old man Tom in room 303, it seems he was intent on using the nurses that attended to him today as bedpans.

 I disposed of my shirt, I leaned down to take off my shoes so I could rub my feet. Even with these comfortable shoes my feet still ached from standing for so long. I took a quick shower before making my way to the bus stop.

After waiting ten minutes the bus finally approached and I gave the bus driver a tight-lipped smile as he took my cash. Things were weird between the bus driver and me ever since he tried to ask me out but I turned him down. He returned the smile and handed me the ticket. My life is already complicated enough and I could not even imagine adding a partner to the mix. Once I had taken a seat I popped in my earbuds so I could listen to music. I watched the large skyscrapers and city lights go by as the bus made its stops before it finally ventured into the suburb which in contrast was filled with quaint houses with porch lights and neatly trimmed lawns.

I got off at my stop and walked home, the wind whipping through my hair. Goosebumps formed along my arms and I hastened my speed so I could take shelter. It wasn't too long before my house came into view, the lights were already out except for one. The only reason my family and I lived in this relatively nice neighbourhood was because of Daniel's father, he bought it for us after he learned the news of my mother's pregnancy. He bolted as soon as he could get his feet underneath him, coming back months later to tell my mom he had a wife and was married with his own family and he could never raise a black child.

My mother started using from thereon. Hard stuff that is.

Twelve-year-old me had to take care of a five-year-old sister and an infant plus an often passed-out mother.

As soon as I entered the house, I made sure to lock the door behind me. I headed for the small kitchen with worn-out cabinets barely holding on to their hinges. That's where the light was coming from. Around this time, I expected everyone to be asleep with the lights off because we were trying to save money on the electricity bill, at nine in the afternoon the lights were usually out.

I could see a form hunched over the table in their seat scribble hastily across several pages. I dropped my bag on the floor near the door and walked slowly over to my brother.

"Daniel, are you okay baby?" I asked softly and hesitantly. He didn't reply or acknowledge my presence and I began to worry. I took a seat right next to him and it was then that I realised he wasn't doing homework or a school assignment. "Danny?"