Taken

Saturday Morning

@media : a picture of Amare, Her mother and brother 4 years ago

On a Saturday morning, I wake up early at 5 am to go get water from the river. Only the city has water running through pipes

Shuffling through my clothes, I finally get a pair of clean clothing

I open my bedroom door slowly and steadily to not wake up Faro.

Tip-toeing across the narrow passage I get to the kitchen where I find my muddy gum boots which I squeeze into.

I hear a knock on the wrecked wooden door infront of me and I don't hesitate to open because I'm expecting my best friend, Nahaila who usually walks down with me to the river on Saturdays so we can help each hold the heavy 10 litre water buckets and put them into the wheelbarrow to carry them back up home.

I hurriedly open but to my dismay, it's my Uncle Ottoya drunk as usual

"Amare! Oh my niece, when last did you see your dearest uncle." he pulls me for a hug before I can say a word, pressing me against his chest where his breathe above me stinks of every bottle he has drank last night.

"Good morning Uncle Ottoya" I say, stopping my self from inhaling his stinking odour til he lets go of me

He finally lets go after a slight pat to my back and passes right by me then dissapears into the passage. I exhale in relief

I shake my head in pity for him and get along with my morning. I quickly stuff my face with 2 slices of bread and grab 2 water buckets then make my way out the house closing the door behind me.

I spot Nahaila coming down the hill, west of my house, she's carrying 2 buckets, one on her head the other she's holding.

Meanwhile, I reverse back the wheelbarrow from where I usually put it by the garden beside the house

By the time I'm done taking out the wheelbarrow, Nahaila is already entering through the gate.

I push the barrow towards her before greeting

"Goodmorning Nahaila" I gesture to the wheelbarrow so she can put her buckets in to rest herself, i do so to.

"Phew thank you Amare, these buckets are no joke heavy even without water in them" we laugh together.

I lift up the handles of the wheelbarrow and our journey down to the river begins.

We climb up the hill, conversating about the happenings in the village.

When we finally get to river I hand Nahaila to fill the buckets with water, one at a time because she is 3 years older than me hence being taller so the depth of the river is not a problem for her.

She'd hand the buckets back to me once filled, they are now 10 times heavier and I'd put them in the wheelbarrow.

Handing her the third bucket to fill, i hear a familiar voice scream from down the hill.

I cease my motion, and wait to recognize the voice.

I see a fast figure come up the hill, clumsily stumbling and dribbling through the track

"Amare!"
The voice screams

Once close enough I make out that the voice belongs to my brother.

"Faro!?" I ask confused, Nahaila moves towards me to witness the view from my distance too.

Panting and catching his breathe, Faro comes to a stop right infront of me half naked only with shoes and a short.

"Amare!" he says in a brittle, sharp tune

"What Faro, speak?" I command

"Mama, somethings wrong with mama! " he cries out

"Mama!?" I immediately drop the bucket I'm holding. I grab my brother by his right arm, racing down the hill to the house. Nahaila follows behind us leaving our water buckets and wheelbarrow by the river.

I vigorously push the gate made of branches and rusted wire.

Dragging Faro through, he stops to catch his breathe. I continue to open the door on my own and run down the passage to the second door on the right, i involuntary stop at the entrance.

My knees weaken and my hands shake sudden.

I feel my body going numb before dropping down on my knees and hear myself howl in sadness.

My face running down with tears like a waterfall, I call on my mom's name "mommy"

Her body, lifelessly lying on the bed right infront of me. Her face looking peaceful and pain free.

I feel Faro behind me. He starts to weep at his realization. He's breathing breaking in between with loud sniffles

As soon as I hear him sob, I remember mom's exact words :

"Promise me, that you will be strong for Faro. Be there for your brother, like I would've been."

With that i quickly grab my brother into my arms, kissing his forehead and rubbing his back to comfort him.

I try to be strong for him.

A/N

Hey loviess. I'm glad uu still glued to this book

Dedicated to: SassyUnicorn03

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