Last conversation with Louisa

chapter 1

''Honey, isn't that your friend I'm seeing on the TV?''Mrs igwe voice sounded from the living room.
Stella had only one friend,so she was quick to get up and walk into the living room.
On the TV screen she saw Louisa with her ever smiling face,staring back at her. Underneath the picture was the headline:
- Laurels high school most influential student gone missing-
She was surpriced, they got it all wrong, her heart raced.

They've known each other for five years, they first met as junior school students lost and confused. They bonded after their first class presentation together on the topic photosynthesis in junior class 2. Louisa had always been a smart, outgoing person, willing and ready to learn and help, she made friends with everyone she met and left  lasting impression on them.And it bugged her that someone would want to 3 do such horrible thing to her, and hurt her precious family.

'' Honey you are going to be late if you stare at the television all morning'' Her mother called from the kitchen this time around. She snapped out of her morning reverie. She turned and walked back to her plate of food on the dinning table.
''Mother, I just saw her two days ago...she was so happy and cheerful.''
Stella reminded her mother.
Her mother walked out of the kitchen
''I know, and soon enough people will start asking questions.. And maybe sooner enough, the police will come here to ask questions, go to school and when you come back we would talk about all this.''

Stella knew better than to argue at that point. She didn't feel good, as she finished her breakfast, she could faintly hear the whistling of the kettle from the kitchen, the sound of metals clicking, and the smell of burnt toast. The house seemed bigger and empty, her hands were shaking and she couldn't tell why.

She dropped her biscuit and was about to stand up from her chair. Paying less attention to her body movements she knocked over a her glass cup and it fell to the ground and shattered in different places.

Mrs igwe rushed out of the kitchen, forgetting her brunt toast. She noticed Stella's trembling hands and fearful reaction.
'' Honey, I think you should just stay back today.''
''No!'' She replied a little too quick,''I'm fine, I'll be going now.''

She left the house before her mother could say anything. she paused on her way to calm her nerves. She rubbed her sweaty palm on her skirt and steadied her breathing, thank God she wasn't asthmatic like her brother.

She remembered two days earlier after school, she came home feeling excited, Louisa had invited her over after quite a long time. Finally, a reason to leave the house, she thought. She quickly pulled off her uniform and put on a sea green gown and her black sandals, she picked up her bag and her purple sweater and walked downstairs. She kissed her mother goodbye and walked out of the house for the second time that day.
Louisa's house was a five minute walk from hers, she lived with three other tenants. Her family wasn't wealthy enough and she was on a scholarship at Laurels high school. She was a humble and pleasant person.
When she got to the house, the door was open, she walked in and saw Louisa's mother, fidelia,standing in front of the mirror applying the last touch of makeup on her face. She was a skinny woman with a very fine body, she would make an OKEY actress or model if she wasn't involved in some unusual avocations.

''Stella Darling'' she called out smiling ''shoule I go for glossy lips or matte?''
She held 2 small sparking glasses on her hand and raise them to shoulder level.

''Matte'' Stella answered without thinking, knowing that she would go for the opposite.

''Glossy it is!'' She said and turned away but halfway she looked at Stella
''Oh.. Louisa's in her room.''
Louisa was always in her room coming out only to clean up after her mother or tidy up after her elder brother Mario's unruly parties.
Mario was coming out of his room shirtless with a cigarette on his lip,he stood by the door. Inside his room a girl, naked to the waist laid on the bed.
''Care to join us?''
She would have picked her reply carefully if he was half as normal as she was, but he didn't deserve it.

''I'd rather not be scarred.''

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