Last conversation with Louisa

chapter 3

Was it her imaginations playing tricks on her or was someone really hitting something.
Have they come for her? Do they think she is responsible for everything, she turned to find a comfortable spot, and then she heard it again, this time louder. She quickly sat up, she had fallen asleep. She looked at the time, it was 6:15pm, she had been sleeping since 3:00pm.

''Stella honey, open the door.''
She heard her mother's voice behind the door.
She quickly got up and wiped the side of her face with the back of her hand before walking to the door.
''You scared me Stella, how could you lock yourself in your room?''

Stella saw a trail of perspiration on her mothers forehead. Mother had been worrying a lot lately.
''I fell asleep.'' She answered.
'' There's a woman downstairs with your principal, they came to see you''

Her heart beat increased and she quickly got hot everywhere

Get a grip Stella, she quietly reprimanded herself.
''Okay'' she said and followed her mother downstairs.

A very familiar lady sat on the middle chair in the living room, Stella guessed she was Louisa's aunty because she bore an uncanny resemblance to fidelia, Louisa's mother. But this time there was no shinny lip gloss and faux lashes. Stella thought the woman was very attractive and young. She was dressed  modestly on an ebony black fitted gown and blazers. Stella noticed she still wore her heels in the living room and wondered why mother made her an exception. Her principal, Mr shola sat on the opposite chair with his official school suit.

'' Stella how are you?'' Louisa's aunty finally spoke amidst the overwhelming silence ''I'm Mirabel, Louisa's aunt and fidelia's sister.''
Stella quietly took a seat and looked straight into Mirabel's eyes, but it was hard to focus.
'' I'm okay, Good evening '' she looked at her principal and felt a heavy load off her shoulder '' Good evening Mr Shola.''

''I think you know why we are here right?'' Mirabel spoke with eyes firmly fixed at Stella.
''I do'' Stella replied without hesitation. Only a blind man would never notice her apprehensive demeanor.
'' Are you okey?'' Mr shola asked
''I'm fine, I'm okay.''

''Your friend Louisa was last seen by her mother three days ago'' she began '' Tuesday's night, and it is well known that you were the last person who visited, or should I say ,saw her.''

Stella kept on looking, waiting to  hear it all
'' Her mother thought she went to school, so after school hour she called Mr shola only to find out she wasn't in school that day, and you knew right?''

''I thought it was one of those day where she decides to skip school to do some work, it was revision week anyway, so she won't miss much.'' Stella  answered, surprised that she didn't stutter.
''And you didn't go to see her, to know why?''
''No.''
''Why?''
''I was busy.''
''Doing what? It is revision week, no much school work for you to do right?''

Stella looked away..she hoped she could handle it for as long as Miranda wanted to take it.

''Exam starts next week, I needed to read.''
Miranda shifted on her chair.
'' What was she like when you saw her on Tuesday? Was she tensed, afraid?''
Stella's mind drifted to their conversation in Louisa's room

'' what do you mean your  mother still does those  things? I thought we agreed you'd threaten to tell the principal about it?'' Stella's voice echoed in the almost empty room.
'' I did , she didn't believe me. '' loiusa answered.
'' How?''
'' Because she knows I won't tell''
'' Well, won't you?'' Stella folded her hand and stared at her friend.

''I can't, she's my mother.''

'' But you know she's not behaving like one.'' Stella reminded her. '' And what about Mario, i thought he was supposed to go back to school two months ago?''

''He was expelled.''
'' Why?''

''He was caught with narcotics.''
''Oh'' Stella sat on Louisa's bed. Everyone was not okey, and its very creepy. Its so sad Louisa had to deal with all of these at such young age.

'' What did your mother say about it?'' She finally asked.

''Nothing much, she only said if school is not his thing, he should only quit and stay with family.''

Stella looked at Mirabel as she narrated the story. A story that she hoped would change things for the better.
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