Last conversation with Louisa

chapter 5

It was a rainy Sunday morning, Stella sat on her bed going through pictures from her school album. She stumbled the school photo galley section, a picture of her and Louisa with paints on their faces, celebrating the school's festival. She missed her, its been two weeks since she was pronounced missing and the past week had been horrible for her. She had always had nightmare each night causing her to wake up hyperventilating and running temperature.

The last time she spoke to Mirabel was a week ago, when she considered the fact that Stella had exams to prepare for. Mrs igwe was not left out, she had been worried about Stella's health for the past few days, she had developed fever twice and admitted once.

It was only a matter of time. Stella kept reminding herself.

She closed the album when the heard the sound of a car pulling over in front of her house. She looked through the window and recognise the black Lexus, it was Mirabel. She waited until she heard a knock on her room door.
She stood up and walked to the door, her mother stood with worry written all over her face.

'' Mirabel is here to see you, but if you are not feeling up to it, I can just tell her you are asleep and have her deliver any message to me.''

''No ma, I'll talk to her.''

She brushed past her mother and trudge down the stairs.
Its about time.
This time around, they sat on the chair in the dinning room. Mirabel didn't wear her shoes inside the house. She was already used to the place now.

'' How are you Stella, How is your exam so far?''
'' Its been okey, so far.''
'' I heard you've been sick.''

Stella looked out the window, a quick lightening flashed in the sky

'' I'm better now, thank you.''

This time around her mother served Mirabel crackers and fruit juice and she accepted it with a smile.

'' Hope we didn't cause you much trouble?'' She asked
'' No you didn't, I'll do anything for Loiusa.'' She replied, and she meant it.

Mirabel smiled and Crow feet appeared on her eyes, she rested her hands on the table.
'' Tell me, how was your friendship like?''
Stella remembered the good moments.

'' It was a pleasant experience, we bonded after a talk about photosynthesis in junior class, I've loved her ever since.''
'' Was she always so happy, despite all?''

'' Louisa is kind and affable, she was always happy in school and whenever I was around, she never bothered anyone with stories of her family.''
Mirabel nodded

'' Okey, well let me tell you this, we found a knife with blood in her room-

''But there was no body, Louisa is not suicidal.'' Stella interrupted. She did well.

'' I know, we searched the whole town, we found nothing. And if it was kidnapping we would have had someone calling in to ask for Ransom by now. But we noticed that some of her clothes are missing and her piggy bank was missing with the money inside.''

''How did you conclude that she has a piggy bank?''

'' Her mother collects money from it once in a while, so she noticed it.''
Stella was quiet which meant itwas almost time

'' So Stella tell me, with all sincerity of your heart, and with all the love you have for Louisa, do you have any idea where she has gone to?''

'' You are not going to kill yourself are you?'' Stella stood up and walked to the cupboard, she pushed the knife to the far end.
'' no, no. That's not the plan.'' Loiusa said very quickly holding Stella's hand
'' That's not the plan'' she repeated, quietly.

'' There's a plan?''
'' Yes, I can't live here.'' she answered '' There are lots of opportunities out there, and a better life too.''

''That might not be true.''

'' Mother is broke, we can't afford university fee, Mario had to do drugs to pay his fees and when he was caught, he gave up on school.''

Stella head was spinning, she could not believe it.
'' I checked online, on my phone- ''
''You have a phone?''
'' I got one last week, I saved up for it, I made and extra piggy bank because my mother knew about the one aunt Mirabel gave me.'' Louisa explained ''I worked 3 jobs to save up enough to go somewhere far, get a job, skip a year of school, then I'll start over, write a scholarship exam and study there.''

''No no.'' Stella placed her hand on her head and moved back.'' Louisa you got it all wrong,where would you stay, how would you cope?''

Loiusa peeped through the closed curtain before she faced Stella

Next chapter continues