A Prince's Love

Chapter 39

*Unedited*

Maadwoa

Two weeks. Two weeks since I last spoke to or saw Danny. The last time I spoke to him, he sounded distant and bothered, and then he abruptly hung up, not picking up when I called back multiple times after. I thought he might have been preoccupied and had to leave, but ever since then, he hasn't called me or answered my texts or calls. Maybe I said something he didn't like? But even if that were the case, Danny isn't one to avoid me and completely shut me out; he would have spoke to me about it. I was worried that he was hurt or upset with me. I can only pray and hope for the best though.

I sit on a stool outside, unraveling my twist-ins. My aunt is seated on a bench behind me, indulging in a bowl of rice and stew. We have barely spoken since the day I was attacked. After her remarks about the incident, I just didn't want to say a word to her (not that I ever want to). She really hurt me by implying that she didn't care if the boy had raped me. I knew she hated me but that day really made me more cognizant of the fact that she doesn't have an ounce of love for me, and I just haven't felt safe around her (again, not that I ever have). I'm not sure if she has noticed how I feel but she has reciprocated and is avoiding me, which I am thankful for.

"Hello, my sweet niece." I hear from beside me, and I turn my head to see Uncle Kwame approaching us with a grin on his face. He was wearing a flat cap on his head and a loose blue flannel with black pants. When did he start dressing like the uncles from those Ghanaian movies he used to force me to watch with him?

"Uncle Kay, I've missed you!" I greet excitedly, as he takes a seat on a stool next to me.

"Me too, that's why I had to visit today. How are you?"

"I'm fine, uncle." 

"Oh, so you haven't seen me?" my aunt questions from behind us. I roll my eyes at her question. Why does she always feel the need to be included in everything?

Uncle Kwame chuckles. "I've seen you sister. I've always given you attention since we were children, let me talk to my niece please. Are you jealous?"

She hums with a laugh, returning back to her bowl of rice. I continue to unravel the remaining twists in my hair and my uncle reaches his hand out to play with one of the twists.

"You and your hair. You are always doing something new." 

I giggle. "Nothing new. I'm just...you know, you won't get it. Let me not explain."

"You are correct. Thank you for sparing me the details." he jokingly says before getting quiet and squinting at my face. "What's that on your face?"

I realize that he's referring to the darkened, fading bruise under my eye and I cease my laughter. He doesn't know what happened, and I believe it should stay that way. I don't want him to worry about me.

"Oh, the bruise? I... fell off my bed and--"

"Look at her lying about it. The truth is she got beat up for stealing the prince from another girl." my aunt intervenes, after chewing on her food.

I release a sigh, waiting for Uncle Kwame's interrogation. A gasp escapes his lips as he cocks his head at me with wide eyes.

"Maame, is this true? Someone beat you? You stole the prince from someone? Wait, you and the prince are together?" he queries rapidly.

"Uncle, it's not entirely true. I can explain."

He clasps his hands together and scoots his stool closer to mine. "Please, explain it to me."

I rake my hands through my twist-outs as I sigh. "Okay. Yes, Danny and I are sort of...together. He has this friend, her name is Afia---"

"Yeah, friends indeed." my aunt remarks from behind us.