THE LOOP (Double Lines)

CHAPTER NINE

Finding out all we did , the way life played out made us question the kind of family we came from . Firstly Dad sexually molesting mum , then finding out about the second family he had and the affairs between dad and Rosie and aunty Affy.
The one that hurt the most was the one of dad with aunty Affy. Timi was discharged three days ago but she has been so scared for her life's sake . We had to persuade mum to send Uncle Azeez to check on us more than she should send Aunty Affy to us , so we could get to know him better and accept him because he and mum were planning to get married someday .Mum bought our idea and started sending uncle Azeez instead . He was really nice a person and he was genuinely in love with mum . He offered to take Timi to his place to keep her away from the situation at hand, (so aunty Affy doesn't murder her) ,after we told him about it.
Every passing day I prayed heavily for my mum to come back , so I could just see her and talk with her.
As soon as the driver dropped us at school . Nimi and Naden came to meet me . I wondered how these girls made it to school earlier than me every time . They had so much to say . Naden talked like I hadn't been in school for a week .
" Jeremy was at my house the other day"
I said
"What did he come there to do?" Naden asked .
"Did you forget that , he is dating June and June leaves in Valentine's house?" Nimi asked
"He got June lots of gifts and he thought I would be jealous but then I just showed him that it wasn't worth it ."
"Did he speak to you ? Nimi asked
" Yes , he was like I should leave his girl friend alone and all but I told him that if he tries to shake too much I will have him and his girlfriend's family thrown out" I replied
"After all you were on your own before the devil entered her . "Naden said and we laughed .
Daniel came to where I was with Nimi and Naden and we all walked to class . He told me that Jeremy came to threaten him saying he should break up with me or he ( Jeremy) would deal with him. That statement pierced my heart and I ran to class where Jeremy was to give him a piece of my mind , while Daniel , Nimi and Naden followed me .
" Jeremy let this be the last time you threaten Daniel because of me . You have June in full body and form . Leave me and my relationship alone . If anything happens to Daniel or my friends I will surely get the police to arrest you ." I said and stormed off
"Don't ever think you have the right to talk to me in any disgusting manner , little miss call the police" Jeremy shot back but I didn't respond to him.
School was intense but I found a way to calm my self down and let things go .
I walked to the fountain as the dismissal bell rang, June followed me and warned me sternly to desist from any odd plans I had concerning Jeremy. She was so cold towards me but I wasn't bothered , it was high time I showed her that she lived on my mother's money .The driver came minutes later and warned him against dropping June and her sister off , even when Valerie intervened on July's behalf , I shunned her .

MAXWELL'S RESIDENCE
Mum was home when we got back , I hugged her tightly as soon as I got out of the car . God really listened to my prayers . and cared about my feelings . He listened and delivered. I told mum how much I missed her as we walked into the house .
Uncle Azeez was at the living room when we got in . Dad and Mawusi were coming down the stairs. "Where are you sisters? " Mawusi asked but we didn't lay attention to her . "Valerie didn't you here her , where are your sisters?" Dad said angrily.
"Don't talk to my girls in that manner again. " Uncle Azeez said .
"You can't come into my house and tell me what to do with my daughters". Dad said
" This house belongs to me " mum chipped in
"Amelia, house or not I am their father . Their being is a result of the love we made ."
"The love you throw away for this lowlife scum bag" Mum said as she looked at Mawusi in disgust .
Just immediately June and July walked in , looking tired and dripping with sweat . Mawusi ran to them and hugged them ."What happened? " she asked them
"We walked home ." July said and joked at me with so much pain in her eyes , I quivered . Mawusi led them up the stairs to get cleaned up and rest . We followed after them . Dad left shortly after that . As soon as we were done freshening up , Mum called us and announced that she was pregnant , dad came in immediately as she said it .
"Amelia you're pregnant " Dad was very shocked
"It can't be true , you can't leave me " Dad said
"Well she's pregnant for me and I would love you to sign those divorce papers as soon as you can" Uncle Azeez said and that made dad so angry that he rushed at him and punched him
,"How dare you talk to me in that manner? " Dad said as he kept punching him and uncle Azeez struggled to get him off , he even threw punches at dad , mum rushed to separate them but she couldn't , Timi came to help her but they couldn't but mum was relentless ,she kept trying to separate them but they pushed her so intensely , she fell on her stomach and passed out.
"MUM!!" Valerie shouted and that brought the fight to an end as everyone struggled to get her into a comfortable position .
Uncle Azeez , lifted her into his car and drove off , and we hoped that he was heading to the hospital . Timi fell to her knees and started praying , we joined her as we didn't know what else to do . Mawusi came downstairs minutes later and took dad up with her . I had never felt as low as as I felt today. I imagined mum dying like those veteran actresses in the Bollywood movies we watched . I listened to her favorite songs . I wished she could just divorce dad and be free from all the traumatic experiences he put her through .
Valerie walked me to my room minutes later before she turned and left  , she said " If she doesn't survive it , we will have to be each other's mums." She hugged me tightly and I could feel my tears drip ,one after the other and fall on her shoulders .  I was silent as she left me and I walked into my room, "What colour was life without mum ?" I thought. My mind wandered off thinking of what life would be without mum's presence and soon I was fast asleep. As soon as I saw the first light of the day I got down on my knees and said a word of prayer . It was the first time o really spoke true words from my heart to God and felt it . I felt each word and hoped he would come through as he always did.

The driver arrived an hour later and I let him drop June and July too. I had every right not too but I didn't want anyone take away the goodness of my heart with their inhumane behaviour. I still didn't say a word to June though , a part of me hated her behaviour while the other part remained neutral . In other to stop fighting my inner self , I focused on other important things to me like my relationship with Daniel and my friendship with Nimi and Naden. My mind wandered off to  Addy , ever since she became very serious with Williams , we rarely felt her presence and when she's in our midst , she's never truly with us.
Daniel wasn't there to walk me when I arrived at school. It was odd because he was always early and punctual but I didn't mind . As I walked through the hall way and got to miss Mary's office, her curtains were closed so I guessed something was going on in there . I drew nearer to her door and I listened and I overheard Daniel's voice faintly and the next voice was her soft light moans. My heart dropped and I hurried off to class immediately. I didn't want to break down there in other not to attract attention. I saw down and faced the window and thought of what could possibly be going on in miss Mary's office.
Daniel came in to class just as Miss Joan came in to start the days lecture .  I asked him where he had been but he didn't lie about being with Miss Mary and when I asked him what he was doing , he said they were just talking but I felt differently. I didn't tell Nimi and Naden about it because they might see it a bad light and create a bad fuss out of it. I loved the way love ran between Nimi and Naden , it was as sweet as ice cream . I wasn't a fan of the LGBT club but whenever I saw Nimi and Naden. I wanted to be a part of that world . They made what christians called sin look like paradise .
The driver came very early today  , when we got home , we met Timi sitting and sobbing on the staircase .
"Timi what's wrong?" I asked but she ignored me but tears were rolling down her eyes profusely.
"Timi what's wrong? " I said again and touched her lightly before she said those words that tore me apart.
“I think madam is dead. " Valerie ran inside immediately as she heard those words come from Timi's mouth . I felt a sharp pain go from my head to my toe causing me to be weak and drop to floor .