Melancholy...

Chapter 26

SURPRISE UPDATE!
Enjoy the next 5 chapters!

RECAP OF THE LAST CHAPTER.

I turned off the light in the room after making sure that my sisters were comfortable and that the door was locked. Putting my head on the pillow placed in the middle of the hard raffia mat,I forced myself to sleep.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
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Soon,it was daybreak. I got my sisters ready for school hurriedly but sadly because this was probably the last time I was going to see them in 12 months. After getting them ready for school, I sat them down and talked to them as they ate breakfast. Crystal seemed confused, but she didn't ask me anything.

When they left,I took my bath and got began to pack my things. I put aside what I was going to wear to the bastard's and folded the little clothes I had left into the bag neatly together with my tooth brush,some cream,toothpaste and comb. After putting on my blue straight dress,I tied a scarf around my hair,making a mental note to wash it when I had time.

I tidied up the room a bit,putting away Mia's toys and Crystal's book. Deep down,I knew I was done with everything I had to do but something in me was preventing me from taking the bag and leaving. Tears began to flow out of my eyes as I looked around the room. Sitting on the mat,I tore a paper from Crystal's book and wrote:

Hey Cris.
This is probably going to be the first thing you'll see when you come home because I'll put it on the table beside the door. You're wondering why you are reading this right? I'm going Cris. I'm going to work for someone for a year. I didn't want to do this but I had to. I need money. We need money. This job is the only thing that will give us the assurance that mommy is going to survive. You need to go to school. Mia needs to go to school. That is why I'm doing this. I don't want you to live the life I'm leaving right now,that's why I'm doing this. I love you Crystal. So so much. And I love Mia too..and mommy.
I know this will be hard for you but we have to do this. Mm? Trust me,I will be fine.
When you get back from school,go to sister Owusuwaa's shop and stay there till she closes. Then,come home,cook and eat. LOCK THE DOOR IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU ENTER. I will get a phone and will call home from time to time. I'll be sending money through Sister Owusuwaa too. She'll be the one giving you money for things you need and paying mommy's bills.I haven't told her yet,but I will write her a note informing her. For the mean time, use the money under mat for your upkeep. Use it carefully Cris. Christian will also be coming over to check up on you.
Please take care of yourself. Take care of my baby girl for me. Tell her that I love her. Tell her that I'm doing this for her...so she lives a better life. I love you Crystal.
Let mommy know that I love her.
I will be home soon my love. Till then, good bye.
Yours,
Lina.

With tears,I wrote a copy of the note for Christian and Sister Owusuwaa,briefly explaining the situation and pleading with them to take care of my babies for me. I folded Crystal's and kept it on the table making sure that it was visible. Neatly folding Sister Owusuwaa and Christian's, I put it in my pocket together with a small paper on which I had written their numbers yesterday. Refusing to look around,I took the bag and left the room,locking the door and putting the key underneath the vase.

Cleaning my eyes,I looked around the house for Yaa and motioned for her to come when I found her. Yaa was a 15 year old school dropout who lived in the compound house with us and usually hanged out with Crystal. I gave her the two notes, one with Christian's name and the other with Sister Owusuwaa's name and told her to deliver them for me, adding a 5 cedi note to it. She thanked me and took off, skipping in excitement.

Making sure that the paper with the number was still in my pocket,I strapped the bag behind my back and left the house,looking down. Like Jesus had commanded the wife of Lot,I  walked straight ahead refusing to look back, as though I was scared that I would turn into salt. A part of me seemed to collapse as I got closer to the main road.

I felt a tear run down my cheek as I got into car, still refusing to look at the place I had called home and the people I had called family for the past 3 years.
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Q: Who or what inspired you to start writing?👀
A: Societal problems and my desire to be alone most of the time inspired me. Like when I'm depressed or sad,I just write. It helps to clear my mind.

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Xoxo,
Arianna.