T H I R T Y E I G H T

And I thought it was going smooth when semestral break is just around the corner when my aunt casually told me that I won't be finishing my studies anymore. Their reason? Because I had a boyfriend. Shallow.

I remembered introducing Ryke at home to everyone: To my aunt, her husband, and their children. Why would I do that? Out of respect, out of the decency left in me for taking care of me since grandmother died. There came a day when they invited him to go and attend Sunday service with us a couple of times. They even approved of him fetching me at home or at school almost every day so I never really thought that they'd force me to stop schooling.

One day when I was with my aunt in the living room, "Mommy!", as I call her ever since I was young because there's no one in the house that's mother-like except for her and no matter how over-protective and strict she has been, I owe her my life. I love her with all of me. "I'll have to go to school for the graduation pictorial and pay for graduation fees.", I added.

" No, you're not going anymore. I told you already"

"Why? What did I do so wrong to be punished like this? Is this serious? Just one more semester. Just my 1000 hours of on-the-job training and I'll graduate.", trying to stop my tears.

"You won't hear any explanation but my decision is final. You'll just help us in our mini grocery and that's it."

And after that conversation, I was never permitted to go outside unless they asked me to. And in a blink of an eye, my world suddenly stopped.