CHAPTER 9 The Truth

I told my mother I'll be house around 5pm in the evening. I didn't have much to do in school and my afternoon shift at work doesn't take long. Even with that I still manage to be late, its past 5 and I'm still far away from her place. I increased my pace in order to get there on time.

"Watch where you're going young lady" a man hissed at me.

"Sorry", I muttered as I walked on without stopping.

The walkway is so crowded that it's hard work not to hit someone. I'm close to her house so I decided to walk. Though I didn't have much lectures, the ones I had were extremely stressful and I have a paper due tomorrow afternoon- add that to personal reading.

"You're late again, don't you know the concept of time young lady?".

"Sorry ma, left work late and there was traffic".

"I can't believe Abel lets you work, he seems to be a good boy".

"Mom, Abel doesn't control me and you know that he his not really my husband, our marriage was forced on me and I can't rely on anyone either".

"Did you sign that document or Not, if you did then he his the only husband I'll recognize"

"Ah" I huffed. She won't accept that Abel and I marriage is fake. To her we are already married.

"How is school?" She asked.

"Fine ma", I answered,” how are you doing, hope you body doesn't pain you like it used to do and do you use your drugs?"

She reassured me and quelled my doubts. One thing I've always been grateful for that Mr Johnson is doing is that he always paid for her bills. Their are times when he uses it to blackmail me but he always do it on time and for that I always be grateful.

"I want to go back to my husbands house, I'm tired of it here and I miss cooking for him".

"I thought that we are over this Mom, he asked you to leave that and you were always alone, Mom, please tell me about your childhood?".

"You know all that you need to know".

"It's been a long time since you told me, I just want to hear it again".

" I grew up in a small village in another state. My parents were poor and things were scarce. They were farmers by the way and they had big dreams. My father was a honest man he never cheated anybody, I remember him calling me then 'Elizabeth, don't be afraid to dream it's free and no matter how long the truth will always be known.' My mother helped in the farm but she was mostly a full time housewife she made me believe that a woman can do a lot of good by cooking and taking care of our husbands and it's true.

My only regret was they died very young, the other farmers were mad because my father was never greedy, he never increased the price more than necessary even if we needed money. He remained faithful."

"How did you met Mr Johnson then?"

She smiled at me," When my parents died due to a sudden fire in the farm, I had to live with my aunt, she was very nice but didn't have much and her husband was always complaining and no other family member would accept me saying they also had too much on their plate, she took me go and live with the Johnson's, their I met your father and he got married to a housemaid then you came along."

I shake my head and narrowed my eyes, she just won't accept the truth," We agreed mom, he his not my biological father, the DNA result says so."

She laughed so loud I didn't know she could still laugh like that, smile appeared on my face as my cheeks widen to show my white sparkling teeth.

Suddenly after her big smile she busted into a coughing fit and I remembered that she is Ill.

I hate thing of my mother's illness because it makes me want to cry every single time that after all that we've done she is not getting better. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the cough is just a reaction to the cold.

"I'll like to talk more but I feel very tired all of a sudden and I need to take a nap, you can go home or wait ok" she said as she was helped to bed by the help.

I worked on my assignment, replied some messages and read for an hour thirty minutes. I checked my time as I was already contemplating leaving but I decided to wait till 8pm and I was playing games on my phone when she woke up. After she eat some vegetables she came out to talk to me, " Thank you for waiting, you are indeed a good girl but I know it's because you want to know why the paternity test came out negative."

She took a good look at me and sighed, she took a long sip out of her tea, "Go back home and live your dream Bella, leave the past where it is, it benefits no one."

"Mom, I know it's her for you but I feel like I don't belong anywhere, I want to know, No, I need to know who my father is."

She paused, "I'm not sure because I was heavily sedated during those times, My boss and husband were not around so their son drugged me and raped me and that's when I got pregnant, alas, I've had several abortions before yours, I refused to be used anymore", she shakes her head and a tear fell out of her eye, "I ran away actually, The boss made me marry her son because someone leaked the story to the press and they were trying to safe face, now you know you belong to the other brother and you were not out of love but you will always belong to me and I'll do anything to keep you and I love you and all this is yours. Now stop digging and no one knows where he his. Go home and love your husband. At least he doesn't look at you like you are covered in dirt that can't be washed away." I cried and cried till my voice were hoarse. I cried myself to sleep and I was still crying when I woke up.

I didn't tell anyone what my mother tell me, I couldn't bring my self up to do it. I barely eat anything but I knew I was going to find my father, my mom deserves justice. I will give it to her, no woman should be defiled the way she was . I know my grandparents but I've never heard of any uncle and I'm sure there is a story there. I'll find him where ever he may be. I felt slightly better than I did before with a new vision.