WHAT COULD THIS BE?

Where do children of these days learn these things they say and think? Malik thought in his mind as he saw the question Ella was asking him. "Where do you learn these things from? What do you know about a man liking a woman?"

Ella smiles and writes again. "I have seen it in a lot of movies."

"I will have to monitor the things you watch from now on. You are too young to know things like this."

She frowns a little and writes again. "If you like her why don't you tell her?"

Malik still can't believe his eyes, she was till on the issue. How is it possible for him to tell a married woman he likes her? "How do you expect me to tell her I like her when she is still married? It is so absurd and disrespectful."

Ella sneers and writes again. "There is no crime in trying they say, after all she won't beat you if you do so. Will she?"

Now, he was beginning to doubt her age. Can a thirteen years old girl say things like this? How come she is this smart? Or should he say expose? "Ella who thought you that?"

She smiles and writes. "My mom always told me to go for whatever it is I want. You should do the same too."

Malik was still doubting, did her mom really tell her or did she have her boyfriend at this her young age? Whatever the case might be, he decides not to bring up her mom in all he was doing. "Alright, don't forget what I told you earlier. Make sure you are always happy, do not hold any grudge and do not think of anything so that you can get your voice back."

Ella smiles and writes again. "You people seem to worry too much, I am a warrior and I will survive no matter what happens. Come thunder come storm I will surely survive."

Are these tears I am holding back? Malik asks himself as he holds back his tears after reading what Ella had wrote. Indeed, she is a warrior and she will surely survive the current storm too. "You are a warrior truly, I know you will survive."

A nurse came in time and Malik used the opportunity to quickly wipe of his tears as Ella had fixed her attention on the nurse.

"How are you feeling now?" The nurse asks.

Ella writes. "I am getting better, thanks ma'am." She shows the writing to the nurse with a very big smile.

The nurse was surprised she was not brooding, instead she was smiling. It is very strange for a child that suddenly lost his or her voice to be happy or even smiling. "I am glad you are not brooding, keep it up it will make you get better on time."

Miss Smith bows her head again and writes. "When am I going to get discharged? I am not really comfortable right here."

"The doctor is quite busy now, but when he is through you can tell your guardian to go and see him. He would be the one to tell you wether you would get dis charged or not." The nurse says.

"Alright ma'am, thanks a lot." Malik finally says.

"You are welcome." The nurse says and faces Ella. "See you later." She says and leaves the room immediately.

The thought of being with the doctor again got Malik so worried, that he went blank for some moment. Ella wanted his attention but she couldn't speak, all she could do was yo clap her hands at his face.

"Yes yes yes." Malik repeats as he yanks back to reality.

Ella looks at him suspiciously and writes. "What are you thinking of?"

"Don't mind me my dear, I was already thinking of work. Is there anything you want me to do for you?"

She shooks her head and writes again. "I am so hungry right now, I need to eat something."

"Oh okay, let me get you food from the nearest restaurant." Malik says and exits the ward.

She was left alone in the ward, although she didn't want to think but these things keep coming to her head. Why did Vivian leave her? As she wronged her in some sort of way or manner? Ella plans to call her again when Lola arrives.

Malik walks out of the hospital with a lot of things in his head. Thinking about what Ella had been through and what she had said concerning him and Lola. Lastly, how long will it take for her to regain her voice?

*********************

Lola looks at the house for a moment or two before entering it. What exactly happened? Why was Ella in that state and why is she alone? What happened to Vivian and where is she presently?

Thinking and asking herself so many questions wouldn't do anything, she enters the house and looks at Vivian's car again. Was she kidnapped? She asks again and walks into the sitting room. The lights still were on, exactly the way they had left it earlier.

Lola looks round and she proceeds to the second room as Ella had instructed. There was nothing much in the room, no drawings or pictures on the wall. Just a bed and bed frame, a big wardrobe to keep all her clothing accessories and a reading table and chair.

"It must have been very hard for her to stay without her parents, and now her guardian is nowhere to be found." She says as she moves very close to the bed. The small paper got her attention. She picks it up and asks herself again. "What could this be? Should I read it or not?" Lola looks up as she asked herself again. "Let me check it might be something related to Vivian."

She opens the paper and read through the content. 'Ella, I am sorry I had to leave you in such absurd manner. I am so sorry. Please forget about Nigeria and live a good life In Burundi. Make good use of your assets and start afresh. In my wardrobe, you would find a briefcase it has some Burundi currencies and master card in the inner zip. It's a master card to the Burundi bank account I opened in your name. The profits made from your assets would be transferred to the account every month. When you come of age, decide and strategize how to use your assets, but for now keep spending the money as it comes into the account. Please forgive me.'

"What is this?" Lola asked herself again in a lot of disbelief and confusion. "She left her?"