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Daniel

I just didn't want to go home, I was way alright being alone, but lately Mother has been calling my phone, fake crying on how my plans were to kill her, "this boy you don't have conscience" she would always say to me on the phone and I would hear her cursing me out to Ezinne and I will always feel guilty because I didn't want to make her suffer the way dad had done.

But I missed home, because it's been long being home and feeling home, being home was more safe and peaceful.

When Mother started cursing me out in my first years of dropping school, at that moment I swore not to come back, she hated that I dropped school, she feared so much that I was going to be wayward and all I could hear on the phone those periods were how the "devil has taken over her home",

I tried to give her my reasons but she blocked me out and all I was is a disgrace to her.

That night, my phone ranged, it was Ezinne, but it wasn't her on the other line, it was Mother, she figured out that i have been avoiding her calls.

"Good afternoon mummy" I greeted

"You don't pick up my calls anymore?"

"Mum. am mostly busy" I replied quickly before she can start her drama.

"Busy doing nothing " she hissed "when are you coming back?"

"Mmmh.." I thought for a while, scratching my hair out of frustration, I was seating on the sofa in my sitting room. I just wanted to click on the end button or better still can't wait for this to end.

"If you don't do as I say. I won't disturb you again, that will be the end of me worrying for you" she threatened,

I laughed hard, I hoped she was just joking "I will. Very soon "

"Just keep to your words, that's all" she hissed and ended the call.

Last Sunday of that month July, I boarded a flight from Lagos to Awka, then a taxi to my home. When I saw my old bungalowed home, I remembered how this place brought me peace,at the same time depression, my peace was that it had everything at my beck and call while my depression was the fight between my parents before my Dad left home.

Ezinne hugged me when she opened the gate for me, she helped me with my bags, she was different now, uglier and chubby, her eyes bolder and her nose more pointed,she looked more like Mum's younger self. Mother wasn't around yet, Ezinne told me that she was still in the market.

In the evening, Mother drove home, she still looked the same, she was a stout, chocolate skinned woman with an eagle eyes and an intimidating presence, she became stronger and fiercer after Dad left home. "I thought you won't come home?" she was blunt.

" I won't be staying for long, i have a Bar to manage" I blurted. I had put Darren in charge of my business, he was a close friend working directly under me

That night after feasting, I left for my room which look the way I left it, apart from the new standing fan, mother must had bought when she noticed my spoilt ceiling fan, every other thing like the "Lucky Dube" poster on the wall, the "barbing hairstyles" , those ones had holes at the edges, the bed was softer and the wood "older", the creamy colored tile were cold but complimented the room. My room at Lagos was bigger and well designed but this room made me feel home more.

During the week,all I could hear from Mum was how powerful her church pastor was, she told me stories I didn't want to hear and insisted that she would introduce me to him,

"I don't want to see anyone " I was blunt, I wasn't interested in seeing anyone and that's all, but she ignored that and keep on the stories as Sunday drew close.