Looking

I packed some of my stuff and went to Ina's place around 5 p.m. before it began to get dark. I called a taxi before leaving. I wasn't going to walk since it did take awhile to get there. I texted Suga on my way to Ina house.

"Aponi!! Sit, sit! Oh my goodness! How is he treating you? I been praying that he treats you well.

I sat down and smiled. "Don't worry about me. I been doing really well."

"You look ill are you sure? You look like you lost a lot of weight." She held my hand as she sat really close to me and examined my body.

"I'm on my period but I'll be done by tomorrow, I should feel better." I informed her.

"Let me make you a tea. You will feel like your not even on it after you drink it." She said as she headed to the kitchen.

I laughed as I got up. "I'm putting my suit case upstairs."

"You're staying here? You aren't going home?" She asked.

"I'm just staying for the weekend. I have to go back." I informed her before going upstairs with my stuff.

I didn't even unpack and came right back out. I was going to go downstairs but I stopped by her room.

Mrs. Ina lost her dog that looked like a wolf many many years ago. She always goes out to search for him and I help her too. There's a picture of him when he was little but not of what he would look now. However, this dog is rare because he's all white. I've seen the other colors but not fully white. I wonder if he remembers her like she thinks of him...

"Aponi!" I heard her shout from downstairs.

"Coming!" I shouted back. I went downstairs and took a seat next to her in the dining table.

"Here drink it. It has all my good herbs for cramps."

"Thank you."

"You sure you don't want to visit your mom at least? I can walk with you. I don't mind. " She insisted.

I sighed and said. "I do want to see her but I know she wouldn't let me go."

"I feel so bad. This is all my fault. If it weren't for me. You wouldn't be going through this." She said so upset.

"Don't worry about me. I'm taking this as a vacation."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. Suga lives like in the middle of the forest. We're surrounded by nature like the woods. It's really peaceful and calm."

"Really? It sounds relaxing..."

"It is. He doesn't like people that much. So, he's away from society."

"What does he do for a living?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know if he's an artist. I saw him sketching but it could just be a hobby. He has his office but I don't know what he does. It must be a relaxing job too. He seems to do what he likes when he likes. I'm just cleaning and cooking for him."

"So, you like it?" She asked concerned.

"I mean yeah. It's okay. I mean I will stay there for life and anybody cleans. We have to clean no matter what."

"Aponi? Have you thought about marrying and having kids one day?" She asked really worried.

"Ina! I said don't worry about me. I'm serious. Look, I don't want that at all. I didn't go to school. How on earth would I provide for a kid if I can't even take care of my own self."

"I feel like it's my fault."

"No, I don't want that kind of life for myself. Marry have children and do all that is not me."

"You say that now but what if you meet someone?"

"Don't worry. I don't even go out."

She gasped.

"I mean I do but boys aren't my interest at the moment. I'm sure I'll figure something out when the time comes."

"I will help you."

I chuckled and then asked what I was dying to ask. "Are you going out to look for him tomorrow?"

She sighed. "I'm thinking about giving up."

"WHAT?! You can't!" I gasped as I couldn't believe it.

She frowned. "I just come back worse because there's no sign of him."

"If you won't go I will go alone then."

"What?"

"Yeah! What if I see him accidentally? I'll bring him to you."

"No no. He will be upset that I gave up."

I smiled. "You see? You can't give up. No matter what. You have to keep looking. He will show up one day."

"I hope he shows up soon before I die."

"Ina! Don't say that. You got many years to go!" I tried to get her hopes up.

"Okay let's go tomorrow."

"Okay!" I cheered as she finally agreed and didn't give up looking for her dog.

We went out to the forest where she lost her dog the next morning.

"How are we supposed to find him if you don't let me shout out his name."

"Aponi you should know it's only us against these wild animals. You can run but I can't."

I sighed but she was right. We spent the whole day looking for him but no dog. I could see her getting disappointed again but I didn't want her to give up.

"Ina have you ever thought about looking in a different forest? I mean everything burned down that night. I'm sure all the animals ran the same direction to a different forest for safety."

"But my house didn't catch the whole forest on fire though. I hope that's not true because I wouldn't know where to look..." She said really devastated.

"We can look through them all." I assured her.

She nodded her head but it look like she wasn't convinced. I was leaving tomorrow though. I shouldn't had said that.

When I saw her getting tired we went back to her house. I went to shower and after that I came downstairs. I was going to show her my new skirt I got. I heard knocking and looked at Ina.

She shrugged and I opened the door. I regretted it was my mother with Robert.

"How did you know I was here?" I asked confused.

"Why you come here? You have a house! Get your things! We're leaving." My mother said.

"I can't-" I couldn't even finish my sentence when Robert went upstairs to get my suitcase.

"Come on let's go!" She shouted.

I didn't want to make a scene. So, I agreed and said goodbye to Ina.