Facing Reality

Facing Reality

After the incident with her parents, Amaka became fully aware of what her parents could do and how distinct they were with her. But what she didn't understand was how things got that worse. She could remember how playful her dad was and how clingy her mom could be when she was in nursery school.

Then, Auntie Bella usually came to their house every weekend while she was still married to her husband, John. Amaka could remember how thin Auntie Bella was then, due to the fact that her then-husband, John, was way too independent on her, and their only source of income was Auntie Bella's orange business. She could remember how Auntie Bella always came crying about how her husband stole and used her money to purchase alcohol. Sometimes, she came with a bruised face, often inflicted by her husband when she tried confronting him.

Then, her mind slowly switched to the incident that changed everything. One faithful night, Amaka and her parents were sitting in the sitting room, watching a movie and cracking jokes. The kind of giggles coming from the sitting room illustrated that they were having a good time, until a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. Mom quickly stood up to get the door and was startled by Auntie Bella's appearance. Her eyes were filled with tears, parts of her clothes were torn, her hair was scattered, and her face looked like something that had been punched.

Mom slowly led her inside and asked Amaka to get a glass of water for her. Dad was very infuriated by the appearance of his sister. This was obviously not the first time something like this had happened, but it was the first time his sister looked so deranged. Mom took the glass of water and handed it to Auntie Bella, which she gulped down and started crying immediately after she dropped the cup.

Dad tried enquiring from her what led to the argument this time around, but her sons were interrupting her words. After much effort, it was discovered that Auntie Bella caught her husband on their matrimonial bed with another lady, and when she tried confronting them, she was beaten by both of them. This was too much for Dad to bear. He immediately asked Auntie Bella to put herself together, and they left for her house.

Mom tried stopping him, not because it wasn't right for Dad to talk to John, but because Dad was visibly angry and could do anything at that moment. After some minutes, Dad's car drove into the compound. He walked into the sitting room, looking a little bit calm compared to when he left.

"He's lucky I didn't meet him," Dad mumbled to himself.

Auntie Bella was later given first aid by Mom after cleaning up the injury, and allowed to rest in the guest house. Later in the evening, while everyone, including Auntie Bella, were watching a movie at the sitting room, Dad said something that made Amaka jump in joy, then, but now it was a thorn to her flesh.

Dad told everyone present in the sitting room that Auntie Bella's marriage with John ended that day, and that she didn't have to go back to her business nor the house, since she would be staying at his house. The joy Dad's statement inflicted on Auntie Bella was very visible, and Mom had to stand up from the sofa she was sitting on to give her a hug. Everyone in the sitting room that day loved the fact that she smiled, because that had been a rare character of hers since she got married to John.

All this, young Amaka did with a very excited mind, thinking she had found a mature playmate, not knowing her presence at the house would destroy her relationship with her parents.

"Hmmm," Amaka sighed after remembering everything that transpired that day. "Well, it's just a bad family, not a bad world. If they don't like me, the world might see me as useful. I don't always have to let myself be affected by their attitude. I'll pick up my own piece and face life the way it is." Amaka encouraged herself as she slowly drifted off to sleep.