Judithmoses

I’ve watched Ella from afar, loved her even when she didn’t know it. From the moment we met, I knew there was something different about her. Not the kind of different you notice because it’s loud, but the kind you feel—quiet, unshakable, haunting in the most beautiful way.
Ella walks like she’s hiding, but I see her. Even when she pulls away, even when she pretends like she doesn’t care, I know it’s all armor. The world hasn’t been kind to her. People she trusted betrayed her, and the ones who were supposed to protect her turned their backs. Still, she survived it all.
And yet, in all her surviving, she forgot that she’s allowed to live too. To breathe. To hope. To love.

SHATTERED SEVENTEEN

That night, as the city's sounds faded behind my bedroom window, I sat on my bed, clutching an old photograph. My fingers trembled as memories surged, flashbacks I'd buried deep.

The weight of silence pressed on my chest. The pain wasn't just from my family's expectations or school stress. It was the secret I'm forced to carry alone. The assault that shattered me trust and left invisible scars.

A sudden knock on the door startled me bringing me back to the present. It was my nephew, smiling nervously. "Ella, I sweep in your bed here pwees?"

I forced a small smile, wiping away the tears threatening to fall. "Sure," I whispered, feeling the first crack in her carefully built wall.

In all the storms I go through this tiny human is a little anchor for me. His playfulness, having nothing to stress him other than the thought of not having his food or snacks when he needs it.

Oh you want to hear the story about Cinderella I asked just to be sure it is indeed what he need

He replied my question but nodding his heard furiously that even the famous Agama lizard would pay him for a Ted talk or a live coaching.

Ok, long ago in a far far away land there lived a girl named Cinderella, she had two sisters and a step mum that didn't like her so much.

He listens to me with so much attention that if I paid that much attention to Mr Isaac's lecture I won't fail his test or exams.

And they lived happily ever after. I said turning to see him fast asleep.

"You shouldn't indulge him so much you know that, and of all stories Cinderella?"

Well I don't care what kind of stories he wants to hear or read, his just my little boy and besides why do you care at least he gets of your back while you do your thing I said to sis.

"Well I have good and not so good news"

"I go a job and the pay is better than what I'm being paid currently"

"Yes and I get to work shifts and it's at a hospital and I can't have my son crawling around the hospital"

Well you can take the cute boy to a day care centre and pick him up if you're chanced if you're not you register him at my schools daycare I pick him after school and check on him if I am on lunch break

"That works you're such a life saver"

I just rolled my eyes at her and went to brush and retire for the night

Good night sis I I said while yawning

I just laughed still wondering how she got her baby's daddy. Well it's not always as it appears.

chapter 5