Evening Crisis

Elara stared at Marko for a while. Marko wasn't in his right frame of mind. She could sense that the day's troubles had overwhelmed him so much that he was in despair. He was trying to appear

tough before Elara because he didn't want her to see him as a weakling.

Elara wanted to give him the space he said he needed. She didn't want to push Marko any further.

"Alright," she finally agreed. "But if you need anything, don't hesitate to give me a call, okay?"

As Elara said that, she took the phone from Marko's hand. It wasn't a smart phone. And it had a rubber band holding the battery in place because the cover protecting the battery was missing.

She giggled, seeing the state of Marko's phone.

Marko felt uneasy. "At least it can make a call", he said weakly, feeling ashamed of himself, he kept his head down as if he was concerned about something on the floor.

Elara didn't say anymore, she dialed her number on Mark's phone.

"Beep, Beep!" Elara's McBean A20 smart phone vibrated in her school bag and she cut the call.

"I have your number now. Please, don't hesitate to call me Marko." She reminded him.

With her left hand she held Marko's hand and put Marko's phone back into his hand. Marko swallowed hard, his heart beating faster. Her hands were so soft.

"This girl has never greeted poverty in her life", he marveled.

Elara pressed Marko's phone in his right palm, kissed his forehead and stood up to leave.Marko nodded with a flinch, unable to find the words to thank her. He watched as she left the room. Marko heard her footsteps receding gradually as she stepped outside.

As soon as Elara was gone, the small house felt even smaller and there was a heavy silence that overshadowed him. Marko let out a sigh of relieve. He couldn't control himself whenever Elara was close to him. It

was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from off his shoulder.

"I must avoid this girl as much as

possible", he sighed again. "I just can't stand her presence."

"Or… am I falling for her?" Marko was in a dilemma. He was feeling something he had never felt before.

His gaze went back to his helpless father lying on the straw mat. He could see how life had beaten Talila up.

"Daddy, I'm learning as hard as I can. At least you'll enjoy life before you leave this world."

Marko assured him.

His own pain and tiredness were nothing compared to the sadness of seeing his father like this, Talila was really broken and defeated.

Marko sank back into the old chair by the mat, finally giving in to his exhaustion. He just sat there, staring at his father, wondering how things had gotten this bad. The world outside felt far away, quiet, and peaceful compared to the storm brewing inside him.

"It seems the age fifteen had been a curse for me than a blessing", Marko sighed.

Marko would never forget this day ever in his life.The candle burned low; Marko stared at how big his head had become sitting close to the candle. He laughed at it, trying to stay calm. Marko could feel tears welling up in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. He had to stay strong for his father and for his family.

"Be strong, Marko. This isn't the end of the world," he whispered to himself, trying to keep his emotions in check. He began to massage his thighs as he took in deep breaths and exhaled.

His hands trembled as he reached for the bottle of alcohol his father had been drinking. Talila fidgeted a little, but he stayed asleep.

"I think I'll make do with this", he said while pouring the alcohol on his finger. He dipped it into the wound on his lips.

"Ouch!" he screamed as the alcohol stung the wound. But he forced himself to keep going. He took a broken mirror to look at what had become of his lips. The cut was on his philtrum and his lips was swollen. He tore a strip of cotton from an old t-shirt lying around and used it as an emergency bandage to tie his knee's bruises. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

It wasn't long when he heard footsteps on the creaky wooden floor. His heart sank as his

mother, Leila, and younger sister, Tanya, walked in.

Leila was bathed with exhaustion; her face was pale from a long day of work at the market. Tanya, though young, had the same tired look. Leila's eyes widened when she saw Talila on the mat.

"Marko, what happened?" she asked,

rushing to her husband's side, her voice trembling.

"It's father… He came home drunk," Marko said, his own voice filled with strain.

Leila knelt beside Talila; she was so worried at her husband's pity state. "Oh, Talila…" she

whispered, her voice breaking. She touched his forehead gently, tears in her eyes.

"How did this

happen?"

"I don't know, Mama," Marko said softly. "I found him lying outside, and he reeked of alcohol."

As Leila turned to look at Marko, she suddenly noticed the cut on his lips.

"Marko… you're also

hurt," she said, reaching out to touch him. "Did you get into a fight?"

Marko forced a smile. "Don't worry about me, Mama. It's nothing. Just some bruises from

school. I'll be fine."

"You're still bleeding. Why didn't you get help?" Tanya asked quietly, standing near the door.

Marko grimaced. "I didn't want to trouble anyone. Besides, I couldn't leave Dad alone."

Leila looked at her son, her heart was heavy with grief. "The drugstore must be closed by now," she said, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "You've done enough, Marko. Go and rest. Let me take care of daddy." She assured Marko.

Marko quickly nodded in agreement; he was too tired to argue. "Thank you, mama."

As Marko left to rest, he flinched and winced. Tanya quickly noticed it. She rushed to help him lie down. Then got out to fetch firewood to make fire. She boiled some water to cater for the wounds.

Leila stood by Talila with a bucket of water. Her own tiredness had vanished into thin air seeing the situation in her house. Taking soap and sponge, she washed up Talila and cleaned his body dry with a dump towel. She changed Talila's clothes.

"Tanya?" Leila called. "Will you kindly wipe the wet floor for me?"

Tanya hurriedly came into the room with the hot water, she almost tripped.

"Be careful Tanya,

the room is dark", Leila warned her,

Tanya placed the water beside Marko, cleaned the wet floor and attended to the wound on his side.

"Ouch, Ouch, take your time. Be careful. That's painful" was all that could be heard in the room as Marko screamed in pain.

Meanwhile, Elara walked as fast as she could to her house. She kept praying that Marko got well soon while he cursed those who might have caused him such harm. As she entered the house, the warm aroma of beans stew greeted her nostrils.

Her mother, Emelia Thompson, was in the

kitchen, preparing dinner. When she saw Elara, she sighed.

"Elara, you're home," Emelia said with curious concern

"Why are you late today? This isn't like you, sweetie." Elara sighed, sitting at the kitchen table.

"It had been a tough day, mom. I stayed to help Marko. His dad was drunk and collapsed outside their house. Marko had to drag him inside and take care of the injuries he had sustained on his way from school."

Emelia's concerned look of turned into one of irritation. "The Hawkins family," she muttered. "I've told you before, Elara, stay away from them. They always have some kind of problem. I don't want you to get entangled in their poverty."

"I know, but Marko really needed help," Elara said, her frustration was clear. "His mom was

working at the market, and I didn't want him to be alone."

"Leave them alone, Elara… The family is cursed."

"No mom, don't say that. Life is just not fair for…"

"Enough, Elara," Emelia cut her off. "We have enough to deal with. Don't add their problems to our own. They're poor and always in some crisis."

Elara was shocked by her mother's reaction. "But…"

Before she could say more, the screech of tires and a loud car door slamming shut interrupted them.