“Finally” Aramide breathed fresh air watching the cars move by as she waited at the entrance of the hospital for Dared to bring her daughter, she had never been so happy to leave somewhere, a small smile played on her lips as she watched her daughter walk out of the hospital with Dared, it was a tight smile, but it was worth it.
They were going back home. Aramide had a lot to protest to that, but when Aracely began to shed a few tears, her motherly instincts kicked in, Her daughter did not deserve to suffer because of the things her parents did, That wasn't the life she wanted for her, but that didn't mean she was going to let him ride home with them. no. no. no.
“Are you sure you don't want me to take you? We are heading to the same place after all.” Dared pleaded when they reached Aramide.
“No, thank you.” Aramide said as she took hold of Aracely, “Aracely and I will be just fine withou
who expected that?
“Let go of me! Let me go!” Aramide struggled against the paramedics that tried to take her away from the wreckage.“Leave me! Aracely! My baby!” She cried as she struggled against them, her fingers clawed on the hot ground, “Look! it's my baby, why are you taking me away from my baby” She said as she looked between a particular paramedic that was trying to help her and the ashes on the ground desperation filled her eyes, grief was like a disease, it slowly eats up a person, but breaks them, it breaks with the reality that they are powerless and no matter how many years they said or how many times they cry, they will never, ever be able to get back what was lost. They had covered enough ground away from the spot before Aramide screamed again, Almost as if she had been in a trance for a while, she darted around as reality hit her in waves again.“Aracely?” she cried out, “Ara! Aracely!" She
The music was loud. Really loud. Latifa could feel her eardrums hurting, she was sitting at the far edge of the room, watching the commotion and adrenaline rush through everyone but her, She could faintly hear — underneath the loud noise, that would probably make her deaf soon — The demanding tone of her best friend. Latifa rolled her eyes as she flipped her scarlet hair and got to her feet, She slowly bit her lip as she strained her senses to identify exactly where her friend was. her vision comprised of a complete blur between disco colors and screaming teenagers, but she never missed the white— happy go lucky package that was going around. She was quite tall for someone who had just clicked sixteen, and her fashion sense made her look even older, Latifa was like one of those girls you could swear came from some magazine in fairyland, she was
“I'm leaving.” Aracely huffed as she started to walk out of the abandoned building Latifa had somehow convinced her to come to. Her fists tightened as she began to walk even farther away from the building, anger built up inside her and she honestly had no clue why was she was so angry, maybe she was angry because of how things had turned out to be, the truth was, Aracely just couldn't let go of the past, and today she was supposed to meet an integral piece of her life, was she ready for this? ready to confront the past and finally understand the sadness she had seen in her mother's eyes during her last days, how her gaze said a lot more than her lips did? was Aracely ready to know what Aramide's past was? “Ara wait” Latifa tried as she reached out to the girl but she didn't expect Aracely to yank away from her grip and glared at her with the meanest look she could have mustered at that moment, a slow monotone voice carefully escaping her lips as a tear trickle
"A-angel?" Aracely croaked out as she took a step back in shock, she almost stumbled but miraculously managed to maintain her steps as Latifa stayed few feet away from them deciding that staying out of the conversation was what was best Their eyes locked. Aracely had a million and one questions running through her mind, a thousand words threatening to spill down her tight lips, she wanted to ask a lot, say a lot, but she just couldn't find the words, it was like when you mentally prepare so much for an incident that when it happens you just go still and numb, totally ignorant about how to deal with the situation at hand. That was exactly how Aracely felt. Instead of trying to force words out through, Aracely proceeded to walk back into the building, Angel and Latina trailed behind her, and with every step, she took her heart beat faster, now, it wasn't the fear of not knowing the truth, it was the fear of maybe
Aramide's fingers grazed over the picture that rested in her arms, her eyes watered with unshed tears as her bottom lip wobbled. Memories raced through her head as she tried to shush the hurricane within her. It had been ten years now. And nothing, absolutely nothing had changed. to the whole world, she was dead, just like dared and her daughter — Aracely, but aramide had been alive and she had spent the last ten years trying to find the person who murdered her family. The picture frame in her hands looked old, more like something that would suit some antique museum in the south or something, it was gold-framed, and in the picture Aracely was holding Dared's hands, trying, as usual, to force the man to do something less boring, the man had just returned from work though, and playing chess with his competitive daughter wasn't what he needed Aramide had barely shown in the photo, she remembered bursting
***“Look sweetie, we are here, I'll get her and be right back,” Aramide said as she scooted to get down of the car but she didn't expect Aracely to hold her hand tight, She could feel the girl's nails digging into her sensitive skin.Aramide turned and locked eyes with Aracely, Fear, and discomfort was written all over her features, for a moment where she just wanted to forget the doll and stay in the car holding her daughter tight, but Aracely them whispered “You'll come back after you get daisy Momma? Then we will have our Christmas?” Aramide felt choke as a feeling struck her, her own eyes watered with tears and she didn't have the strength to wipe them away, Aracely did though, reaching out to her mother's cheeks she wiped away the tears and with a watery smile said“I love you, momma, Come back okay” she had whispered with so much emotion, A
Aracely breathed fresh air as she walked around the beach, watching the waves and tides go up and down, waver and them settle, she was wearing a black bikini with a black flannel, Sunglasses were delicately perched over her nose, resting carefully on them, She bit her lip as she paused mid-walk, now finally taking time to stare at the water, what was the event? Christmas. Christmas was coming soon.FLASHBACK“momma” Aracely whispered, the eight-year-old was sat on Aramide's lap as everyone celebrated Christmas. Dared had tried to play with the girl or even get her to just 'hang out with him, but she disagreed, Apparently in need of her mother's touch.“Yes, princess?” Aramide gingerly replied as she locked eyes with her little princess, the eight-year-old was wearing a blue princess gown and had a little wand in her hands, the combo was Aracely's idea, so Aramide just went along with it.&n
The man's foot assaulted the ground as he took slow yet heavy steps towards his destination, his fists clenched and unclenched, his eyes glossed over as a shade of rage surfaced on his features— That was probably why when he barged into the room where he was heading even the security didn't have it in him to stop him. The man was in his lateo thirties. He had a well trimmed beard and was fair skinned, he had blue eyes which could leave anyone mesmerized, The people around him knew him, they knew when his mood changed like moments like these it was better to leave him and watch like a spectator for the movie to play out The walls were adorned with Marble, this place was definitely expensive — but that did nothing to soothe the anger inside if him, bubbling up and twisting around like knots in his empty stomach, the same one he had left unfed when he barged out mid breakfast just to have this encounter. &n
“I never imagined things would end like this mom,” Aracely’s hands traced the table as she stared at the mirror. She was in her mother’s dressing room getting ready and the brown-haired girl was almost sure that she was going to fall into the nearest bed and doze off. Aracely had no one else to blame but herself though. The nineteen-year-old knew that it was a horrible idea to go out partying all night yesterday which was Christmas, knowing fully well her parents’ wedding was today. “You still took stunning” Aramide commented as she finished up on her makeup. Aracely bit her lip and smiled. The brown-haired girl pulled her mother’s chair back and knelt in front of the woman. “I’ve never told you this but…” she paused. Her breath hitched and her eyes watered with fresh tears. “Thank you” Aracely breathed. Aramide’s eyes glistened with emotion but before she could speak, Aracely took the woman’s hands into hers, “Thank you so much for being my mother for –“ “Aracely, what’s g
“I didn’t believe it when I heard it.” Aracely said when she caught the reflection of a brown haired boy with green eyes at the familiar lake. Her fingers tugged on her white gown as she struggled to breath through her tears and the warm feeling in her chest. She took a step forward and ignored the pain that shot up in her foot when she hit a small rock. She could remember the night she had found this place.Or better still that she had fallen off.She had just left her home for fresh air after her small argument with Latifa- Latifa. Aracely still struggled to accept that she was gone. They had spent their best years together, struggling through the twisted maze they called life. Aracely knew Latifa didn’t deserve to die, no one did. But she was dead. She got she got straight to the head no freaking questioned asked and why? Because she was related to Aracely. Aracely grew up understanding the meaning of l
“You did it,” Bola whispered as she stumbled back, a bit of blood escaped her lips as her hands went to her stomach which had blood rushing out of it. At this point, everyone had frozen and Aramide let the gun fall out of her hands as tears filled her eyes “ I knew you had it in you.” Bola said as she fell. Aramide’s hands covered her lips as her feet remained glued to the ground. She felt someone hold her from behind and it was then she realized from the strong scent of lavender that it was Cole. Tears filled Aramide’s eyes and she couldn’t tell if it was tears of relief or sorrow, she finally regained control of her limbs and walked over to Bola. She knelt in front of her and said “I’ll never understand how and why you did this? I’ll never be able to accept that you have always been like this…” “A monster?” Bola replied hoarsely as a tear rolled down her cheeks, she was laid on the ground her
The first thing Aramide noticed as she walked down the aisle was Aracely’s wide smile, her daughter looked so pretty. She was wearing a short pink gown and had a white bow on her brown hair, it was tied in a ponytail, the wedding was to take place in the garden and Aramide had to admit that Mercedes had done a great job with the decorations, the aisle had been designed with roses, not too far ahead. Efrain stood by one of the two pillars that held up the small space where the couple was to stand under. The chairs that were set in the garden were white, the scent of thick lavender filled the air, it was Aracely’s favorite scent and Aramide could vaguely remember that the scent lingered on Cole too. Aramide mirrored the smile on her daughter’s face, she was holding hands with someone – Cole. Aramide wasn’t sure she remembered when they had gotten together, but over the past two months, they had gotten closer. Ar
Aramide sighed as she stared into the mirror, she was dressed in a white gown and had a beautiful tiara on her newly styled hair. Her hands traced the jewelry on her neck and rested on the space between the jewelry and her off-shoulder dress – where the amulet rested. The one that bound her to her daughter for so many years. It had been a few months since Daniel died. Since he was buried and since Aracely had broken down in pain. The first few months had been horrible, Aracely barely ate or moved around, she was confined to the four walls of her room. Mercedes was devastated. She refused to look or even speak to Aramide. She blamed the brown-skinned woman for her brother’s death and she wasn’t wrong, to be honest. She was right. Aramide could still visualize the compounded images or Mercedes’ eyes with dark circles and her lips pursed into a line. Cole’s deep stares and sighs. The way his hands slowly ran through his
Bola groaned as she slowly opened her eyes, well, one eye. The thick smell of smoke filled her nostrils and she scrunched it up. She bit her lip as she glanced around, she knew something was wrong, yet she hadn’t been able to pinpoint what it was. She could recall going over the hospital that Aramide had been in to get Cole back. That man knew too many of her secrets and now, Aramide knew then too, she could also recall that Aramide had refused to let her take Cole. An argument ensued and things got a bit bloody from there, but how did this happen though? Had she been caught? Was she in prison? She desperately needed answers now. The blonde woman looked around from her place on the bed, she was slowly becoming aware of everything around her, the small night lamp beside the bed, the fact that the w
Aramide let out a shuddered breath as she walked towards the coffin in front of her. The coffin that had Daniel inside. She traced her hands over it and her eyes filled with tears all over again. it had been a few days already. They had all stalled the burial because Aracely insisted that she wanted to be there and deep down everyone was scared and reluctant to say goodbye. Nevertheless, they were all here now. The loss had always been a pain in the neck. Death? death never knocked — It never warned you — It never gave notice and it didn't even barge in. It came like a thief and it stole. it stole someone's life— someone's peace of mind — someone's source of happiness, someone's brother, sister, mother, father, daughter, son. Today Aramide had to say goodbye to someone who always wanted her to stay. She bit her lip. You only really know what you had till you lose it. till a
Bola grunted in pain as she continued down the sidewalk, stumbling into things as she struggled to see with only one eye open. She dragged herself across the ground as she tried not to fall unconscious. One of her hands was over her eyes with a cloth — trying to control the bleeding. Bola was sure that if she survived this—she would make Aramide pay for all the pain she was going through and the fact that she may lose her eye. After everything Aramide had taken from her, now, she wanted to steal her eyesight too? the woman was despicable in Bola's opinion. Bola knew that the probability of her surviving this was very slim. Yes, she had managed to escape before the cops arrived, but that didn't mean that there wasn't this lingering fear of what would happen if she got caught. The last thing she needed was to end up in a maximum prison cell for Daniel. That man wasn't w
“What's going on? Why is no one speaking up?” Aracely asked with worry etched on her features. She had just woken up, her hands clawed on the sheets as she tried to stabilize herself. It was obvious she was still weak and probably disoriented as well with the way her eyes navigated around the room, curiously breaking through her face like wrinkles. “It's not—" Mercedes tried but Aramide cut her off. “You need to be strong Aracely.” Aramide said as she walked over to her and held her hand, a smile spread across the girl's face. ”You are here,” She sighed in relief as her eyes filled with tears, they weren't of sorrow — yet. Aracely reached out for her mother and squeezed the woman's hands tight “What about Daniel? Where is he?" Aracely asked she tried to find him in the occupied room but Aramide was blocking her view. “He didn't come with? Did he go get something? Is he talking to s