Austin couldn't hold the pain in anymore, why did his mum have to leave him in this cruel world? Everything just seemed difficult for him. He never forgot waking up in the hospital after the news. She was everything to him, he never forgot the first toy she got him for passing his exams, regardless of him not being at the top of the class. All he wanted was to make her happy when he was of age but she left.
On that fateful day, he could hear his mum telling his dad to come to pick her up from her place of work because she would be running a late shift. She was a Nurse at the only standard hospital they had in the city there."Could you come to pick me up from the hospital at 8 pm" his mum requested while packing up her bags."I'm sorry, I have something to do this evening" his dad shouted back from his room because he was far away from her."Richard, just do this for me. Please"He barely heard her call his dad Richard except when they had one of their regular fights and she was aware he cheated on her. But for some reason Austin couldn't understand, she just couldn't leave him"Why can't you just understand that I can't come to pick you up from work"His mum left for work, not disappointed. As though she knew his dad would refuse to do that for her. After a hectic day at school that day. He got home and found out his dad wasn't home. He couldn't wait for his mum to get back as she had promised him the previous day to play chess with him. It was his favorite game just because of her. He waited and waited, with time he got more anxious and scared. Why weren't his parents home, he'd ask himself.Finally, the door flung wide open and he saw his dad, with his shirt covered in blood. He could see his dad with his head down, but couldn't walk straight. Austin could feel his hands shaking, his heart almost finding its way through his chest."Where's mum," he asked, going towards his father. His dad didn't look at him or even mutter a word. He grabbed his dad and shook him with every power he had."Where is mum!"His dad looked him straight in the eyes. He didn't need anyone to tell him, but he couldn't believe it either. She couldn't leave him, she promised to play chess with him."No no," he moved backward with his voice breaking. "She can't be…." He landed hard on the floor, losing all consciousness. His dad ran to hold him up. Every measure to revive him didn't work. His dad took him to the same hospital his mother died in. The doctors couldn't even find a pulse for a minute but after that, they could. But he didn't wake up. He was breathing fine but he didn't wake up, he was in a coma.Austin was on his mother's grave crying, hoping all the pains he had, she could just take them away. He needed just her in his life to make him happy again.Even if she was going through the trouble of finding out how she ended up in the cemetery, she was wondering who that boy was crying on that grave with a woman over his shoulder. She couldn't figure it out but she tried to stay hidden so she wouldn't be seen by him. Trying to sneak out and get a better glimpse of him, she almost fell into the pit before her and she landed hard backward and closed her mouth hard to prevent her from screaming.He heard the loud sound, like someone or something falling hard on the floor. He stood up immediately, looking around suspiciously,"Who's there?""Hello!"He walked up to where he heard the sound, with his footsteps getting closer and closer. She held her mouth tighter and held her breath to stop her from being heard. He looked around and saw the pit, he went closer and she turned around the tree slowly as he got closer."Why's this empty and so deep"He concluded that the sound might have come from something falling into the pit. Staring at the tree in front of him, he was about to take a U-turn around it, when he heard his phone ringing. Running to where he dropped his phone in his bag. It was Nala calling, he let out a sigh of relief. He thought she was still angry at him after the way he held her in the hall"Hey Nala""Hey Austin, I didn't see you at training""Umm, well something happened, I had to leave early""Jade was left with swollen eyes, I have no idea what happened here"Rubbing his head "ugh, I kind of did that to him""Austin, what were you thinking?""I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking""I'm not the one you should apologize to, and why did you do that?""I don't wanna talk about it Nala""It's always the same with you, not wanting to talk about it. I don't know why I try""Nala wait.."She already hung up the call on him and he hit his head, " you stupid boy!." He picked up his bags and books wanting to leave the cemetery and he took one last look at his mother's grave,"I love you, mum."She was glad he didn't get to see her and that his phone rang to get her out of that awkward situation. But she needed to make sure she saw the way out of this place, so she made sure to follow Austin as he was leaving. The further he went, she suddenly saw a bright light shine and she had to cover her eyes to prevent it from hurting her. She opened it and didn't see Austin anymore. All she could see was the Cemetery's High walls and nothing else. She looked around confused"Was he a Ghost, what just happened?" she thought to herself."No no no" she shouted and broke down in tears. She couldn't bear staying here alone again."Where am I?""What is going on"Austin rang the bell on Nala's door hoping to see her get the door so he'd apologize. "Oh, Good day Mr. Ben" The look on his face showed he was surprised to see Nala's dad home. He thought he wasn't going to be home until Christmas. Her father was a contractor and he was never home. He was always moving to different countries trying to close deals for his firm so he barely had time to come home." Austin!" Mr. Ben ushered out his arms to squeeze him for a hug. "Come in, Nala's upstairs."He came in and made sure to greet Mrs. Ben, who was busy in the kitchen. Their house was everything perfect to him, the decorations, the lights, and most importantly the fact they were still together. That was everything he dreamt of. He got to her bedroom and knocked twice."Who's there?" "It's me, Austin"She opened the door halfway, hiding her body and just showing her face, " what are you doing here?""Can you let me in so we'll talk?""No, I'm busy""Come on Nala" He tried to push the door a b
Austin Started off the morning with his dad waking him up from his sleep which he found disturbing. He left him with instructions on things he needed to do before leaving for school. His dad had no idea he was suspended and He planned to leave it that way. Right after his dad left, he flew back on the bed.After almost 2hours, he woke up to his phone beeping. NalaRemember the training by 5 pmHe smiled after reading Nala's text and went back right into trying to do what his dad told him to do. He started by trying to fix himself a meal. On opening the Refrigerator, "ugh, not again" he was disappointed at finding just cheese in it again. His dad made sure to leave him with enough pocket money, so he couldn't complain about the meal at home. He reminisced about the wonderful night he had at Ben's, he missed being around happy faces and eating good food. He couldn't stay home till 5 pm, the school was going to dismiss by 4, so he needed to keep himself busy till then. But he had no fri
It's been over 15 minutes and Tasha hasn't moved or let alone breathe like she was alive. Austin was scared and sweating profusely. He looked around but no one came to his aid. Whenever he screams "help" his voice comes running back to him.Confused and not knowing what to do, Tasha was just in his arms, as he sat on the ground, downcast.He suddenly felt her moving with her eyes opening gradually "Tasha!" He shook her aggressively as if he wanted her to be up quickly"What happened," Tasha asked, as she held her head and gradually sat up,then squinted her eyes. She could feel her head banging like a music concert was being held there. She couldn't see clearly, the tree and even Austin's perfectly dark skinned toned face and fairly shaped brows were all blurred. She felt like she was stunned by an aggressive hit from a fist or something harder."You passed out as we came out of the cemetery"She looked back and saw the average iron gate of the cemetery, it was silver in color and the
"You can't be serious!" Austin's Father fumed as he barged into his room. "Get up from there now"Austin used the pillow to cover his head to prevent himself from hearing his father's voice. He felt his father aggressively grab the pillow from him"What is it this time?" Austin reluctantly asked his father with his eyes still shut."I said, get up!"He slowly stood up and sat at the edge of the bed."I know your mother's death has been tough on you""Oh please dad" He interrupted his father immediately, standing up to leave, but his father grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back to the bed."Listen to me! I have condoned your disrespect and every other thing, but so help me God this continues. I'll…""You would what?" He stood up immediately facing his dad with no space left between them. His father was dark as night, his beard rough and hair scattered like he had no time for himself."What would you do that you haven't done before Dad?" His father held his fist and sighed slowly
The school hallways in it's usual moment of silence, Austin made his way Inside and was glad the Principal didn't see him This time. He couldn't go to the class because he was sure there would a teacher and not too many of them liked him. He made his way into the school cafeteria, it was in modern form with different benches and wide tables in different rolls where students come with their cliques to eat. Different cliques and different kinds of people, the popular rich kids, the footballers and cheerleaders. He always ate alone and surprisingly for him, no one had noticed him enough for them to disturb his lunch break.He went into the cafeteria and met it empty with no one there at the time. He looked outside the window and saw the school field, he immediately remembered the incident where he punched jade and chuckled. He couldn't believe he actually did that, well there was a good side to him getting angry. Now he has to live with the consequences and dealing with Jade throughout h
Tasha found the streets of Boston to be quiet or was It Austin who stayed in the Rural area of Boston? She thought to question him when he got back. Back in Brooklyn, she was used to fast-moving trains, Cars always honking and Roadside singers blazing with their instruments trying to make money. What a place of fun, she thought. She couldn't wait for Austin to get back so she could go home, she anticipated it like it was Christmas. She wasn't used to staying away from school, her friends, and Justin. She walked around, waving to people around but no one acted as if they saw her."Are they this rude" she muttered in silence and concluded she wasn't going to try to greet anyone again. She walked until she got to Austin's house and sat across the road, waiting for him patiently. A car pulled up in front of her and a dark-looking, tall boy with braids made with his natural hair and with a side cut came out carrying some luggage. She wondered who that was. He came down, carried his luggag
The sun was out and Austin still laid on the bed with him staring at the ceiling. His mind wanders off, trying to search for answers but none are forthcoming. He couldn't close his eyes last night, even for a second. When he tried to do so, he found the image of Tasha staring at him and he couldn't get that image off his mind. To make things worse, it was her naked. He felt disgusted that he found her attractive and at some point, all he wanted after seeing her naked was to have her beneath him, moving to his rhythm and her sinking in pleasure while she moaned his name. Her sweat rubbing off on his skin and watching her crave for more. He hated himself; he wanted that so much. Why can he see her and others can't, he kept on questioning himself. His door flew open and Allen walked in seeing him lost in his thoughts."Now, what is it this time?" he flew onto the bed."Could you at least knock?" Austin rolled his eyes, turning his back against his brother and facing the wall. Allen held
The usual hustle with students rushing in early, Austin missed this. He was used to coming late, meeting empty hall with students in their classes. He could see parents dropping off their kids and kissing them goodbye, couples hanging around green trees and selling whatever lies they could to each other. He came down from the bus and met his brother waiting, Nala also with him. She waved to Allen, with her face all bright and smiling. Austin saw this and felt disgusted."So where's the classroom," Allen asked his brother."You'll need to see the principal first," he replied.Nala was still there, love-struck by Allen but he couldn't notice it. Austin shook his head in disappointment " you should be getting to class""Oh yes," Nala replied, hanging her bag properly and looking back to steal one more gaze towards Allen and walking away.Austin got his brother to the principal's office and he was quite elated with the resemblance Allen shared with him. He left his brother there and rushe
Austin kept running, stumbling and looking back. Repeating this over and over again, anytime he looked back, he saw her still fuming and coming at him. At that point he couldn't think of what she'd do to him, all he thought of was to get away from her. How could he have forgotten about the plans he made with her. He slapped himself, like he was trying to punish himself for forgetting. He ran into the school hallway, it was the shortest route to leaving the school premises. But as he ran towards the Entrance, it looked like it got farther away. He was Panting and running, his legs were getting weak already, but he couldn't stop. He had no idea the school hallway was this long. He looked back this time and didn't see Tasha, but he kept running. "Yes" he said triumphantly, as he exhaled. He was about getting out of the school when he stepped on his show lace and sent himself flying on the ground. He laid there with his head facing the ceiling, his muscles weak and reluctant to carry him
"You know I have training also tomorrow" he said to Nala, as he hurriedly pulled him towards the stadium. Austin found it difficult to cope in the class earlier that day, with Jade hammering on his case, not in a bad way but it was still frustrating for Austin."Come on, you have to tell me who she is" he kept Hampering on it, even after Austin told him he mentioned that name by mistake. Jade didn't buy it but had no option but to leave him alone after their teacher got into the class."So you and Jade, now best friends" Nala asked, eyeing Austin as he wore his kits."What makes you think so?" He arched his brow."Well" Nala started, "you guys smiling and discussing. It was almost as if you guys were friends for a long time""You guys smiling?" Austin questioned with his eyes wide open, Nala understood his message immediately."Well scratch that, but you get my point" she insisted."He was just on me about something..""What thing?"Austin swallowed hard, shocked by how fast she asked
Her eyes were calm as the ocean banks would be at dawn, and he was drowning in them. Her hair flung back as the air pulled it along with it. Austin couldn't move not because he tried to but he didn't want to, she felt safe and he wanted to be there with her. The smile on her face, breaking more as she witnessed him lost in whatever fantasy he had going on and his eyes stuck on hers like a magnet."Are you thinking about me right now?"That question pulled Austin back into all consciousness and he pulled his hand away from hers, maybe a little too hard because he went sprawling on the floor."Are you okay?" She asked. Ausin couldn't sense any sarcasm or jest in her voice."I'm fine," he replied as he stood up, wiping the dirt off his shorts."You are bleeding" Tasha said quickly as she hurried towards him, but he swung his arm back as she attempted to hold him. He looked at his elbow and noticed blood sliding down his hands. Luckily for him, it wasn't something serious. "Let me take a
"What in God's name happened here" Austin exclaimed.He had woken up that morning in high spirits, regardless of what happened between him and his brother. He smiled all through his journey to school, jumping and trying to touch branches of some trees along the way to school. His happiness was proudly sponsored by Nala and not following the bus was just an attempt not to see her till his training session with her again.All his happiness vanished as soon as he entered the class and noticed that his table was missing a leg."What happened here?" he repeated, directing his questions to his classmate who sat at the front roll. He shook his head indicating he didn't know what happened. His eyes searched the classroom and stopped on Jade who sat at the back with some of his friends laughing. The only reasonable thing he could think of was Jade messing with him again because of his brother. He marched towards him with every ounce of anger. He pounded his hands on Jade's table hard and that
That night, their father got home early to their surprise and bought dinner on his way back. He made them both have dinner with him while talking and narrating his ordeal at work. Austin couldn't help but think his father was drunk and he could bet his brother thought the same with the disbelief written all over his face.But Mr Richard wasn't drunk, he had gotten promoted at work that day, something he had been dreading ever since the loss of his wife. He put his career In Front of everything else in trying to subdue the pain he felt losing her. This night, all he wanted was to share his happiness with his sons. The mood was getting lighter and Jollier as kept going on with his stories, Austin laughed and his brother was busy smiling from time to time. They would sneak a peek at each other and pretend like they didn't notice it.After dinner, They both tried to clean up but their father stopped them and asked them to rest up and he'll do that. Austin couldn't just believe what was ha
"Okay, listen" Tasha readjusted herself Infront of Austin, "I'm not dead""You are not what?" Austin said, confused with what she just said."I'm not dead" she repeated with a bright face, Austin sat there looking confused with what she was saying and couldn't understand why she was so happy about it."Is this why you've made it your life mission to ruin my life" Austin shrugged, "Just to tell me you weren't dead""I didn't make you my life mission," she scoffed."So what is it witch, I need to go to class."Tasha gasped, "you did not just call me a witch." His eyes shot back, indicating he had no intention to take it back. "Well, I'll let that slide just because I need your help""Whatever," Austin rolled his eyes in discomfort, being under the sun for that long was already getting to him. "Just state what it is you want. I do not know if ghosts feel things, but this sun is competing with hell, so be fast" Tasha swallowed hard, bracing herself up for what she needed to say " I nee
He stood under the scorching sun, that was busy setting the grass ablaze. They were the only ones alone on the field, but he had no idea why she chose this time for them to come out."I still don't understand why you wanted us here by this time," Austin said, squinting and covering his eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Nala kept herself busy setting up the cones he needed for his footwork. Austin sat there, smiling and he remembered asking her for help, but never expected her to be this serious with it. He stood up, attempting to clean off his body, and then realised there was nothing on his shorts."Hey nala" he shook her shoulders. She raised her head to look at him but quickly covered her eyes, "The sun right?"She wiped off the sweat dripping down her cheeks with her handkerchief, "why are you not wearing your boots" she queried Austin with a harsh tone.Austin smiled, and replied "chill chill, don't ""Don't what? It's either you are serious with this or not," Nala interrupted
Austin couldn't close his eyes throughout that night, after that happened. He sat at the edge of his bed, with his mopping stick held tightly to his chest, ready to smash Tasha's head into the wall. He automatically saw her as a threat to his life. Hearing her call his name, he flung his phone straight to the wall and went right under his bed. His breathing was uneven, and even with the air-conditioner on, he was sweating like someone who ran a marathon. Anywhere he looked, he could see Tasha's face. It was all dark, but he couldn't help seeing her face everywhere. He wasn't so sure about how he treated her, and now he regrets it."What happened to your eyes?" Mr Richard asked with concern, walking towards Austin who was making breakfast before leaving for school. He tried to cover his face but his father took away his hands and notice his swollen eyes and even cheeks."Allen!""Sir" Allen's voice echoed from the bedroom upstairs and soon the staircase Started making hard sounds, annou
Just before Allen landed his well Arranged Punch on Austin, Nala stood in the way of both of them, stopping them with her hands stretched out and holding their chest. She could feel their heart pounding and the rage running through their veins. She knew this wasn't about her and they probably needed an excuse to let their tension out."You both are not going to use me as an avenue to sort out your issues" she screamed, having them pay attention to her. "Nala hey….""Do not talk to me" she shut Allen up even before he could complete his sentence. She went back to her seat, packed up her stuff and stormed out of there, leaving them behind."You are so lucky, she stood in between us" Allen pointed his hands at him"It's funny how you think you stand a chance against me" Tasha's eyes widened in surprise at the statement Austin made."What did you say to me?" Allen asked, pretending he didn't hear it the first time and walking towards him fast but was held back by the guys who accompani