Chapter 02. " Goodbye Mommy II "

The next morning was a Sunday. I only woke up to find myself on my bed covered properly and a tray of bread with fried eggs laid on the small table at the center of my room.

You would say dad loves me so much and gave my room the best design. I never got to lack anything and I had a heap of toys in a store room still in my room. Everything I ever wanted even those I didn't need was provided and I didn't see any reason why I should feel sad or unsatisfied.

I yawned stretching both my hands and God I had completely forgotten about mom for just a second when I woke up. I badly wanted to see dad again, but I was sure he would be out of the house by now and it pained me most that I didn't get to see his face last night.

My door opened and Mrs. Roseline walked in carrying a small jug of water along with her.

" Good morning Mrs. Roseline" I greeted and sat up straight to eat my meal. Even though I was born in a rich home, Morris and I were never spoilt. We had so much respect for elders and knew our right from wrong most especially Morris. He was always the good boy to every other person except dad and he never wanted to be a good boy in front of dad.

" Good morning my darling, you're awake. "Mrs. Roseline replied to my greetings and came towards me.

" Isn't mommy coming back ?" This was a question I had to ask, I was seriously becoming worried because I don't think there was a night I spent alone without my mom. I wanted to ask about my dad and Morris too, but right then I only needed my mom.

That was the first time I was beginning to feel the absence of my mom, I didn't even know I loved her that much till she had to just be away from me... The sun wasn't even bright and neither was I happy. First Morris wouldn't even talk to me, second daddy wasn't coming back home, and third mommy was absent and I didn't know where she was either. All I knew was that she was being taken away with her eyes closed and she wasn't moving or smiling too.

I wasn't hungry anymore and I didn't want to eat anything either, even though my stomach requested a bite, I declined it and no matter how much Mrs. Roseline begged me to have just a bite, I didn't and soon began crying when she wouldn't tell me where my mom was.

She hugged me so tight, but I still refused to stop crying, not until I heard the horning sound of my dad's car. I quickly ran towards my window and took a peek from there.

Red, red was my dad's favorite car and I was sure he was the one. Like earlier and yesterday I completely forgot about my mom and hurried downstairs to go hug my dad tight. I couldn't even imagine seeing my dad in the early morning. Something like this never happened in all my years of living and for the first time since yesterday, I smiled and joyfully ran down the stairs.

As I ran, I passed Morris's room but it was still locked and I knew he would never come out to greet dad. I didn't care either because all I wanted at that moment was to give my dad a tight big hug and let him swoop me off my feet to his arms while I scream playfully in excitement.

Mrs. Roseline never blamed me forever choosing my dad over my mom on most occasions, I remember her words the day she left the house. " You're still a young child and just like you, every young child would always choose their dad at first, but when they have all grown up their mother's presence and love becomes irreplaceable and priceless, Because only then will you know their importance."

I never for once believed her because that case was different for Morris, since I knew him better, he never showed even a tiny bit of love to dad, and what got me surprised what that he never failed to hide his hatred for dad and his love for mom.

If he hated dad, then I was going to hate him too, but I couldn't bring myself to do such. Mom always said " Hatred should never exist in a family because love makes a family stronger and create a priceless bond. My babies even if I'm not here with you never fill your heart with hatred for anybody, especially your family." I would always smile and call my mom smart but Morris and I knew she was referring to him. He would always roll his eyes and pretend like he wasn't even listening to her.

Since that day, I decided to listen to my mom and never hate my brother even though he never showed his love for me, I was always reminded by mom that Morris loved me a lot but finds it hard to let me know or show it.

One thing I hated most of all was that he was always quiet with me, Morris and I never shared a conversation. Whenever he saw me, he would walk away like I wasn't even standing there, and even when I greet him, he would ignore me and walk away. Each time I cry to mom about it, she would laugh and tell me not to worry about my brother.

" Dad" I called in excitement and ran to hug him tight, but I could swear my dad wasn't the same anymore. On norms, he would lift me and tickle me, or he would bend to my level and plant a kiss on my forehead and make me giggle.

Dad was acting strange that day, and it was visible just by the expression he kept.

" Dad, why are you unhappy," I asked him worried, and lifted both my hands for him to raise me so I could get a closer view of his face, but dad didn't. When he saw I was going to cry the next second he lifted me and I saw traces of dried tears on his face with his eyes swollen.

It made me sad because I knew dad had cried, but I didn't know why. It was the first time I would see my dad cry since I was born. Even on the day Morris and I were born, mom said dad never cried. She said he wasn't there with her because he was on a 2 weeks business trip the day Morris was born and only got to know mom had given birth when Morris was a week old.

Mom never felt angry about this and understood the nature of my dad's work because she said dad believed that there was nothing more important than providing food for his family and making sure we all live a comfortable life without lacking anything.

As for me, mom said I was already a month old when dad figured out that I was born. Being more knowledgeable than me, Morris had asked her how the hospital bills were paid after she gave birth but mom said she had enough money in her account to pay the bills on her own, and that she always made sure to receive a hundred thousand from dad every month just in case of emergency.

I wiped the little tear that was about to fall from Dad's eyes and began crying myself because I didn't know why dad was crying. Luckily he smiled at me and kissed my forehead passionately making the smile I kept on before returning.

When we got in, Mrs. Roseline came forward and attempted to take me away from dad but I refused to let go. This was the first time in two weeks I would be seeing dad again and she wanted me not the spend the whole day with him? No way.

We began hearing footsteps from the stairs and I was sure it would be no one else but Morris, just when dad had asked about him too. Immediately my eyes met with his, I was happy to see him come out of his room again since yesterday. I sat beside dad while Morris refuse to take a seat and his eyes were swollen red too.

" Alexa, go in for a moment. I want to talk with your brother." I suddenly became unhappy when I heard dad say that, and besides, I wondered why he didn't want me around.

I was young and obedient so I never wanted to disobey any of dad's Instructions. I stood up from the sofa and followed Mrs. Roseline to the stairs.

My expression was obvious to Mrs. Roseline because she knew I wasn't happy and I was worried too because Morris was alone with dad and I didn't know why.

As we were both taking the last stairs to my room, we heard a loud scream and a thud with the screaming voice of dad and Morris. Frightened, Mrs. Roseline and I ran back downstairs to see what was going on.

Morris was on the floor and my dad was breathing hard standing close to him, and the last words I heard from Morris got me shocked.

" You killed her, you killed Mom". He was shaking while on the floor with tears falling freely from his eyes.

I raised my head to look at Mrs. Roseline with a tear dropping from my little eyes.

" Where's my mom? " Was the only question I could ask too.