3. I almost killed a human.

Morowa.

That day in Kampala where I had ate my first rolex. Not the watch. The local street food of Uganda.

The street full of life at night. All the available clubs were open for business. People moving in all directions kind of like a confused ant colony but I knew they were anything but that.

Manny booked an hotel close to the airport so I practically had to drag them out of their comfort zone.

"Okay okay, we'll come along only because we don't want to search for you when you get carried away." Manny had said this with a smile, happy that she could find some entertainment there too.

The music was something between pop and reggae and in a language I barely understood but I didn't care.

I was just happy and excited to be here at last. The lights of different colors illuminated the streets as people talked and laughed together.

It was different here. Back at the hotel everyone was distant. Here, I felt like even if I managed to get lost somehow, the people won't hesitate to help me.

"Beautiful isn't it?" asked the smooth yet rough voice of a stranger.

He had the strong accent of the people of Kampala but I didn't turn to look at him because of the view of the city at night.

The cool night breeze kissed my hair and skin in atonement for the once hot and scorching sun which had almost given me sunburn earlier (welcome to Uganda).

"Yes it really is." I had agreed with a nod feeling my curls do a little cheerleader jump against my forehead.

"I'm Akiki." he had replied while I turned to look at him.

His dark skin practically glowed under the soft light of the balcony which was on the third floor of this shopping complex. My stomach flipped in acceptance.

"I'm Morowa." I introduced myself maintaining eye contact as I took in his physique; white shirt stretched over his herculean chest, in direct contrast with ebony skin making his features even more obvious. Tall and built like a warrior but I knew he was anything but that. Hair dark as night, pulled back tightly into a ponytail resulting in a prominent face.

"Morowa." He repeated my name the way the locals said names with the intonation of their mother tongues. "Queen."

"Queen?" I inquired searching his starry yet shadowed eyes.

"That's the meaning of Morowa." he answered before breaking eye contact with me and concentrating on the view of the little people below us.

"And what's the meaning of Akiki?" I asked because I was also curious.

A dazzling smile arrested his features causing a one sided dimple to come on full display before giving me an answer. "Akiki means 'friend'."

Fate had brought us together then. I'm a queen and he's my friend.

A faint buzzing interrupted my thoughts. Buzzing? From where?

Akiki was still saying something but the beeping kept overshadowing his voice until his voice became the beeping itself.

I felt my body changing from the leaning position on the rail until I was on a soft surface with soft light penetrating my eyelids.

Wait. The beeping is my alarm and Akiki was in my dream. Urrghh. Why do I have to wake up?

Rolling over on the bed so I was lying on my torso, I reached for my alarm clock which was on the bedside table of my bed.

I hit the top of the digital device making the annoying sound come to an end.

After feeling around for a while, I found my glasses, slipping them on, I peeled my eyes open to glance at the clock. 7:45am, the red box display said. Seven forty five?.

No, no, no. I can't afford to be late, there's a pop up quiz today and I'm still in bed? How?

Flinging the thick duvet aside and running to the bathroom, I put some toothpaste on my brush, stuck it in my mouth, grabbed my shower cap because drying my hair would take at least thirty minutes which I didn't have to spare and step into the cold shower (cold to wake me up properly).

After using the towel to dry myself I practically ran to my right into the closet.

What to wear, what to wear. My eyes only scanned my mess of options before I decided that I would need every ounce of confidence today, I studied all of Manny's hand picked clothes.

I really can't decide on what to wear. Groaning I tied the towel at my chest tighter to prevent it from falling.

I started walking while running my hands over the numerous clothes. How many clothes did Manny get for me exactly?

The number of clothes a young girl like you needs.

I don't need these, I mused while using my eyes to search. My eyes finally landed on it.

A yellow colored dress with small Daisy designs all over and long lace sleeves. I can do with that right?

Not giving myself room to argue with my thinking again, I snatched the dress of the hanger, picked up my black flats which I only wore to Val's and went out of the closet.

After slipping into the dress, I noticed to was a dress shirt, so I buttoned it leaving the first two open.

After brushing my wild hair and putting it in a bun, I grabbed my bag which had laid peacefully beside my vanity and exited my room.

"Good morning." I say once I enter the kitchen heading straight to the breakfast table.

"You're wearing that dress I bought." Observed Manny as she flipped pancakes fast after noticing I was kind of in a hurry.

I rolled my eyes at her happy tone. I honestly never thought I would live to see the day I wore one of her dresses but I have to admit, this dress was very comfortable with the sleeves covering my hands up to my wrist and the bodice fitting snug against me.

My only problem was the length. It felt a tad too short for me. It ended about half an inch above my knee which was short on my list.

"Yeah, I guess I am." I confirmed shoving the pancakes in my mouth and taking a sip of orange juice.

"Wow." Val said in apparent awe. She was sitting on one of the bar stools I had sat on yesterday. "You never told me you looked this good in dresses, if not I would come over every morning just to force you into them".

"Gee, thanks Valentina, you really do know how to make a girl fell special." My comment dripping with sarcasm and she decides to ignore me, adjusting her scarlet hair behind her shoulder as today she didn't wear it in her signature bun.

She had put on some clear lip gloss and a little mascara, making the yellow flecks on her emerald eyes pop.

"You're wearing makeup, that's new." I stated before narrowing my eyes at her. "So that means the date went well?".

The smile on her face instantly dropped and she looked everywhere but at me at my question.

"We'll talk later but right now, we need to run if we don't want to be late." I said as I stood up and placed my cup and plate in the sink.

I walked over to Manny who was silently watching the interaction and hugged her inhaling her minty smell.

She always smelled like mint even in the kitchen where she's meant to smell like onions.

I don't really have parents (well I did). They died in a car accident while taking a trip to the supermarket to get groceries while I was at home with Manny.

Even if I never knew my parents, Manny would always tell me about them. She returned the gesture happily.

"Bye M." Val yelled while being dragged out of the room by yours truly.

In comfortable silence, we ride to school. Images of children, people, animals are all a blur with the speed I'm going at.

"Slow down, Mowa!" Val practically screamed at the top of her lungs, momentarily rendering me deaf. Her hands clutching any part of the car visibly stable.

Stepping on the gas, Val jerked back into her seat with a now flushed face mixed with horror and fear. Talk about drama.

"I swear, Mowa, if we don't make it to school alive, I will murder you in ghost form!" She threatened like it would have an effect on me.

I may prefer being alive and lost in a book than going to a party of sweaty teens with horrible music but behind the wheel, is another story. My need for speed resulting in countless speed tickets which I have no problem with and besi-

"Morowa!"

The image of a girl not older than five with large shocked and dazed eyes stood in the middle of the road.

With instincts kicking in, my foot clamps down on the brake pedal, jerking me forward with the seat belt pulling back instantly.

"Are you okay?" Her voice sliced through the inside of my now immobile car.

I almost hit that girl. I almost killed a person. The image of me laughing at Val during Halloween flashed through eyes. No. I don't ever want to be that man. I couldn't possibly be that man. Not now or ever.

My body reacting on it's own accord, pushes the door and takes worried strides towards the shocked girl.

"Are you okay?" I asked crouching to meet her eye level.

She blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Hey mouth dropped open and closed repeatedly. Taking her small shoulders in my hands I gave her a little shake.

"Are you o-"

"Debbie!" I woman yelled from behind us. The little girl's eyes snapped in the direction of the be voice, her far away eyes glazed over with unshed tears.

Her voice came out in a small inaudible squeak,"m-mommy?"

The woman, moved closer, shoving my shoulder harshly to take over my crouched position in front of Debbie. Her hands skimming over the little girls body as if in search of danger.

"It's okay," she comforted with a soft voice almost cooing, "mommy's here princess."

Engulfing the still dazed girl for what felt like the thousandth time, her now moist eyes settled on my no doubt guilt stained face.

"I-"

"Thank you," she said. "For taking care of my baby."

Gratitude joined the mix of emotions on her face.

"It's no problem." I couldn't bring myself to confess to the mother of the girl that I was the reason her daughter was in this state in the first place.

"Can't you watch where you're going?!"

I clammed my eyes shut, pushing the voice of that one person behind my mind. Fear of being that one person caused my knees to tremble.

"Morowa, let's go," Val's voice sliced through my thoughts. Her warm arms encasing me in a tight hug. "Everything's fine, you didn't so anything to her, she's fine."

The girl and her mother, no where in sight.

"What if I had?" I couldn't help questioning myself, my voice coming out in shaky notes. "She'd be dead by now and I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"But you didn't Morowa, you didn't, " she persisted, rubbing my shoulders, "you stepped on the brakes in perfect time."

Her eyes reassured me with a gleam of concern tinting the golden flecks.

"Yeah, I didn't," I try reminding myself with a nod, "but I won't take a ride in that." I nodded towards the vehicle which almost tasted human blood a few moments ago.

A breathy laugh escaped her lips,"definitely."

"Rowa!" A familiar male voice called. No. Not him. I don't feel like seeing him and especially not after my initial shock at almost taking the life of a human.

"Keep walking and don't look at him no matter what." I whisper yell at Val as we increased out pace with the view of the school's simple yet sophisticated structure made itself known to us.

"Hey, you can wait for me, you know?!" He panted.

At last.