BLAME IT ON ME

My breath caught in my throat, the words cutting deep, but I couldn’t muster the strength to argue.

How dare she talk about my mother that way?

I had nothing left to give, no fight, no energy to defend my mother’s memory. Instead, I could only sob quietly as I sniffed back the anger burning within me.

I knelt by the graves, my tears mixing with the rain that began to fall, and gently placed a single white lily on each tombstone. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m so, so sorry,” I repeated, pressing my hand to the cold, wet earth, feeling the chill seep into my bones, and closed my eyes, silently saying goodbye to the people who had been my entire world.

“You have just 2 minutes to shed your crocodile tears,” Aunt Lydia said harshly. “Meet me in the car,” she declared as she began to walk away.

I stood up, wiping my tears as I tried to regain some strength to fight back. I wasn't going to stay silent anymore.

“Those weren't crocodile tears, Aunty. You've just lost your only sibling, but you seemed to be cool with it...”

Ella who stood beside me slapped me hard on the face, cutting me off. “How dare you talk to my mother that way?”

I held my cheeks as I stared at Ella in shock.

Where did that audacity come from? Had she forgotten I'm three years older than she is?

“You’re just like your mother, Cleopatra! You both are a curse to the Benson family! You’re the reason they’re all gone but you're trying to blame my mother, isn't it?”

I remained silent, my face a mask of pain, but I knew better not to respond. So, I paid my last respects, my head bowed, before walking away from the graves, leaving behind my Aunt Lydia and Ella.

As we drove home in silence, I stared out the window, watching the rain streak across the glass, each drop a reflection of the tears I had no strength left to shed. Just as we neared the house, Aunt Lydia pulled the car over abruptly, her movements sharp and filled with purpose. When she turned to me, her eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth or sympathy.”

“Get out,” she ordered.

I looked at her in absolute disbelief and confusion. “But…we're not home yet” I stammered.

“I know. You disgust me and I cannot afford to have you in my space for just a second,” she declared, rolling her eyes.

“Ma'am, it's still rain…” I started only to be cut off.

“I don’t care,” Aunt Lydia snapped. “Get out of the car.”

Angrily, I opened the door and stepped out into the downpour, the cold water immediately soaking through my clothes.

How could she be so cruel to her blood?

I shut the door behind me, and without another word, Aunt Lydia drove off, leaving me alone on the side of the road.

Like seriously? I exclaimed staring at the car till it was out of sight.

With my heart heavy and my body drenched, I began the long walk home, counting my steps slowly, each one a painful reminder of my isolation, of how completely my life had changed in just a few days. How I went from a Princess to Cinderella. As the rain poured harder, I didn't see the need to rush or hurry, I was already drenched after all.

As I approached the house, something felt off. The usually quiet street was filled with the faint scent of expensive cologne, one that wasn't familiar to me. Confused at the cars parked in the compound, I hesitated at the front door, which was suddenly flung open by Ella.

“Hurry, you have a visitor,” Ella said, her tone unusually polite.

I stepped inside, my wet clothes leaving a trail of water on the polished wooden floor. “Who is it?” I asked, my voice barely audible as I tried to shake off the chill from the rain.

“Don't ask me dumb questions,” Ella replied with a grin, as she stepped aside to let me pass.

With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I walked into the living room, bracing myself for what awaited me. The scent of the cologne grew stronger, and as I turned the corner, I saw a figure standing by the window, looking out into the stormy night.