I said that that night was rough because mom kept waking up and turning in bed because she had backaches. But it was also rough because I woke up around 2:00am with beads of sweat on my forehead and chin even though it was warm inside. I had had a bad dream, and I was so scared that I had to stir mom in her sleep so she’d wake up. I wanted her to calm me down, and tell me it was all a dream. It was dark because she had turned off the lights and I was afraid. The lights was one of the things that bothered her so much those days due to her pregnancy. She hated seeing any light at night; it made her very irritable. It must be really frustrating to have a bun in the oven.
When she opened her eyes, she held my hands and prayed. It was one thing she did regularly. She prayed, went to church and took me with her.
She also hugged me, with me avoiding her large stomach for fear of hurting the baby. I told her that I had dreamed that the baby in her stomach died. She prayed against it and told me that she was sure that the baby had come to live, and that nothing was going to happen to her. She instructed me not to worry too much, and just hope for the best.
“Mom, can we go stay up in Nora’s house until you give birth to her?” I was worried that Cameron might return home while she was still pregnant and hit her again. I was really scared. But when dawn broke, my fear escaped out the window.
It was a new day and I chose to be happy and free. The morning was in fact very bright, and sunny and even brighter when Mike came to my window, whispering “Good morning child”. I yawned twice before opening my eyes. It was his voice that woke me up. When I saw Mike’s two eyes in the window frame, I got up excitedly. Mom was not beside me, and it looked like it was only 6am because everywhere was still quiet. I got up and went to the living room. Mom was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast already
“Good morning Mom” I said and she embraced me. She was preparing pasta and a pot of soup. Meat was boiling on another side of the cooker.
“I want you to have a decent meal this morning” she said, “I’m preparing your breakfast, lunch and dinner in case I do not return early” she said, and I nodded, almost forgetting that she would be having a day’s out, with this new man that I hadn’t met.
“I have run a bath for you, please go and get ready for school. It’s almost 7:30am” she said, pushing me off gently.
“7:30!! Mom, why didn’t you wake me?” I booed.
“You had a rough night” she said. “I wouldn’t mind you not going to school today, but you have a test in the afternoon, remember?” She said and I nodded. “Go get ready”
“Will Sir Colin wait for me?” I asked. Sir Colin was our neighbor who drove me to school, on mom’s permission.
“No, he won’t be driving you today. Mike will.” She said and I squealed in delight.
“Mike???? Mike Tony???”
“Yes baby. He offered to take you to school today since Sir Colin has a fever, and I don’t have a car yet” she said, smiling. “He’s such a kind guy” she said.
“Aww Yes!!” I shrieked with so much excitement. I would ride in Mike’s new truck and have him by my side for many minutes. It was going to be a fun ride. I didn’t want mom to change her mind, so I quickly got ready and in 15 minutes, I was out of the house and off to Mike’s truck, with Mike waiting for me at the door. Mom had to run to catch up with me with my lunch box.
While driving to school, Mike asked me so many questions and I answered them all. Our conversation had in fact brought mixed feelings First he asked me if my mom was expecting a girl or a boy.
“A girl” i had replied excitedly. “I’m having a little sister, Mike” I said again rather too dryly . Then my face went gloomy all of a sudden. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?” He asked, touching my face. He was driving with one hand, and holding me with the other. “I’m happy” I replied, looking out the window. There on the road, there were many kids in school uniforms different from mine, some were walking towards their parents’cars, some were running to catch a bus, 2 metres away, while others were trekking carefully, as if time was on their side.
“But I’m sad too”
Suddenly the traffic light turned red. Mike pulled the brakes immediately and trotted along with a long line of vehicles on the road.
He turned to me, holding my face in his hands. “Ariana, what’s bothering you so?” He asked calmly. “You look like you’re going to be sick” he said.
“Mike” i said and rested my head on his chest. He rubbed my long, thick black hair and played with it. “Tell me, little child. Do you want me to turn back home? You don’t have to go to school if you don’t want to” he said.
“No it’s fine. I have a test today at school”
“Oh. So what’s bothering your little pretty heart?” He said. “Pretty child” he added smiling. It dawned on me that moment how much I was going to miss Mike
“Mike, we’re leaving” I said with a small voice.
“What do you mean?” He asked. Now the lights were green again, so every car started to trudge along, faster than before. Mike’s truck followed, carefully
“Mom and I, with the baby are leaving. We are leaving Cameron and going to start a new life somewhere far away” I said. “You might never see me again” i added with a wave of nostalgia in my eyes and voice. He stared at me in what looked like shock and nostalgia.
He was silent. He turned towards the road and didn’t say a word until we got to the entrance. And as I alighted from his truck, he bent over and kissed my cheek: “You live in my heart. Don’t forget about that, and don’t worry your head too much”
The words were soothing but I grew sadder. I was soon to experience another life which I did not know of. A life without the people I was fond of. I did not know if it would be better or worse. I waved at Mike until he zoomed out of my sight and I couldn’t see his truck again.
School was boring, and dry. Two people were already missing in the school-Joe and Anita and everyone was panicking. No one knew who the next target would be. It was so clear that everyone was worried and scared, even though their lips were sealed. Some teachers actually refused to come to classrooms to teach students. It was a sad week. It was even more saddening because I was in the know about what happened to them.