Laced with malaise, Marilyn stood as she waited for her knock to be answered.
” Erica are you asleep?” She called out and knocked again but the little Childs voice was no where to be Heard.
” Baby?” She called out and knocked even harder. It was seven A M and she had returned home much earlier to meet the little child watching cartoon. It came as shocker to her that she wasn’t responding to her calls.
” Erica!” She called out and this time around landed several jabs at the wooden door causing several bangs that was heard across the streets. It worked, there was some minimal movement on the handle of the door and eventually the door was sent Open.
” Mummy!” The little girl chanted in a sleepy tone as she wrapped her mothers legs in a hug.
” How are you my little angel, were you really sleeping that hard?” She asked with visible surprise as she held the girl by her wrist and walked inside. She wanted to avoid a facial face off even though she knew it was impossible.
” I slept off while watching cartoon.” Said the little girl as she scratched her eyes while she walked along with her mother.”
” Is aunt Dakota back?” She asked with a smile on her face as crashed hands first into the soft sofa before appropriating her posture on the couch. The little chap had tardily yet eventually climbed her way to her mothers lap and found solace in the warmth of the broken lady.
” She’s not back.” She said, shrugging her head into the shirts of her tired mother who eventually held the little girls head closer to bosom.
” My Lord! Your body is hot.” She exclaimed quickly snapping out of her malaise and raising the child to meet the examining of her gaze.
” Does your body hurt again?” She asked her, placing the back of her palm over the Childs neck.
” My body aches a little.” Erica moaned out and just wanted to rest on her mothers body.
” Okay perhaps you have been seeing too much cartoons of recent. You will need to have more sleep henceforth.” She cautioned with her controlled tone of fury that caused the child to nod in agreement.
” Good and last thing baby, no more talking about Dakota’s teeth. Stop it please. People don’t like it when you meddle in their businesses.” She said and winced emotionally. The little child nodded again.
” Good let’s have some sleep then” she said and tried to tuck in the little girls head but she, Erica wasn’t done examining. She raised her palms placed them on her mothers face just to be sure of what the cobalt lights were revealing to her.
” Mommy your face is swollen. There are bruises.” She added in a sullen tone.
” I fell while working she.” She said to her baby as her heart skipped from the inquisitive eyes of the little girl.
” Mommy?” She asked, her tone more vicious and her face more serious.
” Yes.. bb baby” she stuttered.” and gently took the girls palms of her face.
” What kind of job do you do.” She asked almost with a frown.
” Well baby I serve drinks in a big shop.” She said, being able to answer early as she had expected the question for a while.
” What drinks?” She asked wondering why she never got any.
” Some herbal drinks, so very bitter and it’s mostly for sick people.” Said her mom.
” I’m sick but I don’t want a bitter one.” She said as her face fell in sadness.
” You aren’t sick my love. Just stressed, you will feel better soon okay?” She asked the little girl. Who nodded but didn’t take her face of her mothers face.
” Mommy?” She asked again with much inquisition.
” Yes baby?” She hummed with a staged smile.
“Did someone hit you on the face?” Said to her Mom, flexing her palm as she asked.
” No… no no baby it’s just the fall.”
” Does the fall has a hand? They are finger Shadows on your Face.” ” They don’t clean to.” She said in a sullen tone and placed her palms on her mothers face to try wiping it off again. Lying to herself was hard enough, yet lying to the little child broke her heart even more. She fought hard to keep her tears in as she said nothing just gazing at the girl as if though she was a stranger. Erica slowly took her palms off her mothers face, took her teary gaze of her mother’s eyes and slowly placed her head back on her mom’s bosom. She had heard enough and just wanted to rest her aching head.
“How are you even three?” ” All your life, you’ve been my comforter.” She whispered amidst her silent sobs, holding the little one firmer to her and applied a kiss on her head. ” I love you very much by baby.” She whispered amidst her despair.
” I love you to mum.” Erica said in soft whisper. The door seemed to have been left open as Dakota found her way into the living room to meet mother and daughter coiled up in each other’s hand. She said nothing and walked passed the sleeping duo and suddenly, she went numb, her eyes widened in rage as she gazed at the T-shirt Marilyn was wearing.