Her Travails

ErikaLiam

"Erika, listen and listen well, there is no room for you and your daughter in this house anymore. I won't give you a single reason to stay here and enjoy a peaceful life," Sandra said, with a hint of hate and regret in her eyes.

"You have had everything since you came here, but not anymore" her daughter Claire joined in, "or do you want us to help you get the hell out of here?" She asked.

Erika couldn't place a pin on what she did wrong or when she did something they didn't like, she had been nothing but polite to these people because they had taken her in since she came to London heavy with children. What had she done for them to forcefully eject her this way?

"Aunt Sandra, Claire, what are you both talking about? Have I done something wrong? You can always correct me if I have done something unpleasant to you both. You both know I have nowhere to go to, neither do I have a job I can't do. You are around hopelessly on the street with Maya, please," she pleaded.

"It's my house! I don't need to tell you what I want, I need you to leave my house. You and your daughter are parasites to my family leeching, of which you added no contribution to," Sandra replied hissing.

"Aunty, I have been nothing but a good helper to you. I agree I do not have a job and can't contribute to the bills in the house, but I use chores to pay off. Never have I disobeyed you. I have always washed your clothes whenever you ask me to with my bare hands. In this house I have always prepared meals for you and your daughter. I am more of a maid than someone taken in to provide shelter for. Have I ever complained about these things?" she asked.

"You stopped me from getting a job. Maya had to stop school because I had no more funds. I'm piled on debts, but I have no money to settle them. I'm stuck here every day trying to please you and your daughter and all of a sudden I'm getting ejected" she said as tears dropped from her eyes.

"Erika, do you really think we've wronged you? Take a closer look around, and you'll see things have changed " Sandra said, "But why now," Erika's weak voice asked.

" Because we are tired of feeding a dog and her pup in our house," Sandra replied. " Okay, I will start packing my things since I am no longer of any use to you all," her voice, more weak and trembling, "Maya", "baby come down we need to leave" she called, "yes mummy" her daughter replied as she came down the staircase.

"Let's go baby". We are done taking insults from this family, she said as she packed her stuff hurriedly. Tears scaled down her face, she knew she had no place to stay here in Mexico, but she had saved up, she was ready to start anew.

She knew going to the airport tonight would be risky, but she was determined to leave the house. She couldn't take it for a second anymore. When she was done packing her daughter's belongings with the little things she could call hers, with Maya's hand in hers, she was ready to leave but was stopped by Sandra again.

" Erika, I hope you are not taking anything from our family with you? She asked. Erika was mad with anger. Now she was being called a thief. She couldn't take it. She retorted back, saying "Don't worry I didn't, and I hope there's nothing of mine in your possession" she asked before continuing. " I thank you for helping my daughter and I with a place to stay all this time, I mean no one can do that to anybody without knowing the person, but you did, I'm grateful for the meals and appreciative of your kindness, goodbye" she said this turned and left the house slamming the main entrance door shut.

Having nowhere to go with her daughter that night, she goes to a Breakfast coffee café where she asks for a place to rest her head with her daughter. Looking down on her with pity, she takes her to the tiny closet room and tells her to manage it. A grateful Erika thanks her as she leaves.

She pets Maya to sleep, feeling guilty for making her daughter go through so much pain and suffering at such a young age, tired and weak from the shouts, tears and walks, she falls asleep.

The next morning, she's awakened by Maya's cry "What's wrong baby? She asks her quietly, her face showing worry and concern, "I'm hungry mummy". Maya replied. A drop of tear fell from her eyes, she couldn't keep making her child suffer from lack of food and shelter, deciding to leave this hateful city. She told Maya to hold on. Walking into the main café, she sees the owner and asks her for some little food for her daughter. She had no option. She couldn't touch the little money she had, or she would remain in the city. She was tired!

" Here you go, it's some waffles and soft juice for the tiny one there's coffee for you here, dearie. Don't bother paying", the owner said to her, "thank you very much. I really appreciate it." Erika thanked her and was really grateful. She walked to where she left Maya, dropped the food in front and let her eat. She was hungry, but her daughter needed more food than she did. "Mummy, where are we going?", "Won't we go to Ma'am Sandra's house again?" " No baby we won't be going back to ma'am Sandra's house anymore we are going far away sweetie, to start a new life" Erika said to her daughter trying to be bold and face the storm in front of her.

Maya finishes eating, she cleans up the room and starts heading out to the airport to book their flight, hoping to get to New York early so she can get a place to lay her head, knowing how dangerous New York was.

Arriving at the airport, she books the flight and gets on board, grateful for finally leaving the country she goes off. Fatigue and hunger are a huge factor in the few hours she's in New York. She couldn't believe it. She hurries to get their baggage. She doesn't know where she's headed, but determined to find a place she can rest her head before it gets dark, she keeps walking "mummy look" Maya pointing to her mum. Erika follows her hand, leasing her to an apartment for rent. She looks at Maya and smiles "thanks baby", she says, and looks back at the flyer taking it with her. She asks for directions to the house. Most people snub her because of her appearance, but she doesn't mind, keeps asking. She went up to a woman standing by the subway station. "Hello ma'am, how are you doing ma" she asked politely, "I'm fine my dear, is there any problem? You look tired?" The woman replied to her, "I'm not really looking for this street", she said while showing her the flier.

"Ohh, you are not far from it, it's by the corner after the expressway, you wouldn't need to ask before you see it dear" she said to Erika calmly, "thank you ma'am, bless you", Erika said to her as she left to search her house searching.

She got to the house, took out her phone and dialed the number on the flier. "Hello, am I speaking with Gary Will" she asked calmly, holding excitement. "Yes, this is Gary and are you?" He asked.

" I am Erika, I saw your flier about renting an apartment. I'm in front of one and would love to rent it pls" she said politely, "okay I'll be with you shortly", he said, and ended the call.

Few minutes later, a car pulled up, and a man came out of it, "Hi, I'm Gary Wills, are you Erika?" He asked, "Yes, I am Erika," she replied. "Let's go in. He ushered them in smiling. "It's a one-room apartment. Are you good at it? He looked at her, she nodded "OK and the deposit is $1000. The total rent is $2000, how are you making payment, ma'am," he said, and turned to look at her and noticed her discomfort, "can't you afford it madam?" It's the cheapest in the neighborhood, ma'am, and it's really close to a nursery for children he said smiling at Maya who smiled back.

"Sir, I really love this apartment, but I can't afford the total rent. If I paid for the rent I wouldn't have money for food or to put my daughter in the nursery you talked about. Wouldn't you s***h the price? Please promise to pay immediately if I get paid after I get a job. She with. He, he looked at her, she seemed trustworthy and he was lenient. He could understand that things were rough for her. " Okay! Erica, I'm trusting you to keep to your word. I wouldn't want to be disappointed after doing you this big favor to make sure your daughter gets enrolled in the nursery. Give me the amount you have to deposit now", he said. She took out 600 dollars, leaving her with $5000. He collected it and bid her goodbye.

"Mummy, this is our place?" Maya asked. She went down on her knees. "Yes baby it's ours" and hugged her as she said, "What would you want to eat? She asked Maya " chicken and fries mummy". Maya replied, "OK baby we will have that" she said to her, happy to see her daughter ask for something for once. She knew the money was enough, but she could get it for her at least once.