Twenty
605 Words
Back to Reality
The journey back to Accra was quiet.
Afia sat by the window, watching the trees pass by slowly.
Her mind was not on the road.
---
It was still in Boame Village.
---
Her mother’s voice.
Her siblings’ laughter.
The small compound that once felt like everything.
---
“Afia.”
---
She turned.
---
Mr Matey glanced at her briefly.
“You’re quiet.”
---
Afia managed a small smile.
“I’m just thinking, sir.”
---
“About home?”
---
She nodded.
---
Mr Matey looked ahead again.
---
“That is good,” he said. “But don’t let it distract you from why you are here.”
---
Afia straightened slightly.
“Yes, sir.”
---
“To learn,” he continued. “To become better.”
---
“I understand.”
---
Silence returned.
---
But this time—
It felt different.
---
---
When they arrived, the house stood tall and unchanged.
---
Afia stepped out slowly.
The compound looked as neat as always.
Everything in place.
Everything controlled.
---
But the moment she entered—
She felt it.
---
The difference.
---
Mrs Matey was seated in the hall.
---
Her eyes moved to Afia.
---
“You are back,” she said.
---
“Yes, Ma,” Afia replied softly.
---
Mrs Matey looked her over.
From head to toe.
---
“You stayed longer than expected,” she added.
---
Afia lowered her eyes.
---
“Your father insisted,” Mr Matey said calmly as he walked in behind her.
---
Mrs Matey did not respond.
---
Instead, she said,
“There is work in the kitchen. Go and see what needs to be done.”
---
“Yes, Ma.”
---
Afia picked up her bag and moved quickly.
---
---
In the kitchen, everything was already arranged.
But that did not mean there was nothing to do.
---
She began cleaning.
Washing.
Putting things in order.
---
Just like before.
---
Nothing had changed.
---
---
Later that evening, Afia stepped outside briefly to get fresh air.
---
“Afia!”
---
She turned.
---
Eva Matey was standing at the doorway, smiling.
---
“Eva!” Afia said, surprised.
---
Eva rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
“I missed you!”
---
Afia smiled genuinely this time.
“I missed you too.”
---
Eva pulled back slightly and looked at her.
---
“You look… different,” she said.
---
Afia frowned.
“Different how?”
---
Eva tilted her head.
“I don’t know… maybe it’s just me.”
---
Afia forced a small laugh.
“It’s just you.”
---
But Eva wasn’t convinced.
---
Still, she let it go.
For now.
---
---
Across the compound, someone watched quietly.
---
Evans Matey leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on them.
---
His expression unreadable.
---
Afia noticed him.
And immediately looked away.
---
“Let’s go inside,” Eva said, pulling her hand.
---
Afia nodded quickly.
---
As they walked in, she could still feel it—
---
Evans’ eyes on her.
---
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
---
---
That night, Afia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
---
She was back.
---
Back to the big house.
Back to routine.
Back to expectations.
---
But something inside her—
Did not feel the same anymore.
---
And though she could not explain it—
---
She felt it clearly.
---
Life here was not as simple as it looked.
---
And whatever waited ahead—
---
Would not be easy.
---
- Writer
