Something in me

Reality.

Iya Eko's son come back from the city he was working to Abeokuta, where I was living. I was happy and a little bit surprised because it's been a long time I've seen him, but this time around he is with a woman who is heavily pregnant. I was curious but cautious because I won't lie, I don't really like the woman as uncle has a wife before, so seeing him with another woman is surprising to me (unknown to me that he has divorced his wife).

I moved with this woman (I wish I can forget her name), and start the life of living with fear

"aaaaah" I wake up with a start as the shout was right in my ears.

"why don't they tell me that you wet bed?, this is a new rug for God sake!!"

ha, it was then I realized I have made another mistake, but it's not my fault since I was unable to eat yesterday evening as I was punished, so I drank a lot of water to fill my stomach. This has been going on since the day uncle left home for his work place. I still can't remember what I'm punished for.

"still in a daze??, get up and wash the mat for me, the whole house will be smelling like hell by evening, I'm still pregnant and have to take care of you along with the one inside my stomach, I don't know of my ancestors owe you for me to meet a girl like you........"

We'll I've gotten used to her rantings, but I also don't want to live with you, it's not my fault to be here or that I don't have a family too. Though I was ashamed for wetting the mat and the whole building knows with her shout, there's nothing I can do.

I quickly carry the mat and leave the room before she starts to get to physical, the kids outside were laughing and I'm sure it's about me (anyways it's not like I care). when I'm done I start preparing for school and I know of course, there'll be no food this morning again. I let her know I'm done and say my good bye, whether she replied or not is not my problem.

"Lola!!" I don't need to glance back before I know who's calling me.

"Hi" I replied without much enthusiasm after all I don't have any energy to start arguing with her, she's the queen of argument "why don't you wait for me??" she looked at me as if I do something grave

no reason, just want to get to school earlier"

The reason why I remember this day is because it marked the day i have to move again.

I was so hungry after I got back from school and yet there's no food again, so I stole from our land lady.

Our landlady is someone that doesn't take any nonsense in her house and she has a little granddaughter who was living with her for holiday then, the girl always follow me around and she's the only kid I played with in that house.

So that day, after I returned home from school that day, I secretly went to where the landlady sundry her meats (Tinko, that's the name given to the meat), I took four and went to the backyard to eat it.

As I was about to finish one I heard a sound and froze for a while, I looked back and it was the landlady's granddaughter.

I was a little bit surprised and scared but the kid said she also want to eat, so we became partner in the crime and I was happy for the moment.

It was evening by the time my crime was exposed and at that time my uncle just got back.

The landlady called him and gave him an envelope then I was called inside the room to get a beating of my life.

"Lola, what make you steal??, didn't I provide enough for you??, why do you want to spoil my name??" my uncle was so angry and he started questioning me after he's done beating me.

I looked at my uncle and was a little bit disappointed because I respected him before, I always believe he knows me enough and he should know that if I'm not hungry I won't steal but I can't say it or else it will become my fault for destroying his marriage.

I looked down and cry in silent,. " so now we've become apart to the point you can't tell me the reason you stole??"

"forget about her, that's not her first time stealing but I didn't expect her to go out and steal, at least if she steal something from me, I can still keep it a secret, now the landlady told us to leave the house or send her away, it's your decision to do whatever you want."

I looked at my aunt and saw her smirking devishly and it occur to me, what if she has been starving me just to get me steal?. I was a little bit glad that I'll be leaving her and sorry for my uncle as hell be the one to live with her for the rest of his life without having the knowledge about the woman he married.

I left Abeokuta and later lived with another family member as well as my grandmother before I ran away from home which prompt them to call my mom and that's how I started living with her before she got married again.

She left me again after she got married and would come to see me every weekend, later she said I should come and live with her. Somehow, I was happy but I feel like I'm a burden to her, it's like I'm the one dragging her down even though sha gave birth to a son for her former husband but he's living grandma.

I started living with my mom but I'm not happy and I hate her. I can't bring myself to eat with her and her husband on the same dining table, so I usually eat my food in the kitchen.

I don't know why I feel like that but I can't help it ( but I think I was too young to understand what she's going through then), I'll rather go to even though I'm sick than to stay home.

This continue untill I met him, MY FIRST BOYFRIEND!!