LOCKED

"If only I can mess with time. What have you done, Seraphina? First you lied to mom and now dad and because of me... he's dead." Seraphina sobbed bitterly, her eyes red and puffy from the endless tears. Janet stood from afar with her shapeless black gown glaring hard at Seraphina as she mourned. She walked to her like a possessed woman and immediately slapped her hard on the face, eyes were now on them as Seraphina said nothing but but her lower lip as more tears flowed. "You killed my husband! What did I ever do to you?! First, it was her and now him?!" Janet screamed at her face staring at the woman before her in confusion, shock, remorse and grief. "I'm sorry mom. It wasn't...I...I... I'm... I'm so sorry." She stuttered crying. "Sorry? Can sorry bring back the dead?! Can it bring back my husband?! Can sorry bring back the baby you made me lost?! Answer me!" She yelled like a mad woman. "Baby? What are you talking about? I don't want to see your face again." Janet muttered icily almost inaudible. "Mom..." Seraphina called reaching out to her. "I'm not your mother! You lost that right a long time ago after the miscarriage you caused me, I tried to believe what your father said but now I see you clearly from under the mask you use. From this day on, you are no longer my daughter and I am no longer your mother. When the funeral is over, I want you out of the house." Janet said firmly. Seraphina knew there was no changing her mind but she wants to try. "Mother please, I have no where to go. I need you mother. I swear I didn't mean for all of these to happen." She begged, consumed by anger, Janet left like a drunkard, she staggered as she walked to the coffin, looking almost lifeless. On reaching the coffin her husband laid, she touched the glass then smiled faintly. "How are you doing today? I'm glad to know that you are doing good, my superman." She whispered as she wailed. "I'm going to miss you." She further said in tears, Seraphina knelt beside her staring at her father's corpse. "I told you to..." "I know mom but can't I pay my last respect anymore? please let me." She pleaded. The funeral came to an end, Janet left with the car, Seraphina had no choice but to use a cab. Reaching the door, her heart skipped in fear, she twisted the doorknob, the door clicked open. "She didn't lock me out. Thank God." She muttered going inside to see her mother waiting for her. "Phina, we need to talk. Meet me in my room." Janet said without sparing her a glance, Seraphina followed immediately. "I have three options for you if you want me to take you back. Orphanage, marriage or outside the house." Janet said, Seraphina looked sharply at her. "Mother?" "Micheal William will be here tomorrow with his son. I suppose you know him. I heard you two were friends. Phina, please accept this offer and get married to him." Seraphina scoffed in disbelief. "We just buried dad and you're thinking of more money? Why mom?" Seraphina whispered the last words in tears. Janet sighed. "Your father was in debts before he died. Not that I don't want to resent you but I can't besides I birthed you." She said with a shrug, Seraphina's shoulders dropped. "But I will resent you if you reject William's son." Janet continued in both sincerity, greed and almost guilt. Seraphina stared at her mother in outmost disbelief... 'I felt speechless for the first time in my life. The mother who had raised me? Loved me? What has gotten into her?' Seraphina thought. "For crying out loud, I'm just seventeen...I may have made a lot of mistakes but I can atone for it. Why make me marry Richard William?" She asked blinking her eyes. "I want to think about it." She muttered. "I don't think that'll be necessary because you both are already engaged. He'll be here tomorrow. Be of good behavior and remember why you're doing this, okay? It's for your father." Janet said with pleading eyes and a small smile on her lips. Seraphina sighs thinking of her dad. "If this is the only way for you to forgive me wherever he is...I accept. What time does he comes tomorrow, mom?" She asked. "12 o'clock noon. Get some sleep." Her mother patted her long brown hair, she looked just like her mother when Janet met with her dark black eyes, she was reminded of her husband, she smiled lightly. 'You remind me so much of David.' Her eyes watered. "Mom? Are you tired? Do you need my help tucking you to bed?" Seraphina asked knowing well that her mother can't sleep without being tucked to bed and she likes lullaby. 'Mother is such a baby.' She chuckled inwardly at her own thought. "I don't need anything from you. I'll be going out." She snapped. "But..." "But what? Do you want to leave instead? Do you?!" She yelled pissed. "No, I don't." Seraphina whispered with a whimper. "No? Then get lost!" She huffed. "Oh poor David." She looked at the room, his absence made her crumbled more. She fell weakly on the bed lying on it. "I just wished you never answered that call. I wish you were here." She sniffs slowly drifting to dreamland.