CHAPTER 3: THE PAST(3)
780 Words
The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room as Meg went about her daily chores. She hummed to herself as she swept the floor, the sound of the broom swishing against the tile a soothing rhythm. After finishing the sweeping, she moved on to preparing breakfast – a simple meal of scrambled eggs and toast.
As she cooked, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the house, mingling with the scent of eggs and toast. She loved days like this, when the world outside seemed to slow down, and all that mattered was the quiet routine of domestic life.
Just as Meg was finishing up the dishes she checked her phone, and it was already ten am. The doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on her black apron and made her way to the door, expecting it to be a neighbor or perhaps her little cousin who was sitting next-door. But to her surprise, it was Uncle Mike, her father's brother. He had a reputation in the community for being a bit too friendly with women, and he was responsible for her traumatic past, so she was always scared of him and had always been cautious around him to protect herself and also her siblings.
""Hey, kiddo! "Just dropping by to say hi,"" he said, his eyes lingering a bit too long on her. She tried to stay polite but distant, not wanting to encourage him to stay longer than necessary and also trying so hard not to show him that she was still scared of him.
"Hi, Uncle Mike. I'm just busy with chores and cooking. "Mom and dad are not home right now," she said, hoping he'd take the hint and leave.
But he didn't seem to catch on. "Well, I'll just wait for them then. "Maybe I can help you with those chores?" he suggested, his tone overly friendly and cringe.
She politely declined, feeling a growing sense of unease. "Thanks, Uncle Mike, but I've got everything under control. You don't have to wait for them, I'll let them know you stopped by."
Just then, my phone buzzed with a call from Alex, the guy who had been courting her. She excused herself from answering the call, and was grateful for the distraction.
""Hey, love,"" Alex's voice was warm and soothing, a welcome respite from the discomfort of Uncle Mike's visit. "How's your day going?"
She let out a sigh of relief, feeling like she could finally be herself. "It was okay. Just doing chores and cooking. But my uncle showed up, and I'm trying to avoid him."
Alex's tone turned serious. "You know you can always talk to me about anything, right? I'm here for you. "What's going on with your uncle?"
She was hesitant to open up to him at first because she felt he wouldn't believe her. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it “Alex said, as if he wanted to back out.
So she opened up about Uncle Mike's visits and how uncomfortable they made her feel, though she didn't say everything Alex listened attentively, offering words of comfort and support. "I'm here for you, and I'll always support you. You don't have to face anything alone."
As they talked, she felt a weight lift in her shoulders. Talking to Alex made Meg feel seen and heard, like someone truly understood her. Uncle Mike, sensing she was occupied, finally left, and Meg was grateful for the peace.
The rest of the day passed quietly, with Alex's words of encouragement still resonating in her mind. She looked forward to their next conversation, feeling more connected to him than ever, and she began depending on him gradually.
It was already four pm and Meg heard a loud noise outside, and she knew that school was over, and her troublesome siblings were back.
“Not again” she sighed.
“SISTER MEGGGG”. They both called her in a loud way.
“What is it this time around?” she asked as she started developing a little headache.
“Remember you promised to give us your phone to watch Sofia first” her younger sister Ella said, jumping around happily.
“No problem as long as you obediently go and remove your school wear, take your bath and eat, then you can come and get it from me,” she said half-heartedly.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the room, she realized that days like this-filled with simple routines and meaningful conversations – were truly special.
- Writer
