LIFE AFTER DEATH.

TOUCHDOWN

Wrapping my hands around the handle strap of my luggage, I stood in a long line, filled with people. My sight was down, I positioned as though I was staring at the brown long boots that I wore, but infact I wasn't. I was staring at something and nothing at the same time. I paid no attention to the world around me as I was trapped in a fitting of my own.

I had thought and concluded that I wouldn't see my aunt Vivian ever again, how then do I live with her under the same roof with her and not get the yearn to drive a dagger into her chest? that would be almost impossible.

I hated her, I despised her, I loathed and abhorred her with every fiber in my body. But it didn't used to be so, that wasn't the genesis of my emotions for aunt Vivian. There used to be a light before the darkness spread across the face of my family. I absolutely hated diving deep into the gory and sore anecdotes of my past, but with the current state of things, I subconsciously found myself drowning deep inside an abysmal well of echoes.

Aunt Vivian was my mother's younger sister and only relative. She was often mistaken to be my mother's daughter because of how close she was with my family. She lived with us for as long as I could remember, she even carried me as a child. My aunt Vivian was the one person that innately understood my nature and accepted me for who I was. Unlike my father and my sister Nonso, aunt Vivian never tried to make me socialize, instead, she would keep me company. I vividly remember the days where she would attempt to study literature or science just so she could have something in common to converse with me. I personally hated visiting those memories, because it almost made me forget the horrible and unforgivable thing she did. But ah, she used to be my favourite human.

It all went south when I rushed back from school one morning unannounced. I had forgotten my math textbook and sought to retrieved it. Immediately I entered the house, a loud forum of noise visited me that caused me to stand in front of the entrance. It was a collision of several sounds. There was sharp and stainless sounds, like that of slaps merging wet surface, I heard the din of equipments I knew not of at the time, hitting the walls. What sent me chiselled chills down my spine was the mixed sounds of familiar voices ringing in the air. It was that of my father and aunt Vivian moaning verociously. I would never forget the distinct, potent and pandemic state of bewilderment that hit me as I walked into the room.

Apparently, aunt Vivian and my waste of a father had been having s****l relationship for God knows how long. And that wasn't all the bad news, my father had been accumulating some reasonable amount of money to elope with aunt Vivian to USA.

When the news came to the discovery of everyone, the trauma distributed to everyone, most especially my mother. She was broken, dejected and shell-shocked. The entire family sank to the bottomless pit. And instead of mounting face to face with what she did, aunt Vivian played my father and eloped to America with the money my father saved. That was another salt thrown into an open sore.

That drove my father into deep depression. The man was more concerned about his mistress that left him than his family that he shattered to pieces. And less than four months after, he committed suicide. Yes, my father locked himself in the toilet and sank his head inside a drum filled with water until he lost consciousness. You can imagine the outcome of my family after another disaster.

***************

" Amaka! "

I saw her, Vivian Richardson, that was the name of the white man she must have married. I did my research on her immediately I alighted the plane.

" Amaka! "

She screamed my name again. I felt a shiver rippled down my body as she approached me, I was instantly overwhelmed with anger and fear. I didn't know why I was afraid yet, but I felt it strong.

My heart began to pound as though it was planet beneath a staples center, why was I afraid? As my vision steadied, I began to lay hold of what aunt Vivian looked like. She had transformed a whole lot. Well, it had been four hefty years.

***************

Her natural charcoal brown hair had turned into a waist-length blonde and curly hair. It was definitely an extension. I began to see the image Nonso was trying to paint for me of aunt Vivian, she was indeed living the desired life in America.

Her dark skin had lightened, appearing glossy and steamed. She was attired with a silver leather pants and a black elastic strap shirt that not only hugged her torso and exposed her navel, but laid notice of her breasts and exposed her cleavage. One look at her heels, I knew it would cost a couple of hundred dollars, not to mention her fendi bag. It seemed like my traitorous aunty was a millionaire already.

Without my consent, she enveloped me into a tight, slightly rough hug. The enthralling scent of her cologne hit me so strong and soft that I briefly time travelled into an imaginary garden of lavender, jasmine and a cool overflow of ice. She jittery parted ways with me and went to dip her fingers into my well-packed hair.

" Oh my gosh, look at your hair! It got even more beautiful! "

I stood still, the direction of my face stood at a distant location, away from hers.

" You've gotten so beautiful and tall! Just look at you! "

She took some steps backward to admire me better. A question surfaced inside my head and it was, 'why is this woman acting like what she did never existed?'

" Give me your bags! "

She flung my luggage away from me and playfully shoved me to proceed walking.

" Welcome to America! I guarantee that you'll love it here! "

I followed aunt Vivian to her car, and I had to admit, I was stunned by what I saw. It was a Tesla model y. If I was not mistaken, the car's cost was about sixty-two thousand dollars to seventy thousand dollars. I remember lacing aunt Vivian with a look of sheer hatred and disgust.

" Get in! "

She performed a chivalry act by opening the passenger door for me, and I took the invitation. A gracing odour of palm trees and cool strawberry mint crocheted me as soon as I entered the car.

" Tell me, how was your flight? " She started the car.

I strapped on my seat-belt and ignored her question as expected, hoping that my silent would speak to her. But no, it didn't, she kept on talking.

" I'm sure it was nice, do you want to grab something to eat before we get home? "

From my rear view, I could see her taking turns from glancing at the road and at me. I maintained my silence.

" I remember your favorite snacks were chocolates and ice cream, there's a quick spot nearby, we could __

I became fed-up. But instead of loosing my temper, I was somehow able to maneuver my resentment with a dire address to the issue at hand.

" When do I begin school? " My voice was still and emotionless, exactly how I wanted it.

Aunt Vivian was still all smiles, " Its Thursday, you can have the weekend off and resume on Monday__

" I would much rather resume tomorrow. " I maintained my stoic stance.

" Okay then! " The car approached a minor stop as there appeared to be a line of preschoolers crossing the road. " I will keep you company on your first day! "

I arched a furious brow, her constant cheer maintainance kept on provoking me. Why was she so happy? did she really not recall what happened four years ago? I had to gave her a short but thorough look, in order to understand.

" Don't worry about anything, with my help you'll have no problems blending in here. I promise to give you all the help you need! "

I slowly sat up, crossed my arms and glimpsed my eyes, " Did you have an accident that caused you to have amnesia? " I genuinely asked.

She was surprised to hear my honest question, " No__

" Do you have dementia? "

" No__

" Are you under any drugs that may cause you to loose your memory? " I authoritatively asked.

" Why all this questions? I don't understand __

I ran my hands into the dashboard tray so loud that it trembled her.

" Are you kidding me! " I raised.

" Amaka__

" You killed my father. " I finally outed.