LIFE AFTER DEATH.

VOYAGE 2

" Amaka I love you, I trust you to behave well. " My mom began as she caressed my cheeks, " We'll call you as often as we can. Call us as soon as you land. "

I nodded, " Please, use Skype. " I turned over to my sister, who was looking sympathetic now, " Please download it for her. "

" I'll miss you too. " Nonso said instead.

I smiled, " I love you Nonso. "

I could see that she was fighting off the stronge urge to cry.

I adjusted my bag, " I should get going, I don't want to miss my flight. " I prepped to turn.

Before I did, I heard Nonso make a faint whisper,

" Mommy won't you tell her now? "

My eyes scurried over to where the the two stood.

Nonso pushed my mother a little on the arm, " There's no point hiding it from her, tell her. "

I was quick to comprehend that something was amiss, and that my family was hiding something from me. After the push from Nonso, my mother called my name with a soft and slow tone, " Amaka... "

I narrowed my eyes and curiously answered, " Yes.... "

My mother took my hands into her shaky hold.

" Mommy you know that you can confide in me with anything. " That was me trying to make my mother calm and comfortable enough to reveal the secret to me, whatever it was.

My mother and Nonso exchanged worried looks which left me more perplexed and inquisitive.

" Amaka nothing is wrong, it's just... " My mother bit her lips, her eyes visited every surrounding section in the waiting area, except my face.

" It's just__

" Just what? " I was getting very impatient.

" Argh, " Nonso was also feeling the same way, " Aunty Vivian is going to be waiting for you at the airport. Amaka, you're going to be living with her. "

My heart instantly froze, my face went blank, my jaw dropped and I couldn't move.

" What? " The word managed to slip from my lips. I couldn't believe what I had just heard.

My mother gently shook my hands to restore my sanity, which I had temporarily lost. " Amaka__

" This is a joke right? " I arched my brows in a fierce stance.

" Not this one. " Nonso waged her head as she provided.

My heart had begun to thus fast and heavy. " I don't understand, why I'm I staying with that woman? "

My mother still couldn't fragment her words. " Mommy talk! " I let out in fury. My anger was something I left unbridled.

" You're staying with her. " She vaguely said finally.

" You said I was going to live in a dorm... a hostel, right? " I was getting frantic.

My mom's sorry eyes dropped to the floor. It was then I realized that if I wanted answers I had to turn the other way.

" Nonso what is the meaning of all of this? "

" It's just as I said, you're staying with aunty Vivian. "

" Why!? " I found myself screaming, " I'm not staying with that monster!''

" Amaka, " My mother gently raised, " I'm really sorry. But you have no choice, you're living with her. "

I squinted in shock, " What do you mean I have no choice? there are other options. "

" Other options like a public dorm?? that is not a good idea. Its a whole new country, you need to be in the midst of a familiar face. "

My anger was getting kindled, " Familiar face? Jesus Christ! " I threw furious glances at both Nonso and my mother,

" Have you guys forgotten what SHE did to us? She broke our FAMILY! "

" That's all in the past. " My mom released.

I forcefully took back my hands from her in irritation, " Mom! you of all people should know the aftereffects of what she did, how can you say this? "

" I did it for you, I did it for US. "

" I don't wanna stay there, I'm NOT staying there. "

" Amaka you can't, " My sister assumed a soft tone. She only did that when she was about relay a wise and true perspective.

" Look, I'm not going to ask you to forgive her, but if you're smart enough you'd know that we need her. "

" Or maybe you're so stupid that you suddenly think you can trust that WOMAN. " I spat angrily without thinking.

" That WOMAN is a citizen! " Nonso began to reign on me facts to prove her viewpoint. " she has a three-bedroom apartment which is more comfortable than any stupid dorm you want to stay in! " Her tone gradually became meeker,

" She has a stable job Amaka, we can't trust the government to follow through on their part. I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but you don't have a choice. " She armed a stoic tone as she ended.

By this time, tears were already built at the bridge of my eyes, I was breathing heavily, and my fists were clenched, I was angry.

" She... she broke mom, she betrayed mom, she destroyed our family. " I stuttered into broken words. " Her betrayal is what got her to the US in the first place, it should have been us. "

" Now we're using it to our advantage. " My mother tried to salvage what she could.

I shook my head, " After all those years of suffering and pain? "

" Amaka I swear that I don't like this either, but I'm brave enough to admit that it's our only choice. " Nonso replied.

" So I'm not brave enough? is that it? " My head was getting heavy for me to encompass.

Nonso sighed, " You know one thing I am positive about you? So positive that it bewilders me? "

I refused to provide a response.

She went on to respond, " It is your wisdom. Amaka you are so wise that you manage to see the usefulness and truth in every situation, no matter how ugly the case may be, you understand quickly. Now you are angry, but the second you enter into your head and think, you will understand. I trust you. "

I sniffed, " It's gonna be difficult. "

" I know, and I'm just one call away. "

'' you could have at least... '' I stopped halfway. There was no use. If they had told me, I would have abandoned the scholarship.

I turned to my mom, " I know why you couldn't tell me. If I had known, I probably wouldn't have wanted to go. "

" I wasn't brave enough. " She replied.

" I'm also not brave enough. " I followed.

My mother hugged me, " Maybe someday you'll be brave enough to forgive her. "

" I don't think so. " I pinched.

* * * * * * * * * * *

I watched them watch me as I departed away. It was a heart-wrenching moment. I captured their last looks and forever kept them with me. My mother was disheartened to watch me leave. But there was also an epitome of hope, a reach that she hadn't toiled in vain.

Nonso held my mom tightly, it was just them against the world now. I saw Nonso crying, inside my stomach clenched in a fainting spell. I felt a sour sensation travel through my throat and appeared on my tongue. I began to feel bitter all of a sudden.

At that instance, I knew that it wasn't just about me anymore, it was about them too.