IN THE DARK

I sat in the chair facing my Dad and Aunt, looking tensed. "Opportunities like this come only once," Dad said. His face slowly becoming stern, like he wants you to do what he wants and also act as though he ain't pressuring you. I nodded as I stood up, grabbed my aunty's suitcase and helped her to her car. She barely stayed in the country and was relocating abroad. She came back to finish a few things and with the hope of convincing me to follow her. As I walked her to her brand-new white Cadillac Escalade, she turned to me and handed me 10 hundred Cedi notes. I gasped and quickly thanked her." Use it for anything you need and think about the offer," she said as she entered her car and drove off. Still in a daze, I walked back into the house, told my dad and mum about the money and quickly rushed to my room to avoid any long conversations with dad about the offer. I had a life, and I was not ready to change my plans, so I needed time before they started pressuring me for an answer. I sat on my bed and looked at myself in the mirror. I stood up, walked closer and observed the little changes in my body. My hips had become wider, my breasts firmer and my tummy even flatter, my curves were quietly complementing my whole figure, my skin looked quite smoother, and my face was becoming one many would kill for. As I batted my eyelids, I couldn't resist smiling. I was growing, and not just growing, I had become more beautiful with each and every passing day. I used to be bullied a lot in high school and for years I could barely look at myself in the mirror. "Amani!!!" mom called from her room. She was holding Nathan while Nathalie played around with her toys. She crawled to my side, giggling and raising her two little arms, signaling me to carry her. I carried her and walked over to mum as she handed me her bottle to feed her. Nathan and Nathalie were the cutest and latest twins in our family. Even though no one expected their birth, they were loved and I, for one, was ready to take care of them. I sat down and positioned Natalie in my arms, ready to feed her. The silence in the room was beginning to feel quite awkward. And just then I knew mom was dying to ask. I looked up at her and our eyes locked. "What did your aunt say?" she asked in a hostile tone that never forgot the history between her and my aunt. Whatever history, no one has enough courage to start that conversation, because one would always end up regretting it. "She said she wanted me to consider writing the SAT since I had just completed high school, and she preferred a university abroad for me." I said and quickly raised up my head to observe her reaction. Expecting her to say more, she just asked what I had decided on and when I said I was still thinking about it, she sighed and continued on with what she was doing. That was definitely not the reaction I was expecting, and I was quite disappointed because part of me was still waiting for my decision because I wanted to take into consideration mom's opinion. But there she sat, unresponsive and already looking disappointed if I agree. "That was not all," I said, "S-S-She also said something about adopting Nathan". My heart skipped as I prayed silently that she wouldn't overact. "Adopt who???, she said with a fierce look.