f*****g A LUNATIC

I stood inside my room staring into space. I couldn't get the words of the queen mother out of my head. I stared at the glass of red wine in my hand and sigh loudly. I was so tired of everything but I just couldn't give up now. There's never a turning back. Still lost in my own thoughts, I felt a sudden presence behind me and I needed not to be told that it was the queen mother. I turned around, my head bowed to the floor in respect. “ Good day, queen mother. To what do I owe such an unexpected visit?” I asked in a calmed voice. You aren't permitted to yell at the queen mother no matter the situation else, you might get striked to death. “ Daughter of the queen mother, I only came to inform you of a few things. As you know, your wealth has begun drifting far away from your reach, right?” the queen mother asked. “ Yes, queen mother. I really don't know what to do. I've always done what the queen mother requested and yet, I don't understand why I'm slowly becoming broke. Did I offend the queen mother unknowingly? If I did, please have mercy on her daughter ” I spilled out, trying to make sure I got a solution to my current situation. The queen mother laughed for a while and stopped abruptly like she never laughed! “ You never did a thing to offend the queen mother, daughter of the queen. ” the queen mother uttered. “ Then, what's going on? Does the queen mother need more sacrifices? I'm always ready to do anything just to secure my wealth!” I uttered, not taking my gaze away from the tiled floor of my room. “ You're ready to do anything, right?" The queen mother finally asked after a long silence. I was beginning to think she wouldn't say a word. “ Yes, queen mother. I'm ready to do anything as long as my wealth is secured and I don't have to return back to poverty; then, I'm ready!” I said, confidently. I'm a girl who grew up in a very poor home. We could barely eat breakfast without talking about lunch and dinner! We were like the poorest family in my village in Edo state. My two siblings and I were looking so malnourished because we weren't eating what other kids were eating. Our house has a lot of leaks. Once it rains, we get drenched in our house by the rain. It was an hectic childhood experience. When I couldn't take it in any longer, I woked my parents up one night and had the following conversation with them. “ Emmanuella, what's so important that you couldn't wait till the next morning to discuss it?” My mother had asked and my father bumped his head in alliance with my mother. “ It can't wait till morning and that's because I'd be traveling to the city first thing tomorrow morning.” I had bluntly said. My parents were Immediately taken aback by my unexpected words. That wasn't what they were expecting to hear from me and I knew it. “ What! City?” My dad uttered first in shock as he shifted uncomfortably on our worn out cushions. The cushions were all looking like what had been eaten by rats. They weren't pleasant to the eyes and that's one of the reasons I don't allow my friends to visit me at home. I would rather be the one to visit than them doing it. “ What do you mean by you're going to the city? Who do you even know in the city? How do you plan to survive? Do you think going to the city is some joke?” My mother bombarding me with questions before scoffing loudly to show she was already pissed off. But, I wasn't ready to back down. I needed to take a bold step as the first child of the family and make a change! It's a good thing my mom didn't give birth to many children when they could barely take care of three kids. I really wonder how some women wallow in poverty and yet, they have dozens of kids. To me, that's pure wickedness for you to bring a child to the world just to suffer! “ Dad, Mom, I do have a friend in the city I would be living with until I could get my own place. You both don't have anything to worry about as everything is planned out by Me. I didn't just wake up one morning to make such a decision; I've been working towards it.” I explained to them. My mother's arms were folded under her boobs while my dad rested his back on the cushion, shaking his legs. I awaited their decision with my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I didn't want them to say no to me; as that would prompt me into going with plan b and that's running away without their knowledge. But, I was praying it doesn't get to that point where I would have to go with plan b. After a long while, they finally agreed to let me leave for the city the next morning. I was so happy that sleep was from me that night. All I wanted was for dawn to be here faster than usual. Finally, I left for the city that morning after hugging my family and promising them that I would be fine and would make them proud. I never had a friend in the city, all of that was a lie to get my parents to allow me to go. I suffered so much in Lagos state, slept under bridges, woke up as early as possible to sell water and drinks in traffic. So it went until I met a girl called Ada. She's an igbo girl from Anambra state. I sold drinks to her in traffic and thus, she asked me to get inside her car. That was how she took me to her house, and after a week, she initiated me into her occultic family. I loved everything about it because I am swimming in excess wealth. I renovated my parents house, bought a car for my dad and made sure my siblings were attending the best schools. Everything was going fine as long as I'm sleeping with men and bringing their sperm to the queen mother for more wealth. Until now that everything began slipping away! I was still standing with my head bowed to the floor, awaiting the queen mother's orders. “ This might be a difficult task, daughter of the queen mother, but there's nothing you can do about it. It is the only solution for your wealth to stop slipping away from you.” The queen mother uttered, her words giving me these sudden goosebumps all over my fair skin. No doubt I was frightened by her words but, I had to take the bold step. “ I'm ready for anything, queen mother” I uttered confidently. “ Good! The only way to appease the queen mother is for you to begin sleeping with a mad man and your wealth becomes yours forever!” The queen mother uttered in a stern voice. I was taken aback, my mouth open widely in surprise and shock. Did I hear the queen mother right? “ I should be sleeping with a mad man? You mean a crazy man who sleeps in the streets looking all tattered and dirty?” I asked, almost raising my voice at her. If that was a joke, she should better stop it. “ Yes Emmanuella, daughter of the queen mother. You heard me correctly! Without doing it, there's no other way I can help you in securing your wealth.” The queen mother answered. I felt my head going round in circles. I was thinking I'd be given a different task but, not something this absurd! Why would I be sleeping with a mad man! Oh God, this is literally crazy! “ Queen mother, can't it be changed? At least, I could sleep with more men and….” “No!” the queen mother abruptly cut me off as she hit her stalf on the floor in anger and raised voice. “ The Queen Mother doesn't go back on her words! That's the only thing that could secure your wealth and if you can't do it, consider all of your wealth gone!” the queen mother yelled vehemently then, disappeared into thin air. I was left alone in my room to wallow in pain. I mean, who sleeps with a mad man? Someone who has probably not taken his bath for a long time! Damn it! I paced back and forth in my room before deciding to reach out to Ada who had initiated Me into this in the first place. The phone ranged for a while before she finally picked up. “ Hey, Ada. What's up” I spoke into the phone first. “ Emmanuella, I'm good. But, why is your voice sounding a bit hoarse? Is there something wrong? What happened?” Ada bombarded me with questions. We have become so close after she initiated Me into her occultic family. She literally became my best friend and listens to me whenever I'm sad. I must say, she has been the best so far in my life journey. “ Yes Ada, I'm not happy. I'm almost going crazy right now, my head is about to explode in a million pieces!” I rasped out, breathing heavily like someone who had run a marathon race. “ Hey, hey, calm yourself down and tell me what's going on with you. If you don't let it out, there's no way I could help nor advise you Ella. So, spill it out, let's get a solution together.” Ada urged and I took in a deep breath to calm my nerves, getting myself ready to tell her everything. “ The Queen Mother was here a few minutes ago.” I started. “ What? Why was she in your house? Explain more, Ella. I'm curious now .” Ada said anxiously. “ Ada, do you know the Queen mother demanded I start sleeping with a mad man just to secure my wealth?” I let the bomb out. “ What! A mad man? I seriously don't get this, why would you sleep with such a dirty man? Why would the queen mother choose such an absurd thing? This is getting more vicious!” Ada uttered with a loud scoff. I plump myself on my bed, as my legs were already aching from standing for quite a long period of time. The sound of Ada's voice made me know she was pissed off. So I'm I but, I don't really think there's anything I could do now. “ This is really crazy but, you know, going against the queen mother would mean you've accepted to return back to the trenches. So, what do you intend to do? Sleep with a mad man or return back to abject poverty?” Ada asked. At the thought of returning back to my vomit, my skin crawled. I can't have a huge taste of money and then return back to suffering. That's like the most absurd step to take. I'd rather go with the latter. “ Ada, I really can't return back to poverty. Thus, I'd do what the queen mother said. I'd find a mad man and Began f**king him so, I could continue getting more and more wealthy everyday.” I uttered in a Stern determined voice. “ I guess that's the right decision you've just made, Ella. More money to your account.” Ada had wished before we ended our call. That night, sleep was far from me until it was dawn. I woke up early, freshened up and made my