Black is Gold

September 24 12:34 Somewhere under the Sun, Zimbabwe I had it all. Prestigious school , rich friends ,the hottest guy as my boyfriend, designer clothes, you name it . I had the perfect life .But of all those amazing things, I had the longest most beautiful hair a black African girl could have . I was Zimbabwe's coolest teenager or so I thought? "It's the world that needs a surgery " I was going crazy , losing my mind is more like it . "It's the soul that's needs surgery " I whispered looking in the mirror .The rumours were true, I was never anything like Maria .She had perfect fairly light skin ,under those expensive brazilian weaves was a bouncy curly afro .She was thick and had flawless curves. A blind man could see that we weren't kin. I was the spitting image of a stranger , ebony brown skin, Long puffy hair, hazel brown eyes and had a body like that of Winnie Harlow . There was no resemblance between me and her at all .I was a real bimbo to be oblivious to the signs .To my friends I was just ticket to get closer to Maria . Maria was a single mother , feared business woman ,and forbes most beautiful African actress .When the news was publicized that I was not the biological daughter of Maria, I got a taste of the world's unmerciful wrath : "You are nothing like her ." It was true, I didn't deserve a mother like her The words words twirl around in my head . "You think you are better than us ? You're a charity case . A mere opportunist. " I got used to insults, each and every other day in Victoria High "Those fake extensions won't hide your hideous face ." I became a loner. "What is like being an opharn ? " I wasn't a rich happy popular girl any longer . I was just the famous woman's charity case. Those were the words of the people I called my friends. Even my so called angel boyfriend did nothing but pity me. Some days I would laugh at what fool I was, believing Michael's promises . 16 years with someone, because it was only suiting. I knew him my entire life, we would sneak glances at each other and secretly hold hands when no one was watching . I don't know what I saw in him, with him everything felt forced and expected . His mother a cold hearted lawyer and his father, A professor. He too was the perfect son . I would sit down and imagine what our kids could look like in the future . Believe it or not I saw a future with him . But when push came to shove, he wasted no time avoiding me as though I were the plague. Looked at with eyes of disdain and regret . Pity. I looked at the girl in the mirror and I hated her ,I was aggravated by sight of who I was. Salty tears sled across my plump chicks . "I should have known " I said looking at my puffy red eyes, grip tight on an electronic shaver. "Nothing like her" I shakingly shaved a part of my hair . I watched the black strands fall instantly. With every curse I muttered at myself in the mirror ,I shaved my long hair. I shaved until I was completely bald. My very long ,beautiful and natural ' for a black girl ' hair was gone . Misery. So they didn't really want me as friend . If she were here , would it ease the pain ? If Maria had told me the truth , would I be hurting ? If I were Maria's  real daughter, would my life still be perfect ? Scars on my body eased the hurt in my heart . I wanted to run away, away from her . Away from Victoria High Away from the world . There was nothing to hide behind now . ~ "ANEAKÈ, BABY" I just stared at her, motionless. It felt like life had been drained out of me . I'm surprised I'm still alive . "What did you did to your hair baby? " Her voice was shakey. My eyes watered when I saw the genuine pain in her eyes .She was an amazing soul but I wasn't hers .That was destroying me . 17 years I lived in the dark . Lived a lie . "Oh Neakè , don't let them get to you okay ? Social media has no power over you baby " She took my hand and lifted me to my feet. She intently looked in the eye and attacked me with a hug . It wasn't social media trolls, or the bullying or insults It was the truth . I sulked in her arms ,I cried till I had no tears left in me . I wish she was my real mother . Just to ease the pain. ~ Light . Maria was pulling the curtains open letting in a excess sunshine . She had been so worried, she called her private doctor yesterday.  He had given some pills and had me sedated so I wouldn't cry when I'd sleep . But deep down no remedy could cure my heart ache . The look in the old man's eyes was the same as all the other previous doctors,  Pity. I hated thier pity . That stung my night loving eyes . One can I slowly grew fond of the dark .The night sky calmed me down, reassured me that there was something as dark as my heart . "Mama , it's to early "I whined, rubbing my eyes and pulling the covers over my head . "It's 12 am love"  She was strolling around, cleaning and dusting the imaginary dust of my nightstand. She'd clean like this is when she was angry or sad . For some odd reason, it was therapeutic. "Can I still call you that ?" She looked at me in confusion and as if I were crazy. Not that I wanted to hurt her but I needed to know my place in her life . It was apon an unfortunate show biz interview when the truth had become clear . She had unconsciously mentioned that : July 12 9:00 pm The late night show with Maria Moyo "I wish her mother were here to see what a beautiful young lady she has become " "Her mother, what is that supposed to mean ?Is she not your daughter? " Her face flushed, with guilt and nervousness. Her face now held a worried expression and her eyes where glued to the camera as though she could sense my gaze on her through the Television. "What !? No, no I simply got confused and you are not allowed to air this.  " "Is Aneakè infact a foster child? " "What do you mean? I was your mother then ,now and forever " Unshed tears threatening to fall from my mother's eyes . My mother . I like the sound of it . I just nodded . "I made breakfast "