Burn Me Slowly.

before the storm

Episode One: Before the Storm

the sky over Auchi was the color of rusted iron, heavy with the promise to rain. Yena sat on the front steps of the arranging cashew nuts which was to be sold. her younger brother, Brian was just standing beside her looking quitely.

"Brian, help with the basin please "i said

he smiled, replied in a care free manner, " you want me to help you? what about Mabel?"

"she can't help.the basin is too heavy for her." i said.

"she can manage" he grinned, and ran inside.

inside the house, grandma was hummmimg a quiet hymn as she stirred Ogi on the fire, the air smelled of smoke, pap, and warm cassava leaves. this was home . familiar, imperfect but peaceful.

Yena looked up just in time to see her older sister, diamond, stepping into the compound with a small bag of beans and palm oil. diamond was always quick, always strong, together they manage the house like a team. filling the gaps their parents left behind.

her father had abandon them when their mom divorced him and only care about his first wife and kids now.

I know u guys will be like huh, is her mom the second wife? well, yes she is.

their mother had gone to Libya with the promises of building a better life .

Eight years.

Yena was only nine then when she traveled. and now, she's seventeen. turning eighteen soon.

and then one Saturday evening, as the thunder rolled across the hills, their mother returned.

she came back with a borrowed taxi, her face darker, thinner, eyes sunken and wary. when she stepped into the compound, no one moved at first.

we were all frozen cause hell, no one was expecting her.

we literally spoke to her about a month again. and was also planning my up coming 18th birthday. so yeah we were really shocked to see her today, looking so tatted and unkeept. we barely recognized her.

"Ma?." Diamond was the first to voice out her doubt.

their mother nodded. her lips trembled but she didn't cry. "I'm back"

I felt my heart stir. half Joy and half confused. there should have been hugging, laughter, maybe even tears. but something felt wrong . the way mom looked around as if someone had followed her. the way she didn't hug grandma. only muttered "thanks"

there was no celebration that day cause mommy was not her self. even when grandma tried talking to her, she didn't reply her not untill two days later.

she called for a meeting that night.

we were all sitting on the parlor floor, the little solar lamp flickering between us. mother cleared her throat and started telling us things about Libya, how she had be living and how she had trusted the wrong people. how a friend she thought was and treated like sisters betrayed her by borrowing with her name and documents.

how the friend had use one of her person as a collateral.

when she get to that part of statement, she stopped and sigh a little.

but we the listeners where completely shocked and There was pindrop silence.

"he's demanding for the money,"she continued "and if I can't provide it it the limited time frame he gave which has already passed he's going to take what he now owes or he destroys us" she sighed. tears threatening to fall out of her eyes.

we didn't say anything, not even grandma

just silent cause we know she isn't done yet, and she might have a solution which is why she called for this meeting

"and the only way to redem us is to give him what belongs to him now" she continued.

"and what belongs to him" diamond asked. trembling

she looked at every one and muttered softly "I'm sorry" tearing.

"I'm really sorry, I couldn't protect u guys".

I just stared at her without saying anything. but my heart was frozen and I was having a bad feelings

and then my mum finally said who he now owes. and when I Heard it, I felt like my soul left my body.

"Yena."