TRAPPED BY LOVE

Episode 3: Anderson's POV

Being alive and wondering what your roots are is more traumatizing than losing a parent. The feeling is second to none. I wondered what on earth would become of me if my foster parents decided they were tired of training me or seeing me through school.

Nothing made sense to me. This made me understand the difference between existing and living and as such, I was just living.

I tried retrieving a lot of information from my foster parents about what my real parents looked like, but they wouldn't tell me. I was kept in the dark.

My parents taught me everything I needed to know. I was brought up in the best way by them.

I was enrolled in a business school where I learned the art of business and financial studies. What endeared them to me the most was my tenacity and enthusiasm towards my studies. I took them very seriously, and within a short time, I was already controlling a small business opened by my foster parents, which excelled wonderfully well. It was a cookie-making business. Within a short time after I started, I was already making quite a lot of money in school, making my brand very popular among friends and teachers alike.

They were very proud of my achievements and promised to do more for me. I looked forward to having more, having more to control.

“Good morning, ma'am.”

“Good morning, Smith. It's good to see you looking all radiant and cool this morning,” my foster mother said. She was very friendly and accommodating.

She made me feel that sense of belonging that I craved. But as they'd say, it doesn't feel like having your real parents showering you with love and affection.

I kept asking myself questions only my real parents could provide answers to.

“Someone will be visiting today, and I want you to be as calm as possible,” she said, looking into my eyes as if waiting for my reaction.

“Okay, ma'am, if I may ask… who is this person?” I asked, hoping to bring more words out of her mouth. Her facial expression showed that she didn't want to say anything about it. I respected the decision and just went about doing my usual thing.

“Do well to have yourself all set, although it's an august visitor,” she said, upon noticing my mood not to ask further.

“Okay, ma'am,” I said.

I grabbed the mower and headed for the lawn. The grass was already overgrown, which always made me uncomfortable most of the time. My foster mom assisted me with bringing it out of the corner where I had always kept it in the store.

“Take it easy, the wheel on the left is hooked,” she said, pointing out.

I mowed the lawn as fast as I could, careful enough not to make it too low and lawn it even.

No sooner had I finished than I heard a loud horn blare outside the house. I rushed to finish what I was doing, getting into the bathroom to clean myself up.

I could hear the visitor greeting my foster parents. I peeped through the keyhole to see who had come to visit. I was shocked to see the great Mr. Smith of Ocean World.

I've always heard of him on the news and have seen him on different podcasts. He's been at the beck and call of every media personnel in the country.

What could have brought him down to visit us? Was one question that lingered in my mind, as so many other questions flooded it.

Does my family have any connections with him or what? I could have thought of us being in trouble, but the aura of his presence seemed friendly.

What could be going on? I was drawn out of my thoughts by my foster mom's voice. 

“He's here, he's inside having his bath. He just finished mowing the lawns,” I heard her say, as she drew closer to the door behind which I was standing.

I rushed to my wardrobe to grab some of my clothes and get dressed, but on second thought, I decided to put on something presentable.

I searched among my clothes to get the best to wear to meet the great Mr. Smith I've always heard of, just then I heard my foster mother knock on the door.

“Anderson. Are you there? Our visitor is here. You have to be very fast and come out here. We're waiting for you,” she said.

“Alright, ma'am, I'd be with you in a jiffy,” I said, searching further for the best clothes to wear. Finally, I was able to lay my hands on one.

Don't stay too long, she said, receding to the living room.

Thank God. I said to myself.

I was in high spirits. Meeting this business guru spoke volumes.

At least he'd help me with wonderful ideas as I'm growing my own business, too.

All that mattered to me at that moment was meeting him and getting to know many more business strategies from him. I paced around, trying to compose myself and carefully pick my words, so I wouldn't go out there and mess up, possibly infuriating him.

I got out of the room, walking very slowly to the living room. I could hear my foster mother call out again,

“Anderson!”

“Yes, ma'am,” I answered as I quickened my steps. I walked briskly to the living room.

“Take a seat,” she said, beaming a smile of satisfaction.

“Wonderful! He's looking way better than I used to know,” Mr. Smith said. I was surprised.

Those words made me even more confused. Does this man know me? I asked myself, trying to place it.

“Thank you, Mr. Smith, it's our pleasure. We also thank you for your benevolence. People like you are rare.”

At this point, I was lost trying to arrange the puzzle building up in my head.

What are they saying?

When did he see me that I didn't know? There's something no one is telling me?

My foster mother cleared her throat.

“Anderson, you know you've been asking me a couple of questions lately which I've not given you an answer to, and today, I wish to answer those questions one after the other, right here and now,” she said, with a stern look.

At last, I thought with a sigh of relief, I was about to get answers to the questions that had plagued me for so long, and yet, something about this moment didn’t just feel right. The atmosphere felt charged, almost like I was standing at the edge of something huge, something that would change everything I thought I knew.

Mr. Smith leaned forward, his eyes locking with mine. "Anderson, there's a reason I've come today," he said, his voice lower than before. "A reason you might not be ready to hear, but it's time."

My heart raced. I didn't know whether to be excited or terrified.

“Anderson,” my foster mother said softly, but I could sense something in her voice; there's something we need to let you know now.

My mouth went dry as I looked at Mr. Smith and my foster mother. A chill ran through me. Was I finally going to find out what had been hidden from me for so long? Was I to be sold off to Mr Smith? Could that be the reason for our first meeting?

I froze.

Just as she was about to continue, the doorbell rang. I stood to get it. It was the mail carrier. I took the mail from him, thanked him, and returned to where I was seated, shutting the door behind me.