Chapter 1 LEAVING!!?

REBECCA

I could literally hear my heart pumping so loudly while my hands shaked in fear.

“Why is this taking so much time to load? This is so nerve-racking.” Eva, my best friend, said as she started to chew her nails.

We both stared at the computer with anxiety in our system while it was still loading.

Then it stopped.

I shut my eyes and prayed in my heart. I am so scared to open my eyes to look at the screen.

I was interrupted by the loud bloody scream of Eva.

I jumped in fright and opened my eyes instantly.

“What happened?”

I questioned.

“LOOK BECKS. OUR NAMES ARE ON THE LIST. WE GOT THE ADMISSION.” she screamed out.

“Are you serious?” I asked in disbelief because it felt like it hasn’t sinked in yet.

“I fucking swear to you. Here…..” she moved the computer to me. “….. see for yourself.”

I bent to look at the screen properly.

REBECCA STEPHEN.

It was in capital letters.

The scream slipped out of my lips before it registered in my brain.

“I got in. I GOT INNNN!!!!!!!!!”

I start to jump and scream.

Eva stood up and hugged me as we both jumped together not minding that we were in a cafe and people are staring at us.

“Oh my goodness. I still can’t believe this. Is this real?” I asked.

“Yes it is. It is so real. We are going to Barhamas College.” she squealed.

I rushed to pick my phone to dial my mother’s number to tell her the good news.

“Mu……..” I started all excited but I was cut off.

“Good thing you called. Becky where are you? Start running home right now.” she said before hanging up.

Did I do anything wrong this time or am I in any sort of trouble?

“I think am in trouble. My mum wants me at home right now.”

“Huh? What did you do this time?” Eva gave me a curious stare.

“I can’t remember doing anything that will get me into trouble. I need to run home now.” I stood up.

“Be safe okay.” she smiled.

“Thank you Eva.”

I gave her a quick hug before running off.

The cafe is just a ten minute walk to my house so running made it faster to get home.

I opened the front gate and the sight that welcomed me were of different men in a single uniform moving out with different furnitures from my house.

A tiny frown formed in my forehead as I watched them take our things into a trunk.

Who the hell are they and why are they taking our things?

Then I remembered my mum.

I hope she is okay?

I panicked as I rushed inside to search for my mum.

It didn’t take so long to find her. She was talking to an elderly man.

The first thing I did was to scan her body with my eyes to see if this strange men hurt her but I didn’t find anything.

They didn’t hurt her.

Her eyes met mine and she gave me a small smile.

“Oh that is my daughter over there. Come here Becky.” she called.

I moved closer and stood by her side.

“Mummy what’s going on here? Where are they taking our things?” I asked her.

“Let’s talk upstairs. Excuse us Mr Drew, I need to have a word with my daughter.” she gave the man a warm smile.

She held my hand and dragged me upstairs into my bedroom which was almost empty.

“Mummy what is going on?” I questioned my mother.

“Am sorry you had to find out this late but we are leaving.” she said calmly.

“Is it because of work? Were you transferred?” I asked her calmly.

“No I am not. I submitted my resignation letter yesterday.”

She is hiding something from me.

Then I remembered my admission.

“But mum, I just got admission to college. We can’t leave. What about my education? You know how much I really wanted to study in dad’s school.”

Her eyes softened and she let out a soft smile.

“I knew you can do it. Congratulations on your admission my brilliant daughter.”

I felt a spark of hope in her words.

“So am I staying here?” I asked her.

Her smile dropped and I already felt I know the answer but I still held on the little hope in my heart.

“You can’t stay here Becky. We are leaving together. Don’t worry, there are better colleges in the country we are moving to.”

My stomach turned.

“Mum no. You make it sound like it is easy. You of all people should know how much this means to me. You can’t just tell me to leave it behind.”

“I am your mother and I can tell you anything. You must obey me.” her voice changed and began to sound sterner.

“Start packing your things because we are leaving this night. Our flight will be leaving by ten.”

Tears gathered in my eyes. I really don’t know why she doesn’t want to understand me.

Could her work be more important than me her only child?

“Mummy why do you have to choose your work over me? I am your daughter for crying out loud.” I let my thoughts out.

“It isn’t about work.” her voice went back to being calm.

“Then explain to me, what is more important than your own daughter?” I raised my voice.

“I GOT MARRIED TO SOMEONE.” she also raised her voice at me.

I stared at her hoping I heard wrong or she will laugh and tell me it was a prank.

“What? You are lying right?” My voice came out scratchy and hoarse when I broke the walls of silence.

She let out a sigh then in a low voice she answered.

“You know I don’t bluff like that. I am sorry you have to find out this way. But it just happened and there is no turning back. We need to go and stay with our new family.”

“What new family mum? Am I not enough for you?” angry tears dropped from my eyes.

“Don’t be selfish Rebecca. I have stayed for ten years mourning your dad who is gone and never coming back. You can’t just tell me to keep staying this way. I need someone and you need a dad too. I didn’t do this for me alone, but for the both of us.” she said.

“But I never told you I need another dad.”

“You don’t have to tell me. Soon you will understand why I am doing all this. Start packing.” she stood up.

I don’t care if she disowns me or hates me forever but there is no way I am going to leave everything and just go with her to a marriage I know nothing about in the first place. There is no way I am going to accept any stranger as my family. I am loyal to my dad and I won’t betray him like my mum.

“I am sorry Mummy but count me out. You can leave without me because I am not going.”