Numb.

There is no greater blessing than a family hand that lifts you from a fall; but there is not a lower curse than a family hand that strikes you when you're down.

                                                                                                                                      -Wes Fessler

Leticia.

Her mother lived in one of the high-end estates in Lekki, and Campbell estate was one of those. The distance from Campbell to Cruiseville, although far,  was walkable.

Having no money on her, she decided to walk the distance, at least she would get where to lay her head for the night.

Leticia knew very well how dangerous it was to roam the streets of Lagos at such an ungodly hour, but she had no choice. Her stomach ached and rumbled in protest.

The gate of cruiseville appeared in sight and she couldn't be happier. Finally, she thought with a small smile.

She reached the front of the gate and rang the bell.

"Who be that?" A gruff voice called from the security lodge.

 [Trans: who is that]

She heard some shuffling and the man opened the gate, yawning with droopy eyes. "Wetin you de find?"

[What do you want]

"Oga no vex, I come visit my mother," she replied.

[Please do not be angry sir, I came to see my mother]

"Why you no come since na, you just disturb pesin sleep now," he complained.

[Why did you not come earlier? You interrupted my sleep]

"I take God beg you oga, no vex, I no go do am again," she pleaded.

[I beg you in the name of God not to be angry sir, I won't repeat it]

He gave her a grumpy stare and opened the gate wide for her to step in. She thanked the man profusely and scurried in.

Leticia got to the gate of her mother's mansion. With a sigh of relief, she proceeded to knock on the gate when it was thrown open. The heavily bronzed door hit her head severely and she staggered back. 

The security man opened it wider, motioning for her to enter, which she did with a word of gratitude, regaining her posture and massaging the spot where she was hit.

She rang the doorbell and waited.

The door opened to reveal the figure of her older brother, Noah. 

"Good evening, brother," she greeted. 

"What is good about the evening? Why are you here at this time?" He rebutted in an irritated tone.

"I...Uh...I..."

He was getting more irritated by the minute and she could the frown lines forming on his forehead. "Talk joh, Ahn ahn!" He berated.

"Just let me in, please," she said.

He glared at her, stepping out of the way.

As she entered, the first thing she saw was the silhouette of her mother, Victoria Adama, on the three-seater couch. Normally, her mother would be asleep by this time, so it was strange.

Had she heard of it?

She shook her head in the negative, the news could not have travelled so fast. Her instincts were telling her otherwise.

If it was that her mother had heard of it, then she was in deep trouble.

"Good evening mommy." Before she was given a chance to think, her ears rang with the gravity of the slap. She did not even know when her mother stood up from the chair, not to talk of reaching her at the far end of the parlour where she stood.

She held the side of her face, trying her best not to shed tears. She was very sure the slap had formed a mark already.

"Mommy, I-" Another slap, with the back of her hand this time. Leticia staggered back, feeling her tears starting to drip again.

"You this useless girl, must you always bring shame to me?! What am I hearing? You stole your husband's money, and you were trying to have an affair with one of his workers? Are you crazy? What have I ever done to deserve a wicked child like you?" She yelled.

Leticia let her tears fall, it had reached her mother's ears.

"I did not steal his money mommy, I swear." She tried to defend herself, praying inwardly that her mother would believe her.

"Shut up that dirty mouth of yours!" She yelled again, hitting her a third time. She grabbed Leticia by her hair, shoving her to the ground.

Leticia tried to hold her mother's descending hands, sobbing and pleading for her to believe her. She tugged her hand away from its grip on hers, landing a series of slaps at Leticia's back.

By the time she was done beating her to her satisfaction, she stood up from the ground, kicking her shin.

"Noah, please help me beg mommy to believe me, I didn't steal Maverick's money, I swear to God I don't know anything about it," she whimpered as her head and back throbbed, pleading to her brother who stood by the door, watching everything without a word. He shifted his gaze from her as if he did not hear what she said.

Her mother scoffed, "Look at you, disgusting pig. I told you never to step foot in this house after your wedding, right? So what are you doing here? See ehn, I don't want you to bewitch my children, since you want to be a witch, go and join your coven members. My house is not a place to entertain witches like you." 

"I, Victoria, married a useless thing like you, that is not worth the title of a human being, talk more of a woman to Maverick. The poor boy accepted you, as ugly and unappealing as you are, stayed in that marriage with you for almost four years, without cheating oh! And instead of you to live in gratitude with him for the rest of your life, the best you can do is to steal from him?" Her tears continued to stream down, she bowed her head in shame. She was worthless, and she did not deserve Maverick, there was no denying that.

"On a normal note, no man would want to jeopardize his life by getting married to a worthless girl. If worthlessness was a person, that would be you. And you are not ashamed to be stealing his money, begging the other one to date you." Her mother let out a high pitched chuckle.

"Oh God, you are very funny oh, Leticia. What even made you think that the man would accept to be your boyfriend?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"No be say you manage fine oh (it's not like you're beautiful). I'm even tired of seeing this your repulsive face. Just leave my house and never come back again."

Her eyes widened and she crawled to her mother's feet. "Ah! Mommy please, don't do this to me, I have nowhere to go," she begged.

"That is none of my business. Just get out!" She rebutted.

Her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach. If she was sent away from here again, then there was no place for her to go. She suppressed a shiver as images of living on the streets or under bridges filled her head.

It was terrifying.

"Please mommy, please, I beg you. Noah, please help me, I'm sorry please, I did not take it. I have nowhere to go if I leave here again." She wailed hysterically, literally grovelling at her mother's feet.

"I said I don't care!" Victoria yelled.

"Okay, let me just stay till morning, I'll go before you wake up, after that, I won't come again, please."

"Get out! Out!" She pushed Leticia towards the door.

"Mommy please, anything can happen to me if I go. What if they kidnap me, or kill me?" Everywhere went silent, and her mother stopped pushing her. She heaved a sigh of relief.

Maybe she had understood her, Leticia thought.

"If they kidnap you? I'll pray for them to help me kill you."

Another chapter done! Thank you, everyone, for coming this far, your reads, votes, comments, and supports are appreciated.

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