Love And Truth Untold

Shirley stood up early to prepare for work the next morning only to find her mother standing by the corner of the room.Out of fear she jumped out of bed grabbing  the duvet to cover her half naked body.

"Mom what are you doing here"?

She waited for a reply but got none from the woman standing before her. Shirley used this opportunity to take in her mother's appearance; she looked like a mentally disabled patient, dirty clothes, nails, brown teeth.. everything about her was simply unappealing.

"I need some money". The woman said jolting Shirley from her thoughts. Shirley scoffed angrily.

"I said I need some money brat". The woman repeated impatiently.

Shirley refused giving the woman any answers but walked to her cupboard to bring out her work clothes. The woman ran like a mad dog toward the cupboard pushing Shirley out of the way. She brought out an old metal box for saving and tried breaking it open with her hands.

"Ryan said he needs money for school. My boy is hungry, he needs to eat. Your father isn't back from work yet.. please Shirly your baby brother is hungry please". The woman cried, scratching her hair and body like she was running mad.

Shirley remained on the ground. Watching her own mother suffer like this brought a lot of pain to her heart, her eye had already become flooded with tears. She was at  a loss.

She closed the gap between them and gently stretched her hand towards the woman.... but instead of taking it the woman shifted back in fear.

"Mom"?. Shirley called confused.

"Don't touch me you evil girl. You killed my husband and my son. Don't touch me"?

"I didn’t kill anyone mom, I promise".

Shirley sighed sadly. She didn't want to do this but did she have any other option. "Okay I'll give you money for Ryan".

A bright smile appeared on the woman face. "You will"?.

"Yes, I will". As Shirley searched her work bag for money, the smile on her mother's face slowly  vanished as if she realised something. "But how will he take the money when he is dead?, you killed him!!!".

Before Shirley could process everything, her mother jumped on her with every single strenght she possessed sending both of them to the ground.

"Murderer, you pathetic merciless murderer. Someone call the police, I've caught a murderer".

The woman pinned Shirley to the ground, scratching and pinching while Shirley screamed for help.

*

Mrs Lancanster sat before a crying Sarah and  a completely silent Adon.

"Adon, what do you have to say about this allegation"? Mrs Lancaster asked slowly as if counting every word that came out of her mouth.

"Nothing mom, I have nothing to say". Adon replied nonchalantly.

Mrs Lancaster took a deep breath. "So, Sarah is telling the truth. You're cheating on her".

"I'm not cheating on her mom, she lying...."

Sarah didn't wait for him to finish before interrupting. "Lying, I'm lying. Adon, even if I'm lying, pictures don't lie. You were flirting with that waitress right before my eyes. Holding her and looking into her eyes seductively".

"Flirting... do you even know what you're saying". Adon asked.

Sarah smiled painfully. "You know what?, it's over between us.. I want a divorce".

Sarah turned to Mrs Lancanster. "Mother, I respect you a lot but I cannot be married to a man who has made my life a living hell. My mental and emotional health are at stake right now... I can't anymore. You, Adon will hear from my lawyer".

She picked up her bag and walked away. At the door, away from sight she wiped her face and gave a triumphant smile.

"Yessss!!!! I finally did it. I'm almost finally free from Adon, on my way to becoming single again".

Adon didn't need a soothsayer tell him that behind his mother's silence and calm eyes there was a volcanoe waiting to erupt. Despite their closeness, right now he wouldn't dare speak or defend himself for fear of what his mother might say.

But how was it his fault?, right now he felt more than thankful to God for getting rid of this huge obstacle for him.

He was still lost in thought when a voice came from the entrance . "No one is getting divorved".

*

Shirley managed to escape from her mother, the neighbours called the police and they took her mom away. Right now she was seated with her best friends in her totally messed up apartment 

They were staring at her angrily, especially Charlotte. Everytime she got in a situation like this with her mother, James was usually the understanding person  while Charlotte kept asking the same question over and over again.

"Why won't you take her to a mental home for treatment". Charlotte asked.

"There she goes again". Shirly mumbled.

"She's not mad, Charlotte.. she's just going through a tough phase". Shirley replied.

"Oh you mean the tough phase that happened 6 years ago....? You mean the though phase you got over?.... you mean the though phase that......."?.

"Charlotte stop it". James shouted at her.

"Please James, we need to tell her the truth". Charlotte said glaring hard at him.

"And is this how to tell her the truth, your words are hurting her Charlotte. Not everybody is like you; able to take anything and everything".

Charlotte scoffed at him and got ready to give a befitting answer but Shirley quickly intervened.

"Enough both of you.. enough. My mother isn't mad, she'll be fine, she just needs time".

Charlotte closed the gap and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.  "It's been six years since the incident Shirley, six years and she has only gotten worse. Fine, if you are worried about the payment for her treatment, I and James can help you out with that. Right James". 

James nodded.

"I don't need you both to pity me, she not mad and that's final". Shirley replied back picking up her bag.

Charlotte was beginning to loose her cool again with Shirley's reply. "She almost killed you.. what would have happend if there was no one around to intervene". Charlotte said with gritted teeth.

"Well, i'm still alive".

"And where do you think you're going with scratch marks all over".  A concerned James asked.

"The Cafe.. I know Mrs Benson is going to sack me for real this time".

*

Light came on a dark shabby room and quickly fade away as Charlotte entered and closed the door shut. She stood by the corner awaiting permission to fully come in.

There were three men in the room, 2 were smoking and inhaling white stuffs while the last was staring at his phone as If awaiting  a call.

"Arrgggghhhh". The one holding the phone groaned In anger.

"Calm down Paul, she said she'll come". One of the guys smoking said to him.

"She never fails to keep her promise". Paul said emotionally which made Charlotte suprised, of all the years she has spent with Paul, she had never seen him be like this and who is the "she" He was referring to?

"Calm down man, besides your bitch is here already. She gonna make you forget all you worries".

Immediately Paul turned around to face Charlotte, a wide smile spread on his face.

"Mamacita". He called.... come in, why are you standing by the entrance"?

Charlotte became confused, Paul always told her to wait for permission before entering into the room. Why was he being nice today?. He definitely has something in plan for her.

"The both of you out". Paul commanded.

After the other two had left, Charlotte started taking off her clothes in a seducing manner while Paul licked his lips ferociously.

"Today is gonna be a little diffrent Mamacita". Paul said, his eyes not leaving her small framed body.

He pushed her violently on the bed and went to a corner of the room.

After a while, Charlotte heard dangling sounds.

"Oh no, please God.. please let it not be". She prayed in her heart.

Immediately Paul turned, he raised the big chains with an evil smile on his face.

Her fears were confirmed, he is going to torture her. Tears gathered by the corner of her eyes as she laid motionless. She couldn't run away neither could she scream because the last time she did, Paul and his friends took turns with her until she passed out.

After chaining her, he took out his horse whip and began whipping her with it.

Her screams filled the room. "Please Paul, I'll do anything you want, please don't do this please Paul I beg you in God's name".

Paul scoffed. "God... God..?"

He whipped her harder as if the name she just called irritated him. 

"What's my name mamacita"?. 

"Paul, your name is Paul". Charlotte replied, swallowing the pain she was feeling.

"Who owns you"?

"You Paul, you own me". She replied again through gritted teeth.

"Who owns your body"? He asked, but got no reply.

"Who else has been touching you"?. He asked again.

"Just you Paul... just you"?. She replied in between hot and painful tears.

"Liarrr"? Paul screamed at her.

Charlotte's body was already filled with blood and scars, old and new. She finally passed out but it didn't stop Paul from having his way with her.

James stood few feets away from the very ugly building... Hearing Charlotte scream in pain like that sent a rushing feeling of rage through his veins.

The bastard still had the guts to fuck her. Paul was groaning so loud, James could hear.

"Your days are numbered bastard.. just a little more time".

*

"Well, you're lucky... Mrs Benson isn't around today, else you would have crawled out of this Cafe without any money".

"Thank you Anna, I really appreciate everything you do for me". Shirley said.

"Well, you have to fix your own problems, I won't always be here, you know that right"?

Shirley nodded slowly.

"Clean up before you leave, it's supposed to be a punishment, but I bet you can handle it. Byee".

Anna left the cafe leaving just Shirley to clean up.

Shirley began singing and suddenly the Cafe door slid open followed by clearing of the throat.

"Sorry, we're closed for the day, come back tomorrow".

She heard the clearing of throat again and turned around, immediatly a hard slap landed on her cheek.

*

Adon sat on a couch opposite Sarah's. He watched her drink herself to stupor simply because her father refused giving permission for their divorce and threatened to disown her if she went against his orders.

Adon scoffed. "You must hate me so much".

"Is there another guy"? He said again but got no reply.

"His name is Paul right"?.

Sarah shot him a look. "Have you been stalking me"?

"What does he have that I don't?. Answer me Sarah what does this Paul have that I don't."

Sarah scoffed. "Kill yourself".

"Right". Adon picked up his car keys and left the house.

Sarah picked up her phone and saw that she had several missed calls. In anger she flunged the phone across the sitting room and burst into tears.