Chapter 7:

          I wiped the tears that gathered in my face and stopped a taxi that would take me back home. Home to another Austin problem. 

    

      As I entered the taxi, I laid my head on the window and looked out. The streets had yellow beaming light which made the street light up in the dark. 

    Tears gathered in my eyes, I shouldn't be crying but my dad was very mean. He hated me even before I was born. After I was born, he made me suffer. 

   He would make me skip meals anything I did something wrong. I was just five when my father made it mandatory for me to stop playing and face school work and his office work. 

   He would hit me anytime I did something wrong. That added to the reason I started wearing baggy clothes. One day, he dragged my hair until strands of it fell to the floor. I cut my hair short after that day and vowed to never keep my hair again. 

   I was his daughter but he hated me. He didn't want to see me and was bent on ruining my life that is why I had to run away. 

   ”Ma'am” A slight tap excluded me from my thought. I turned in the middle-aged-looking driver's direction after wiping my tears. 

   ”We are at the address ma'am” He announced without looking at me. 

  I was in a long thought that I didn't realize the car had halted in front of my apartment. I paid the drive man and walked out, shutting the door with a deep sigh. 

  I walked through the pavement then into the duplex house. When I first met with the very nice housekeeper, I had just half of the normal rental fee with me hoping he would accept it and I'll work for the remaining. God being good to me, the house was cheaper. I had thought the house would be a small cottage apartment like a boys' quarter. 

  However, when I got to this duplex, I was marveled. I didn't believe such a big house would be at such a cheap rate. I believe God answered my prayers and that was why I got such a nice house at a nice rate. 

   Although Austin can be a little annoying, I would endure all until I'm done with school so he wouldn't send me away. There was no way I would get a place at a cheap rate. 

    As I stepped in, I looked around the fancy living room which was painted in white. My house trailed to the stairs which disappeared into two walls that contained the rooms. 

   I was relieved when I didn't see Austin, I walked in fully and shut the door slowly like a thief. Having done that, I tiptoed to the stairs, taking each step like a buccaneer.

     I was about to take the last step which would lead me to the narrow way that contained our rooms. However, as I did, I missed my leg and fell, which caused me to roll down the stairs with a loud thud. 

     ”Owwww!” I exclaimed and rubbed my butt. My lips went into each other and I unknowingly licked my dry lips in pain. I looked up the stairs I had fallen from, it was a long fall but I was more worried about Austin noticing my presence. 

    Thankfully, I had no response. I thought he wasn't around so I picked myself up from the floor and started another journey to my room. 

    Successfully, I got to my room, shut the door, and sat on my white bed. I heaved a huge sigh, roughed my short hair, and slept on the bed. I was so tired that I dozed off immediately. 

  

    ”Dimple! Dimple! wake up, my dear” The slight tap touched my shoulder and I opened my eyes gradually. As I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but white and I was sleeping on a white fluffy ground. 

   I looked in the direction whoever tapped me was, I was surprised to see my mother in a white short gown. A smile appeared on her face and she looked beautiful. Her black hair was long and beautiful, a pearl earring hung in her ear beautifully.

    ”Mom” I called with a smile and surprise. She looked at me beautifully then raised her hand to cup my face. 

 

     ”Baby, I love you and I'm being strong for you. Do not think too much about anything because we'll be fine”

       She smiled, roughed my short hair, and pulled me into a hug. Suddenly, I heard sniffles of cries behind my back. My mom had started to cry, she disengaged from me and her beautiful face turned pale. 

      ”It hard! It's really hard”

  She cried. I tried to hold her hand but she withdrew and stood up. I stood up with her, as I tried to touch her, she began to dissipate into the air.

  Tears gathered in my eyes, my hazel eyes met her blue ones until she was out of sight. 

    ”Mom!” I cried out with a yell. I quickly sat up looking at every angle with my heart beating like a drum. Sweats formed on my head, I wiped them away and looked sideways. 

     ”Mom?” I called out softly, the tears I didn't know has gathered in my eyes fell down my face. I stood up and made my way out my door, I needed to drink water to cool my nerves. 

   I opened my door slowly, peeked my eyes through to avoid being seen by Austin. Thankfully, I walked down the stairs without falling. I walked to the kitchen, sight the fridge, and took out bottled water which I sent into my mouth immediately, sucking the liquid down my already dried throat. 

   As I did, I turned my head to the doorpost, and what I saw made me choke on the water in my throat. 

    I removed the bottle and bent over coughing my lungs out. No, I must be dreaming. It was not what I saw. I raised my head again and... Yes, I wasn't dreaming. It was really what I saw.