“Your mother didn’t abandon you because you didn’t die. She hung herself because she couldn’t.”

“’Because she couldn’t’? Because she couldn’t what? Kill me?” Michael couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of his grandpa’s lips. “Why?” he asked.

“We never wanted you in our life. We despised you! She was raped by some mad man and that’s why you were born!” grandpa spit his words without any guilt. Tears formed in Michael’s eyes as the weight of those words hit him. Landing on his knees, he let himself go as he whimpered quietly.

And then, the clock in the room started chiming. It was 12am.

Michael snorted, “What a wonderful birthday gift.” He looked at the old man who rose from his chair. He walked to Michael who was still on his knees, staring at the floor.

“I still remember that horrible night,” grandpa said approaching Michael.

“It was past 10pm and she showed up at my doorstep, full pregnant. She was in labour. I thought she had died because she was missing for months. But there she was. Skinny and bony, I thought she was a ghost.

That man, after raping her, had kept her tied for nine months until that very night. The bruise on her wrists, her sunken eyes, protruding bones. Nothing about her was alive, except the pain you were causing being inside her. And then you were born. I didn’t think your mother would live past that night. But she was strong. She had Abiel’s blood in her veins.”

Michael scoffed, “She lived because she wanted to kill me.”

Grandpa stepped closer, watching the fallen boy, “But she couldn’t. That is why I had to keep my eye on you all the time. Even as you grew up, you didn’t resemble us; not by looks or actions. No, you looked like your father. I was ashamed to admit of your existence. You are a disgrace and even I couldn’t get rid of you!”

Michael screamed and he pushed grandpa who fell on his back. Michael climbed upon him, pulling out his belt.
Tightening it around the neck of the man under him, he screamed, “How is that my fault? How is any of that my fault?“

He watched the man squirm due to lack of breath. He said, “I’m glad to die than live in a world with you in it.”

Michael tightened the pull on the belt, taking out all his anger he said,“Then die!” He watched the old man’s eyeball disappear into his head as he shivered, veins popping on his neck.

A few seconds, and then everything was still.

Michael fell back as he let go of the belt. He took in deep breaths as he looked at grandpa’s lifeless body.

Shit. The realization dawned on him a second later.

I killed somebody. I just killed somebody. I killed father.

He scooted back a few steps from the body that lay idle in the middle of the room. There was an eerie stillness in the room, and Michael noticed how he wished for some movement.

Suddenly, a blinding pain went across his heart. Michael screamed in pain as he clutched his chest and fell back. With the pain getting to his head, he felt his nails dig into his skin. Eyes shut tightly, he squirmed on the floor until he passed out from the pain.

**

“Where is that guy?”
“If Sir Antonio finds out that he has left the premises, he’ll be in big trouble.”
“Let’s just wait for a few more minutes.”

It was 5am and the world was asleep.
However, James, Anya, Grace, Thomas, Sia and Leila were waiting quietly in a classroom, for the birthday boy since 12am. While Sia and James enjoyed being out late night, the rest were bored out of their minds, but more than that, they were worried.

“If Sir Antonio doesn’t punish him, I will!” Anya was scared, for him, and frustrated at his absence. Thinking over the conversation he had with Thomas earlier, she was more scared.

“I need some air,” she said and stood up. Thomas watched her leave the room, his leg shaking restlessly.

Anya walked through the campus, making way to the boy’s dorm room. She tugged tightly at her jacket wrapping herself to escape the cold. All the buildings, all except the prayer room, were in darkness as the lights were off. Far off in the distance, she saw a guard making rounds. Judging by his speed, he seemed to be in a hurry. And then it hit her. It wasn’t a guard. It was Michael.

“Michael!” she called as she caught up to him, “Where were you?”

Michael turned around and gave her a look. “Stay away from me,” he said and continued walking. For a second, she stood rooted to her spot. She noticed how his clothes were dirty and he was sweating profusely. He looked angry and terrified at the same time. She followed him.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked catching up to him. Michael ignored her and walked ahead.

“Michael!” frustrated, she caught his arm and asked, “Did you know we were waiting for you since midnight? It's your birthday Michael and we wanted to celebrate with you!”

“Birthday,” Michael gave a sarcastic laugh. He turned to her and said, “You want to help me? Tell me where I'll find Sir Antonio right now.”
“Right now?” she asked, and Michael nodded.

“I… I don’t know,” she hung her head, disappointed with herself.
“Then stay here, and don’t follow me.” Michael started walking when, “I know where he is!” Anya said out loud.

Michael walked ahead to the prayer room, the only room where lights were on at the time. Anya followed him closely behind. Upon reaching the room, Michael pushed open the door and walked in. it was dark inside but the fire pit was alive and roaring.
Michael watched from the balcony but couldn’t see anyone in sight. He climbed down the stairs to the center and looked around for Sir Antonio. Anya followed him down.

“Michael, I needed to talk to you about something,” Anya said, as she climbed down, “it's about the conversation you had with Thomas.”

Michael stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at her. She continued, “I know you have some issues about your mother. But attacking Thomas on this matter doesn’t seem very fair. Your mother is different from his. All mothers aren’t the same. All women aren’t the same.”

She stopped talking and waited for a response. But Michael was silent. It was too quiet and only the faint sound of the burning fire could be heard.
Michael’s back was to the fire. While half of his face was hidden in the shadow, only the other half was visible. The half that she could see, terrified her.

“Why do you like me, Anya?” he asked.