"I'm a big girl"

"Will you shut up your mouth".
Sarah Ann's mother yelled, fury written all over her. Tall, slender, beautiful, Sarah. Looking at her you would never believe that she was a mother of two grown ladies. But with anger, the wrinkles around her face exposed themselves and gave up her age. She was in her early fifty's but she glowed and that was something to be proud of. Ann must have done something wrong this time.

"There she goes again" Ann rolled her eyes making sure her mum didn't notice, cause if she did, Ann knew she would definitely become a goner, she smiled within.

The image of her mum lashing out on her whenever she had any sort of problem with her dad always lingered in Ann's little head. It gave her nightmares at her younger age, and now it made her blank out for a second or two
She always tried to fight against the aftermath of her mum's behaviour but well, it didn't work. Being out of reality for few seconds was actually a relief, she learnt to live with it.

It's normal. She always told herself.

"I'm talking and your talking. Are you mad?" Sarah thundered, Ann didn't move or shake, it was normal, she repeated in her head.

"Will you leave my sight this moment. Stupid thing, little devil" Sarah finalized, hissed and walked into the kitchen still muttering some words to herself. Ann cared less.

With a hiss in her mind she walked upstairs to their room. On opening the door, she met Angel laughing, Ann had to join her. It was a normal routine for them. After one gets shouted at, they unite and laugh it off. Angel and Ann were more close than sisters. They were sisters but there was something more.

Laughing at themselves was the only way to relief them of the anger in their chests.

"I hate her, I hate them. They made life miserable for my sister and I" Ann screamed in her mind. She always had something to say but none ever comes out. Always quiet with the screaming voice in her head. It was just her, her sister and the voice.

Angel was her saving grace. Ann looked up Angel for everything. It was just two of them against the world, against their parents. Being three years older than her, she provided some kind of security that Ann had wanted so badly.

Being older didn't exempt Angel from the regular scolding, she too couldn't speak. She had her own demons to fight, she was also lonely but she had to be strong for her younger sister, provide every bit of comfort she could afford.

"I can't wait to get back to school" Angel murmured after their meaningless out burst of laughter. She was arranging her box. Clothes, shoes, toiletries she threw them into her large box as if she was running. Yes she was running away. Running from the madness, running from her home, what an irony.

"Ann, I know you will get admission. I promise you that. You will call me, I bet you". Angel reassured Ann. She gave her a warm smile. It was almost as if she could read Ann's mind. Ann desperately wanted to leave with her. That's was her only wish. To follow her out of the misery. Out of it all.

"Ann you will be fine".
Angel reassured her, she knew Ann was scared of being left alone.

"Who would laugh with her?" Angel thought, a tear drop rolled down her eyes. She was fast to wipe it off with her hands. Seeing Ann cry was the last thing she needed right now. She wanted to leave her younger sister with all laughs and byes. It was impossible tho.

Ann gave her a nod. She just starred at her, watching her zip up her large suitcase. She was too weak to talk, it was written all over her, head bent, lost look, weary eyes all that showed that at that moment that if she had opened her mouth, only tears will flow. She had to put myself together.

I have to be strong for my sister. I'm a big girl

A/N: I know most of us can relate. Well this is Ann's story, it reflects us as African children.