Adamma's Pov

The bike rider has barely stopped his vehicle when Mrs Helen runs towards us and pulls me into her embrace. She smells of curry and some other spice I can't place. "Where have you been, ehn? Do you know how worried I was?" She asks, turning me around and looking all over my body. I wince when I feel an ache in my waist.

"Sorry. What is it? I don't know why you stayed out late like this. Just take a look at the time." She says, sounding agitated. "You're supposed to be resting. You just came back from the hospital. You haven't even taken your afternoon drugs." I remain silent as she continues to rant.

She finally leads me into the house. Once Joseph sees us, he jumps from his seat. "Where were you?" He asks in a disturbingly calm voice.

I ignore him and make my way to a couch. The soft and cozy feel almost makes me sleep off but the curious eyes looking at me wouldn't really appreciate it if i did.

"Nene, I'm going to ask you this one last time and you better give me good answers. Where did you go after I left you at the tutorial? You don't even remember anywhere."

Upset at how he is addressing me, I stare up at him with a frown. "Don't yell at me." I reply.

"I'll speak to you however I want to. Do you know how worried we were? Where were you?"

"Joseph, just leave her. She's back and that's what's important." Mrs Helen says, holding unto Joseph's shoulder.

"I just need an answer. She should just tell me where she was, finish."

I sigh in exhaustion before resting my head backwards. "Did you know there was a fight outside?" I ask Joseph.

"Yes. Why do you think I'm so upset?" He replies at the same time Mrs Helen's eyes widens.

"There was what?" She asks, sounding astonished.

I guess she didn't.

Though extremely fatigued, I explain to them everything that happened today. Well, excluding a few minor details if you know what I mean.

"Wow. So we were right to be worried. Something could have happened to you. Living here becomes more and more dangerous everyday." Joseph says thoughtfully. He turns to me and my chest tightens at the heavy emotion in his eyes. It tightens even more when he pulls me in for an unexpected hug.

"I'm glad you're okay. Please don't do something like this again. If you're going anywhere, make sure I know about it somehow." He whispers in my ear.

I stare up at him through my lashes before nodding slowly. My arms on their own will go around his muscular frame. The smell of cooking spices intrudes my nostrils as I feel Mrs Helen join in the hug. I swallow a lump forming in my throat before sighing.

After a little while, I start to feel uncomfortable and decide to break the hug. "So..." I start before clearing my throat and shifting on the couch, "I'm really tired. I'll be going to bed now."

"Oh yeah but you'd have to take your drugs first." Joseph says, stretching his hand to reach for a small white nylon that I think contains my medicine.

"Yes and there's something I have to tell you...the both of you actually." Mrs Helen says, for some reason avoiding eye contact with either of us.

"Did something happen?" Joseph asks, handing me some tablets and a sachet of water. I gulp them down at once. Ugh...awful.

"Nothing. It's just that your daddy is getting released tomorrow." She says and I turn to her not quite understanding. I, of course, wondered at some point about my father. I mean, since I got here, I haven't seen any man claiming to be my father. Then again she said 'getting released', which leads me to my next question...

"Getting released from where?"

Mrs Helen doesn't seem to hear me as she continues to stare over my shoulder. I turn to see she's exchanging a quite intense look with Joseph.

Am I missing something?

"He's not coming back here. You can't let him." Joseph says, sounding angry.

"Where do you expect him to go? Is this not his house?" Mrs Helen replies and Joseph scoffs.

"But he's a criminal–"

"He was. And he has paid for his crimes so what is the problem." Mrs Helen says, looking like she's starting to get angry as well.

Of course by now, I've already caught on. My father is in prison and is getting released tomorrow. I feel a little sick at the thought. Another family member.

"Whatever abeg." Joseph says and leaves us on the couch.

He rounds a corner and the sound of a door slamming makes me jolt up.

"Wake your grandmother up, you hear?" Mrs Helen yells beside me, making me cringe.

A very uncomfortable silence lingers after that so I clear my throat before making to stand up. I'm already halfway through the room when Mrs Helen speaks up, "I'm not trying to get your hopes up but you were a daddy's girl and seeing him might bring back some memories. I hope it does."

I turn and nod unsurely before continuing on my way to the room I slept in yesterday.

—

"I'm going to pick up your father now. Stay here with Grandma. When we come back, all of us will go home." Mrs Helen says, packing some things into her black leather purse. I nod and remain seated on the wooden bench I have been sitting on since I got here. The pitter patter of the rain slowly increases, causing me to shift further into the shop to avoid getting wet.

"Nne, don't you think you should take an umbrella?" Mrs Loretta says with her back excessively resting on the white plastic chair. "This rain might become heavier than this before you get to that place." She says again, her words slurred and her voice croaking.

Mrs Helen looks thoughtful before she eventually agrees to take an umbrella. After she does, she heads out of the shop, leaving me alone with Mrs Loretta.

Before I can count to ten, Mrs Loretta falls asleep. Great. Now I'm all alone in this...place.

I lift my wrist to check the wristwatch Joseph had given me earlier this morning. It's already past three which means I've been here for five hours...and counting. Oh God.

I grunt in frustration before leaning my back on the wall behind me. In case you're wondering, I'm at the market, in Mrs Helen's shop to be specific. This morning I told them I didn't want to go to go to that tutorial place or whatever it's called and they thankfully agreed. Quite unfortunately though, Mrs Helen insisted I followed her and her mum here. A hiss escapes me at the thought.

I watch the annoying hyperactiveness of the sellers as they try to get buyers to stop by their store. How are they this energized? At this moment, I can't even lift my foot up without sighing.

"How much for this bag? Who's here? How much for this bag?" An extremely loud voice comes, intruding on my thoughts. My forehead squeezes as I pray the voice isn't directed at this shop.

"Who is here?" The feminine voice yells again. This time I make out a young lady carrying a black bag. We make eye contact and for some reason she scowls.

"Are you the one in charge of this shop? Didn't you hear me asking questions?"

"Oh I didn't know–"

"Sorry for yourself abeg."

Huh? When did I say sorry?

"How much is this bag?" She asks, lifting a red leather bag.

"I don't know. Drop it." I reply, already feeling irritated.

"I should drop it? Where's your mummy? Who is the owner of this shop?"

"Stop asking questions please. Also, get out. We're closed." I say, leaning my head back on the wall and shutting my eyes.

I feel my tummy rumble, reminding me I am yet to have lunch. I wonder what I'm going to have. I saw this woman roasting some corns earlier today. Actually I perceived the corn. Since then, it's safe to say I've been daydreaming about roasted corns. I'd probably just ask Mrs Loretta for some money and–

"Is this girl alright at all? Can you imagine the audacity of this brat?!" The now familiar screech says.

I thought she already left.

I sigh and sit up to see the lady fuming. Also, she is now inside the shop.

"There really is no need to yell. You're right in front of me." I say, starting to stand up. The lady lifts her hand about to strike me across the cheek but the sound of Mrs Loretta yelling stops her.

"Ehn? What is it? What are you trying to do?"

Mrs Loretta has a look on her face that somehow makes me scared. She isn't even looking at me. The lady backs up from me at once.

"I... I was– ma I came to buy bag and..."

"And decided to slap my daughter."

"No ma o." The girl interjects hurriedly, lifting both her arms in the air like a criminal. "I didn't slap her ma. Ask her nau. Did I slap you?" She says, turning to me. 

I stare at her not knowing what to reply so I shake my head.

Mrs Loretta's stance eases as she comes to give me a side hug. "Okay. Leave my shop. Leave my shop, my friend." She yells and the girl scurries away. Mrs Loretta mumbles something under her breath and it sounds a lot like Igbo insults. I don't know the meaning of what she says but it sounds funny so I chuckle.

Mrs Loretta's frown disappears at once as a smile takes over her face. "Have you eaten?"

I shake my head sideways, suddenly feeling excited. Roasted corn time.

I tell her how I want to buy roasted corn and she follows me to buy it at once. The cold from the drizzle that has already ceased sends a chill through me but we get to the roasted corn stand and the heat from the hot coal warms me up. I stand away from the road to prevent bumping shoulders or other body parts with the passers-by. While Mrs Loretta bargains with the corn seller, I bob my head to the beat of music coming from somewhere nearby. I'm doing this when I catch sight of a girl walking by. I squint my eyes at her as I start to get an odd sense of familiarity. She continues walking, occasionally stretching out her neck as if looking for something or someone. Her back is turned to me so I can't really make out her face. Still, I feel it in me that I know her. She turns in my direction as if sensing my gaze on her and our gazes lock. I'm not sure but I think her eyes widen. I continue staring at her trying to figure who she is or at least where I've seen her but she turns and walks away before I can. I start to walk in the direction she left in but Mrs Loretta stops me.

"Where are you going? Take your corn." I look from the corn wrapped in newspapers to the direction where the girl walked off in, contemplating what to do. Do i go after her? Nah. I decide against it, concluding it's probably just wrong instincts and even if, it's really not worth it. I collect the corn from Mrs Loretta and we head back to the shop.

After I'm done eating, I start to feel sleepy. It's already past four. Mrs Loretta says I can sleep inside. I gladly make my way inside the shop, using some of the clothes there as a pillow. The cool environment makes it easy to drift off. Though a little uncomfortable, I welcome the sleep.

I don't know how long I'm asleep but a gentle tap on my shoulder stirs me up from sleep.

"Kene, your daddy is here."

•••

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