THIS BOOK WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS ‘BEHIND HER SMILE: HER PLIGHT' BUT IT'S NOW TITLED ‘AFTER THE PAST'.

I'm dedicating this chapter to TomiGrace_xx for the lovely advice and comments she gave on my last book 'SECRETS'.

Thank you so much dear😘💓

Also check out her story 'Breaking Those Shadows'. It is a must read.

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"Memories bring back,
memories bring back
you..." Memories - Maroon 5
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Davina's POV

The voices in my head hit me from every angle. Each word they spew is more poisonous than the last. Slicing through me with increased precision each time.

Tears slip through my closed eyes as all the words are repeated over and over in my head. I want nothing more than to sleep but as soon as my head hits the pillow, all the voices come rushing in.

I am tired. I don't want to think of this, especially not now. Not when tomorrow is the beginning of a fresh chapter for me. A clean slate to begin anew.

A new place. A new school. A new set of people. A fresh start.

These thoughts comfort me a bit, gradually lulling me into a tumultuous sleep.

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Putting on my long sleeved orange dress shirt, dark blue high waist flare skirt with a bolo tie and blazer of the same colour to complement it, I am dressed for school.

The uniform actually has a surprisingly nice fitting on me with the skirt stopping somewhere around my mid thigh but the long socks I wear covers the excess skin.

I simply pull my full, curly natural hair into a ponytail and proceed to fold it into a bun while letting some fall to the front in form of a bang.

Gelling my edges and applying a rose tinted lip gloss is enough to complete my look for my first day at Primridge High. My nerves are getting the best of me at the fact that I am resuming in SS2 second term. When all the new students at the beginning of the session would have probably found their place in the school.

It is improbable that there will be another new student and this does absolutely nothing to soothe me.

Letting out a deep sigh, I grab my school bag and make my way downstairs. Silently praying not to collide with my cousins, Aidan and Nadia Adichie.

Each click my slightly heeled school shoes makes with the tiled floor reminds me that this isn't my house. Restamps in my mind how I had run for my life to my aunt's home to begin anew.

Being away from home is a bittersweet feeling in the sense that I am free now but it still feels as though I am leaving something behind.

I am safe here. I know I do not have to worry about home anymore but this thought does not really help in calming the growing feeling of dread that threatens to consume me.

The harsh scraping sound of a chair alerts me to the fact that I am now in the dining room, staring blankly at my aunt and her family as they ate breakfast.

The twins do nothing to hide their obvious distaste at my presence as they brush past me and out of the dining area even as their mother calls them back.

"Aidan! Nadia! Come back here you two!"

My aunt is left blatantly ignored as they storm out of the house most likely on their way to school.

I can't deny the way my heart tears to shreds at their behaviour towards me. They don't have to feel sorry for me, I don't need their sympathy. All I want is for them to let me be without having to do things like this.

Ever since I got here last week, I could not breathe. The unpleasant aura they exude is choking. I try as much as possible to avoid them and maintain my lane but us crossing paths is inevitable.

“Good morning, Uncle Chidi and Auntie Nenye." My voice comes out sadder than I expect. I don't even bother to take a seat at the table, my appetite is long gone.

“Morning, my dear." My aunt responds, gazing at me through unhappy eyes. I have to avert my eyes from hers because it makes me feel even worse.

My aunt walks over to where I stand and gently turns my head to face her. A thousand unspoken words flash through her eyes as she regards me with an emotion akin to pity.

It is really difficult staring into her eyes like that. Not just because my mum is her twin, though not identical but they have strikingly similar eyes. The same shiny brown orbs she has passed on to me.

“They aren't usually like this." Auntie Nenye tells me,“ I guess they are still adjusting to everything. It's going to be hard for them too, you know?"

She is right.

It will not be a walk in the park to just accept and adjust to someone moving into their home – becoming a part of their family. Even though you are their biological cousin, it isn't that easy.

“I apologise for their behaviour but please, Vina. Please I'm begging you to bear with them. I'll speak to Aidan and Nadia too to take it easy on you. Things aren't going well for you also."

My eyes burn like I will cry anytime soon but I bite down on the inside of my cheeks to stop myself from breaking down. I bite down so hard till I start to taste blood and then, I let go.

What hurts me the most is the fact that they know what happened. They know the reason why I have to move in with them, maybe not the details but they still know. Yet, they choose to resent me for situations beyond my control.

I finally nod in response to what Auntie Nenye had told me.

“Thank you." She mutters,“I'll have Onome pack your breakfast for you. Just wait for me in the car, I'll be out soon to drop you off at school."

Uncle Chidi remains silent all through what had happened, as he isn't a man of many words. From the much I know about him, I need no soothsayer to tell me that he will join hands in speaking to his children.

I only sigh and force myself out of the house, already dreading what the school day will bring.

A/N

How do you guys view this chapter?

W

hat kind of person do you perceive Davina to be?

Word Count: 1173

Love,
Riri🌹