the day I realised he no longer wanted me. It was hard, but still calling someone who didn't want me my father was absurd. So now, he went by Mr Johnson

I had to empathise with him whenever he was sorrowful and looking dishevelled and o

space. His white shirt, unbuttoned, his hair, rough and

he is drunk

d my cloth, whispering, "This is a wrong idea, pl

sister and sensed she was sca

or never. It's your decision, Tosin. Do w

his heart." I smiled at them as I ruffled Busola's hair. This was too much for just an eleven-year-o

art started beating abnorma

boundary by calling him 'Dad'. I bit the inside

I fearfully took another step to Mr Johnson

y, he sm

I please have a

there like a statue. His mind w

hroat due to the fear as beads of sw

I thought. I was chi

y presence and he turned to fa

unatic that wouldn't wait for a s

nt?" he asked, his

ily. I know how happy you were before it was closed down. You loved your job. I know it. It energised you and gave you happiness. But we are your family. Family," I said, emphasizing the last word. I decided to give him a pep talk maybe it could change him. Perhaps he needed someone to have faith in him that things w

t supposed to care. I should have been in my room. Locked up with my Bayo and Busola. I felt my h

e floor. "Who the hell are you, huh? You don't know what it feels like... Like..." Blows continued to land on my face as he said each word. "You think I am useless, huh Tosin?" A hard punch met m

dan to stay with my sister or stay here and get a hel

th. He must have rushed to the kitchen to get that. "You touch her again, and I promise to stab you with this knife. Just

osin that's telling you two to be courageous and have the g

aid, shrieking and moving backward

ola, who was already looking back at the wall she was leaning against as

e, Dad, please," Busola said, continuously begging as she sobbed which refrained him from laying his fingers on her. He then moved to Bayo unexpectedly and slapped him across

nd said, "If you ever teach my children nonsense about disr

h? I thought as I he

vage kick in my eyes. With pain and sadness, I began to

__

at. So neat and bright... The instant thought that I was in Heaven lite

be Heaven! I'm serio

ted into my vein which allowed the saline to pass into my body. I removed it as gently as I could but unfortunately, blood came out immediately. Well then, I guessed I m

, Busola, Bayo and granny, seate

r beat them all to death after I blacke

ressionlessly. Could it be that I was t

alise I was alive since I could see blood coming out after I

ive, I though

turned it thinking I wouldn't trade them for anything. M

n did to you," Mrs Biola Johnson

and bobbe

ful woman who didn't cross her boundaries and loved being by herself without in

I said, giving her

a to eat and talk?" Busola sugg

e, h

urgers and soft drinks, except for

lling you sooner. That was selfish of me. And it was because I didn't wa

ssion

en years of age. Beautiful, lovin

onally. We weren't rushing things. So when I turned twenty-six and still wasn't pregnant I became worried, by then I w

wed my eyebrows. I was shocked. "Wh

d hungry for love. She said she saw it in your eyes. And then, your Dad and I went to the orphanage and selected you. Did the necessary things

later, I had Bayo and then Busola after two years. See, I want you to know

my joy to see my son like that. Thinking he's so useless. And with the

be fine," my adopted mother said

en? I mean she's not getting kic

ontinue living with us and you aren't going to stay with my sister-in-law, okay? And your education continues. Right now, I have gotten a job as a high school teacher, so don't worry, I

I ask for. They loved me. Yeah, they were my family. And they would always be.

I love you grannie and I love you kiddos." I didn't know I

home. Home? Was this a home? No. It was just a house. I had seen how i

a pathetic teenager who had fear running through her body. My mind flashed back to what Bisola

as she placed her hand

I was good at it. Smiling fakely. "Yes,

living room only for me to be greeted with the ba

me seconds that I got in.