THE K1LLER'S KNIFE
The K1ller's Knife - Episode 16
Mother's piercing eyes felt like it was digging holes inside my body. The more I tried to avoid her skeptical eyes, the more her suspicion rose.
I ransacked my brain in an attempt to come up with a reasonable excuse or story to cover up for my outburst
" Jacob I'm going to ask you one more time...what exactly did you mean by your father has been cheating on me...? And who has he been cheating on me with...?" Mother asked still looking intently at me without batting an eyelid
I began stuttering
" I..I..I.. it is..no..thing mother...what I meant is that father is not treating us well. I simply assumed it could be because he is cheating on you... it's a mere assumption mother" I lied whilst trying to maintain eye contact with her and also inwardly hoping she doesn't discover that I'm lying
Mother was quiet for a couple of minutes with her eyes still fixated on me. Her silence was deafening and her intense stare was awkwardly scary.
I was scared because I know deep down that she didn't buy my lie but I hoped she wouldn't push further
Her next question threw me off balance and had me widening my eyes in shock
" Is it Flora...? Is that who your father is cheating on me with...?" Mother asked calmly as though she had always suspected it to be so
I didn't know what to say. If to either admit the truth and to simply deny it
" Mother.. it's not.." I tried to argue otherwise but mother kept looking at me and I couldn't lie anymore
" I'm sorry mother. It's true that father is cheating on you but I can't outrightly admit to you who it is. I won't want you to quarrel with fath..."
Mother hissed loudly and her next words stopped my utterance midway.
Each of her words were laced with hμrt and I knew she is truly hμrting within
" I've always suspected it. After every Sunday service...your father is always nowhere to be found. Flora is always nowhere to be seen too. I thought it was my woman instincts taking the better part of me but now I know it is not. He's been cheating on me with Flora" mother said assertively with a shaky voice
From the way she spoke, it is quite obvious that she has been nursing the suspicion for a long time but had to suppress it because there was no actual proof to solidify her claims.
"...am I right Jacob...? It's Flora right...?" Mother inquired pa¡nfully and I nodded slowly in the affirmative
The moment mother saw my nod, she broke down in tears in front of me.
She's hurting and I can feel her pains. I couldn't lie any further as it will only aggravate her pains
I heaved heavily as I took her into my arms in a warm hug. I patted her back soothingly before responding
" You're right about your presumption. It's Flora mother...she's been sleeping with father and it seems their affair has been going on for a while now" I admitted with a calm voice
" How did you know Jacob...? Or wait! does your father shamelessly bring her to this house when I'm not at home...is that how you found out about their affair..?" Mother asked abruptly pulling away from me. She was trying to stop her tears but it kept flowing the more
" No mother. I found out on that day you asked me to check on father to know what he wants to eat. Do you remember that I came back with soiled clothes...?" I asked and mother nodded vigorously
" Of course I remember Jacob" mother answered plainly
And I began explaining in simple terms all what I saw on that day at the bush
" It got soiled because I was trying to hide so that father and Flora would not catch me. I was scared of what father would do if he found that I uncovered his hidden affair..." I said huskily
I paused to take a breath of air and I continued when I felt more relaxed
" ...I overheard father telling Flora that he was going to send you away so that he can bring her in. I also saw father touching flora in a funny way before I was able to leave there unnoticed" I concluded with a deep sigh as the memories filled my young mind
Mother broke into tears again and at the same time, she was asking tons of rhetorical questions
" I gave your father everything. I gave him my body whenever he wanted it. So tell me why Jacob...? Why am I not enough for him...? Jacob is that Flora woman more beautiful than I am...? Tell me the truth please..."
" ...why me..? W..h..yyyyyyy...?"
Mother kept on lamenting with her head bent low and tears flowing uncontrollably from her eyes
I didn't know what to say that will make her feel better about herself so I simply pulled her into my arms again
I patted her back in silence and allowed her to cry until she was satisfied. Then she became calmer and completely quiet which gave room for me to talk
" I'm sorry mother. I understand that you feel so bad about this but it's better that you know the truth. Father doesn't really love you as you think...so please stop loving him already. Maybe this is God's way of telling you to leave him and find somewhere else to start afresh"
Mother shallowed the saliva that was stuck in her throat as a result of excessive crying and then she pulled away from the hug.
She sat well on the floor and simply stared blankly into nothingness. I guess she was probably just lost in thoughts as to why her life turned out this way
" I love you mother and that is why I am suggesting this. I understand that you'll be angry with me for saying this but mother this is all for your own good"
Mother still remained quiet. I thought it was because she was angry at me for suggesting that she leaves father
Her next response is what showed me that she wasn't angry with me at all.
" I'm not angry with you Jacob. You see I lost my mom at a tender age of eleven and with a polygamist father...I couldn't do much. I had to learn how to fend for myself and I successfully saw myself through primary education by working on people's farmlands. I wanted to further pursue my secondary school but my father ruined it..."
Mother later paused, then she inhaled and exhaled before continuing
" My father said that I was ripe for marriage and that he already has a suitor who was interested in making me his wife. It was not until the day he eventually married me off to your father..that I realized I was a means of clearing the heavy debt he was owing your father..." Mother explained whilst crying silently
"...I suppose that is the reason your father doesn't really value or respect me as a person...let alone as his wife" mother said calmly still blankly staring into space. I really felt bad for her
I thought that was all she wanted to say but it turns out that it isn't.
Mother continued talking and was interchangeably using her hands to wipe her tears away from her cheeks
" ...after our marriage and giving birth to you and your sisters, I begged your father to allow me to return to school. I wanted to at least attend secondary school and complete it...but he turned down my request saying I was using that as an excuse to pr0st¡tute. Jacob I thought of venturing into a business or working with my certification from primary school but he still refused me. I didn't complain because he is my husband and rather I obeyed him but right now I wished I didn't!" Mother blurted out feeling so pained inside
" I'm so sorry mother. You've really been through so much. I'm sorry for everything father has put you through" I said sincerely from my heart
Mother smiled mildly and I got the cue that she is about to reveal something unbelievable, and truly she did.
" To be honest with you Jacob...this is not going to be the first time your father will be cheating on me with someone I know very well, Someone very close to me. He has done this before and the first one is even worse than this second one because of who was involved!" mother said calmly and shrugged her shoulders as though it was nothing but I know she is still hurting from the past wounds of father's infidelity.
" What! Father has cheated on you before...? And with someone you know...? Who was it mother and how did you find out...?" I asked with a loud voice quite shocked at the revelation.
(Do not take credit or Plagiarize AMAH'S HEART stories)
No comments