SILENCE

‘Grandma.’ The kids screamed running towards Mrs. Chishala who was seated on a garden chair on her nicely done lawn

She stood up to receive them, for the first time she was genuinely happy ever since her husband died.

‘My babies.’ She said opening her arms

If Larna had her way she could have stopped them from running towards her but she didn’t want them thinking otherwise, so with much discomfort she just watched on.

Elisha always noticed the change in attitude of his wife whenever she was around her mother.

‘Mother.’ He said hugging her after what seemed like forever because the twins didn’t want to let her go

‘Thank you for bringing them child.’ She said after they embraced

‘Hai.’ Larna greeted coldly

‘How are you Larna?’

‘I have been better than you.’ She told her walking towards the empty chairs

Elisha engaged in conversation right there and then, if someone didn’t know any better they would actually think Larna was the daughter in law and he was the son.

‘Let me make myself busy in the kitchen.’ Larna said standing up

‘Thank you for coming.’ Her mother told her genuinely

She just smiled then walked away

Immediately she disappeared into the house, Elisha turned to his mother in law.

‘Mum it is getting worse.’ He began

‘The night mares?’

‘Yes, this is the third time in a week and it is getting stronger.’

She kept quiet for a while.

‘I have no idea what exactly happened to Larna, if I knew I would have told you and I have tried to beat my head trying to think about the possible thing that could have happened but nothing comes to mind.’ She said thoughtfully

‘I am sorry to ask this question ma, but do you think dad could have something to do with this? Do you think he?’

She didn’t allow him to finish the sentence

‘God forbid Elisha, my husband was a lot of things and he loved Larna immensely; he could never have done that to her.’ She said

‘I am sorry.’

‘Don’t be, it is only normal for you to ask with the way she behaved towards him. I too thought of that possibility but he assured me on his life that he could never have hurt her.’ She said

‘Mum honestly I am trying to help her, I really am but how can I help someone who constantly tells you that she has no problem even when you can see right through her.’

‘Did you ever suggest therapy? Whilst she was young?’ he asked again

‘Elisah stop it, what you don’t know won’t kill you. If she doesn’t want to talk about her life or her past, don’t push it. Just be thankful that she doesn’t show that side of her to the kids.’

There was silence between them again, each one lost in their own thoughts.

‘There is more.’

She turned to look at him, she often felt sorry for Elisha. He was a good man and even though Larna was her daughter she knew he didn’t deserve what whatever she was making him go through

‘Larna is not on any government record.’

‘Child you know I am old and don’t understand that kind of language.’

‘Well what I mean is that she is not in any government system, as far as we are concerned she does not exist.’ He said

‘Oh.’ She responded

‘Mother is there something you are not telling me?’

‘Elisha forget it, Larna is a good wife and a good mother. Thank heavens for that.’ She said getting up

She walked into the house using the back door, the kids were already in the pool and from the scent coming from the house; she knew that her child had gotten busy in the kitchen.

She walked in on her and saw her busy with something on the cooker.

‘How are you?’ she asked looking at her

Larna turned to face her for a second then went back to the cooking.

‘The kids are doing okay, Elisha is fine. Life is perfect.’ She responded

‘Larna I am still your mother and I can see through you, how are you really?’ she asked

She looked at her another second then the same way went back to her cooking.

‘I have never been better mother.’ She said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice

‘I am sorry about your husband by the way, sad he went to the grave without repenting.’

‘Larna your father gave his life to Christ before he died, if only you had been present in his last days maybe then you would have known all this.’

She laughed

‘Wait are you trying to make me feel bad right now?’ she asked holding her mouth

‘Larna.’

‘Oh trust me I don’t feel a thing, he is gone and life has to move on.’ She said

‘I hope you don’t regret all this, I hope it won’t be too late when you realize your faults.’ Her mother said walking out of the kitchen

‘And whatever he did to you, he doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment. We all don’t deserve it.’ She said half way out

Larna placed the knife deep into the onion she was holding, if not for Elisha that had showed up; she would have dug into her skin.

‘Careful with that.’ He said

‘I will be babe.’ She told him with a smile

One minute she was angry the next he was warming her heart and she was grateful for the family that she had, this is all she had, all she knew and she vowed she would protect each one of them with her life.

..

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️