Half life

WORK-OUT

***TWO HOURS LATER***

I was still lying half asleep on my bed and trying to get some sleep when a soft knock sounded on my door.

Who could be at the door now? I soliloquized as I sprang up to my feet to answer the door

"Yes hold on. I'm coming to get the door" I shouted as I walked over to the door

"Oh Aunt Mena!" I muttered in surprise

"Yeah. I'm sorry for interrupting your sleep. I just wanted to inform you that lunch is served and Dad said I should come and get you upstairs" Aunt Mena said in a subtle tone

" Oh it's okay. Thank you I'll be with you guys in a few minutes time." I said looking at the tiled floor as I hung my head low.

"Alright then let me be on my way. We will be waiting. Don't take too long to come downstairs please" Aunt Mena said pleadingly

"Sure. I won't" I said

"Ok" Aunt Mena said and began to walk back towards the stairs while I stood there for some seconds before shutting my door and walking back to my room.

When I got to my room I quickly walked in to the washroom to wash my face.

After washing my face, I starred in perplexity at the image on the mirror to be sure I wasn't hallucinating. I just couldn't believe that what I saw was me until I waved at the mirror before I finally believed.

My hair was looking so messy and my face quite swollen as though a swam of bees must have feasted on my face while I was asleep.

What could have happened to my face while I was sleep? I thought as I walked out of the washroom with a grimaced face after arranging my messy hair and tying it into a bun.

When I got to downstairs, I began to amble slowly towards the dinning area as I thought of what to tell Dad should incase he decides to ask me about the swollen face.

But then how could my face just get swollen for no reason?

I just can't fathom the mystery behind this perhaps Dad may know a thing about it. I reasoned with a shrug.

"Amanda look up!" Dad yelled preventing me from knocking off the chair infront of me as I jerked back to reality not realizing I had actually gotten to the dinning area since I was lost in my thoughts.

"What were you thinking about that you couldn't have realized that you were already in the dinning room?" Dad asked as I quickly pulled out a chair beside Dad to sit down.

"Huh… Nothing really" I said

"I guess you were sleep-walking then. Weren't you?" Dad asked sarcastically

"Probably..." I replied coldly

"Hey, Amanda what is wrong this time? Why is your face swollen?" Dad asked motioning to touch my face with his right hand.

"Nothing Dad… I just woke up to see it that way" I replied softly

" Did you fall off from your bed or something?" Dad asked with concern written all over his face

" No Dad" I replied

"Then… well sorry dear. Does it hurt much?" Dad asked this time touching my face while I flinched in pain

"Yeah… a little" I managed to reply, wincing in pain

" Then I have to go get you painkillers as soon as possible to relieve you from the pain" Dad said

"Sorry dear" Dad added

" Thank you Dad" I replied while Aunt Mena walked in to the dinning room with a bowl of mashed potatoes and placed it on the table then pulled out a chair opposite mine and sat down

" Amanda.. wait… What happened to your face? Why is it swollen?" Aunt Mena asked in shock

"I really don't know Aunt Mena, I just woke up to see it like this" I said coldly

" Oh my goodness! sorry dear. Probably you must have fallen off from your bed while you were fast asleep" she said with concern written in her voice.

" Well maybe yes. I guess" I said stuttering

"Yeah . Have you taken any medication yet?" Aunt Mena asked

"Actually she hasn't but I will get her painkillers from my room as soon as we are done with lunch!" Dad chipped in

"Ok sir. That would be great." She said

"Sorry about that dear. I know it hurts pretty much as hell but you will be fine once you take those painkillers'' Aunt Mena said

"Thank you Aunt Mena" I solemnly said

"You are welcome dear. Now, go on and eat your meal before it gets cold" Aunt Mena said with a smile while I nodded

Taking out a portion of the meal, I shoved it into my mouth and swallowed hard. To say it tasted nice was an understatement because it was indeed very sumptuous.

"Nice job Aunt Mena" I complimented in a weak voice

"The meal taste really great" I added

"Aww… Thank you my princess" Aunt Mena said then made to eat her meal

" This is yum!" Dad said in between mouthfuls as he munched hurriedly away as though his life depended on it.

"Thank you sir" Aunt Mena said, blushing while nodded his head

"Hey! Dude easy man no one is going to take your meal from you. It all yours!" I teased weakly

"Well… its just so delicious that I can't help it but to rush it all at once so please let me concentrate on my meal for once this one time" Dad replied jokingly

" Amanda eat your meal and go and rest your head. Leave your Daddy to have his meal in peace" Aunt Mena said amidst laughter

"Well… Fine I have heard you all. No problem" I replied in resignation

"Now can we all just go back to eating" Dad said peering at me

"Uhm… sure. Why not? But definitely not until you hear me out first Dad!" I retorted

"Ok. Fine what is it?" Dad asked glaring at me

"Well I think I now know what caused my swollen face" I said with a grin

" Oh really?" Dad asked in surprise

" Yeah. I have figured it out" I cooed

"Alright that's good. Just go ahead and tell us what you think could have caused the swollen face already" Dad urged

"Sure. I think it happened when we came back from the grocery store earlier on" I said

"Huh! What made you think so?" Dad asked giving me a cursory look

"Because I remember when we came back from home and started taking out the shopped items from the trunk of the car to the kitchen, I accidentally bumped my head into the kitchen wall in the process." I explained softly while Aunt Mena sat quietly listening curiously to explanation.

"And you didn't deem it fit to let me know on time right?" Dad sneered obviously pissed off by my explanation

" I'm sorry Dad. I thought it was just a minor accident and wouldn't result into something as complicated as these" I replied sadly.

" Well I have heard you but remember I have told you countless number of times to always let me know if something happens to you whether good or bad. Just always keep me updated on your well-being. Who knows if something must have happened to you thereafter or even as we speak there is an internal injury in your head" Dad blurted out keeping a serious face

" Common Dad. I said I'm sorry besides the crash was not as big as you'd be imagining it right now. It was just a slight bump so nothing really happened" I said softly

" Fine, I pray so. But I will have to take you to the hospital to have you probably examined and diagnosed but until then I will pretend and believe you are perfectly fine" Dad said this time in a cold musky voice.

" No Dad. Going to the hospital isn't necessary. I told you that I'm fine there is just no need for you to take me to any hospital" I said

"Well I insist. You are coming with me to the hospital. Remember the doctor told you to avoid things that could cause you head injury after the last incident and I'm so worried you bumped you bumped your head now. We have to take it very seriously and try to find out the level of damage the accident must have caused to your head so we can be sure on how to handle it altogether properly" Dad said this time calmly.

Well that is true. I guess I must have forgotten about it . The doctor asked me to prevent anything that would lead me in to having head injuries especially the ones that could affect the base of my skull since it could be dangerous and cause me insomnia if proper care is not taken after the last incident at the kitchen.

"Oh yeah. I totally forgot about the doctor's instruction but I'm fine Dad trust me we don't need to go to the hospital." I said while Aunt Mena looked in confusion

" Well it doesn't matter. I insist you are coming with me to the hospital by tomorrow" Dad said

" But Daddy…" I stuttered

" No buts Amanda. You are coming with me to the hospital for proper examination and diagnosis by tomorrow and that is final so deal with it" Dad said in an authoritative tone while I looked on in silence.

"Now go ahead and continue eating your meal before it gets cold" Dad said casually.

"Ok Dad" I replied calmly then began to pick at my food

"Mena please eat your food as well its nothing serious." Dad blurted when he looked up and saw that Aunt Mena wasn't eating her food but rather staring at me quietly.

"Oh ok sir. I will. I guess I got carried away with my thoughts" she managed to reply with a grin

"Please eat ok? Don't pay attention to our silly drama. Amanda can be a hard a nut to c***k sometimes you know so I have to be extra hard on her to make her do things even the ones that will also be will be beneficial to her as well." Dad said softly stealing a glance at me with the corner of his eyes.

"It's ok sir. I understand" Aunt Mena muttered almost inaudibly

"Yeah. And then about the incident at the kitchen, she actually had an accident in the kitchen some weeks back. I think a couple of weeks or three weeks back. I can't really recall" Dad said

"Oh… sorry about that Amanda" Aunt Mena said

" Thank you ma." I replied coldly then continued to eat in silence.

"You are welcome darling" Aunt Mena said

After I was through, I got up and left for my room to rest my head.

On reaching my room I laid down with my facing looking up at the ceiling and began to reminisce on old memories.

In as much as it appeared to be that I was enjoying the present, I knew better than to deny I was still satisfied in the inside.

And even though Dad has been trying to be a good father to me, it still doesn't change the fact that there is an emptiness in my heart that only a mother's love can fill.

I just miss mum so much.I miss the good old days.

When if I was sick like today, She will lay me on the bed and cuddle me until I was whole again.

But today when I needed something as that when I should be consoled and petted by Dad I couldn't get a thing close to that instead I got infuriation and yells which ruined my mood.

All he knows is how to always show his doggedness and implement strict principles and perhaps if Mum really meant to stay she definitely would have done that if not for anything else but for my sake. What was I thinking? no she wouldn't because she cared less. If she really cared as she had said several times why didn't she take me alongside with her when she decided to leave?

She said Dad was doing a lot of bad things and she couldn't deal with it right?

What bad things? Because I haven't seen dad doing any bad thing lately

If she really cared about me why didn't she make him stop?

But no they all don't care about me.

They are all liars

If she had to leave me behind with this monster of a father she should have just done that. All the lies were not necessary.

Maybe then I will understand that I was just a loner with no love, a thing of ridicule and a kill-joy and I brought everyone pain.

But I do hope that someday we will meet again and I will finally get the chance to ask her all the questions bothering my mind.

Questions like why she really left me all alone to die and why she had to tell terrible lies against Dad just to leave me behind and force me to believe all of them.

Until then, I will keep hoping and believing that she will provide answers to all my questions.

"Amanda!" A voice waffled into my ears, bringing me back to reality as I stood up.

"Amanda please open the door!" Came the voice again this time. It was Aunt Mena of course. I don't wish to speak or see anyone. I just want to be left alone. Can't they just understand and let me be for once?!"

I growled in anger as I walked towards the door.

" Aunt Mena please leave. I don't want to see or speak with anyone. I want to be left alone please!" I yelled as I got closer

"Amanda please open the door. I have something urgent to tell you about! " Aunt Mena yelled

" I'm not interested. I said I want to be left alone. I don't want to see or speak to anyone so just keep it to your damn self! " I yelled back

" Amanda! Amanda!! Please open the door! Amanda are you there? Please open the door and hear me out first!" Aunt Mena yelled as she wouldn't budge and continued to sound heavy knocks on my door

"Go away! you are getting on my nerves. I told you already that I don't want to listen I'm not interested. I just don't want to do something stupid just let me be. Leave me alone!" I yelled this time yanking the door open

"Now what is it?" I asked curtly

"Amanda you have to calm down first and listen to me" she replied motioning to walk into my room.

" No! Don't you dare walk in to my room. Say what you have to say right here and right now or otherwise just walkaway!" I thundered breathing heavily as I glared at her and leaning my frail body against my door in such a way that will prevent her not to be able to get in"

"Fine. Let's just go inside" Aunt Mena said calmly.

"No, we are not stepping an inch from this place. Tell me what you have to tell me right here or otherwise walkaway. I don't have time to waste besides I wasn't interested in the first place" I replied

"Fine. I'm going since you don't want to grant me audience" Aunt Mena said and made to walk away

" No Aunt Mena. I'm sorry I never meant to yell at you" I replied bursting into tears, as the tears I'd been trying to control began to run down my cheeks in rivulets.

" No. Its fine dear. I'm sorry" Aunt Mena said and pulled me into a tight hug.

"It's okay dear. You'll be fine stop crying" Aunt Mena added as she broke away from the hug and holding my hands led me back to the room while I continued to sob lightly.

"Common baby girl. It's okay. Stop crying already. You're a supergirl remember right? And guess what? Supergirls don't cry. So if you want to be my supergirl then you must stop crying now. Do you understand?" Aunt Mena said as we sat down on my bed.

"Yes I do Aunt Mena" I replied after swallowing hard then stopped crying.

"That's my supergirl now" Aunt Mena said, wiping off the rivulets of tears hanging on the corner of my eyes.

"Ok Aunt Mena" I replied then sighed loudly

" Good. Now so tell me, why were you crying?" Aunt Mena asked with concern written all over her face, as she stared intently at me, awaiting a reply

"Nothing" I replied sharply

"You mean nothing?" Aunt Mena asked in bewilderment

"Yeah. Maybe because I yelled at you and that was very bad of me to have done that" I said with a shrug

"It's okay. You don't have to be too hard on yourself. Besides I know you didn't mean to so it's fine" Aunt Mena said with a grin

"Ok Aunt Mena. Thank you so much for your understanding" I said, letting out a sigh of relief

"It's nothing dear. By the way you still haven't answered my question yet" she said peering intently at me with the corner of her eyes

"Oh! Nothing else just that" I said

"Are you sure?. Ok was it because Dad scolded you during lunch downstairs?" She asked

"No. Not at all Aunt" I replied in a solemn tone

"Then what is the problem?" She asked further

"Nothing Aunt. I think it's just because I miss my mum so very much Aunt Mena" I muttered

"Oh! I see. I understand sweetheart but don't you worry she will be back soon for you" Aunt Mena said reassuringly and for a moment I believed her and wishes it was really going to be so but unfortunately it cannot be.

"I wish..." I muttered underneath my breath but stopped

"Huh!" Aunt Mena said glaring at me

"Oh you said?" I asked in confusion

"Did you just say something now?" She asked

"Me… say something. No I didn't" I stuttered

"Okay. So what do you want her to get for you whenever she returns?" Aunt Mena asked with a smirk

" Nothing else just boxes of chocolates and pizza" I replied all jolly

" Only boxes of chocolates and pizza?" Aunt Mena asked in shock, laughing hysterically

"Yeah. I want them as many as possible" I replied grinning

"Amanda don't be ridiculous!" Aunt Mena half yelled then continued laughing

I wish I could tell her the things bothering my mind.

I wish I could tell her that mum left us about a month ago and isn't going to come back and that's why I'm so sad and lowly but can I?