Chapter One — An Ordinary Morning
“Naya! If you don't come downstairs now, I'm eating your breakfast!”
Naya opened one eye.
She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before remembering why she was awake.
“Mama!”
“What?”
“It's Saturday!”
“And?”
Naya pulled the blanket over her head.
“Saturday is for sleeping.”
Her mother's voice came from downstairs.
“Then sleep. I'll give your food to the neighbour.”
Naya sat up immediately.
“Don't you dare!”
She heard her mother's laughter from downstairs.
That woman knew exactly how to get her out of bed.
Naya dragged herself out of bed, still half-asleep, and walked into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she came downstairs with her hair loosely tied and her slippers dragging against the floor.
“Mama, you could have just woken me normally.”
“I did.”
“You shouted.”
“I called your name.”
“Three times.”
“Because you ignored the first two.”
Naya pulled out a chair at the dining table.
“I was sleeping peacefully.”
“You call sleeping until almost nine peaceful?”
Naya smiled.
“Yes.”
Mama shook her head and returned to the kitchen.
The house smelled of fried eggs and bread.
For a few minutes, everything felt completely normal.
Naya ate quietly, listening to the radio playing in the sitting room.
Then she noticed something.
There was an empty chair near the window.
She had seen it countless times before.
But that morning, for some reason, she looked at it a little longer.
“Mama?”
Her mother continued washing the plate in her hands.
“Yes?”
“Why don't we ever use that chair?”
The water kept running.
Mama didn't answer.
Naya turned to look at her.
“Mama?”
Her mother finally switched off the tap.
“Finish your breakfast, Naya.”
And just like that, the question was over.
Or at least, Mama wanted it to be.
