Broken promise.
By Siwaphiwe Tafeni
Chapter 1
Natasha's POV
I live with my Aunt, Aunt Kathy Williams, And her husband, Albert Williams, their daughters Keira and Leila Williams, I live with them all. I grew up living with my mom , she never told me about my dad , everytime I asked her about him she frowns and change the topic , I loved her we've been living happily together until that day she woke me up in the morning she wore a very warm coat , and she had on her hat and glasses she took all her clothes and mine too and put them on our suite cases , and she prepared me to put on some warmer clothes and when we leave, I can feel her hand shaking as she held mine , I looked up at her and when I asked"Mama , what's wrong, what's going on?"
"Nothing, honey. we're going on to visit your aunt , okay?" she said.
I nodded ,not fully aware of the tears on her eyes behind those glasses. That morning when we arrived at aunt's place , she looked dour but not angry as when my mother whispered to her something , her face hardened and she was troubled, they went on another room and talked, eventually they came out , my mom came to me "Honey, you're going to live here for now on , with your aunt and your cousin –" said she with tears on her brown eyes .
"–Mama , where are you going to stay , why am I ?–"
"–Shhhhh , Hear me out Natasha , I love you and I know you know nothing about what's going on but please, understand I have to leave. And I have to leave without you , and I know you're going to need me but here's your aunt , she –she'll take good care of you..." she glanced to my aunt who just turned her head to look away . "But Mama , when are you coming back ?"I asked with tears rolling down on my cheeks , she looked straight into my eyes with a gruesome pain "Soon , I'll come back to you soon darling , promise me something Natasha , promise me that you'll grow up well and happy and become a brilliant child, Natasha Russell ? Promise me promise?...." said she desperately.
"Y-yes I promise, Mama . "I said terrified, she got up and press her lips to kiss me on my forehead, "I love you, I promise I'll come back ." she turn and went out on the door leaving the rest of us quiet, and I being lost in pain , and those were the last words coming from her mouth , I never saw her again , I then realized I was the one who kept my promise. It was then that I kept asking my aunt about when Mama's coming back, but the only answer I could receive was "How am I supposed to know , am I a Psychic ?"
It's been so many years now I have grown up I am nineteen years old, I have stopped asking so many questions about my mother , I don't usually wait for her anymore, Maybe she had forgotten about me . I thought, maybe she had thought I live happily in here , well ,if she could see, if she could feel the pain she had gotten me into , how Aunt Kathy detest me how arrogant are her daughters , even Mr Williams is against me . They treat me like a slave , or as if I'm a maid or a servant. I do all the chores every day, I was always late at school because I'd have to wake up first and make them breakfast . I never dine with them when there are guests, they're too embarrassed of me , for I never had proper clothes, they never bought anything for me , even on my birthdays .
I have been saving money, Keira and Leila and I are using the same bedroom and whenever I earn some money from my boss at work I save it for to go in collage . I work on the bakery store. My boss is very rude , but I'm used to it . I work until late and then come back home , but when I come back home , one time I saw my aunt, with something on her hands , I greeted her warmly but she didn't reply, I went on my room , I find Keira and Leila standing by my bedside I looked at them confused "what are you guys doing?"
They gave me silent treatment as if I wasn't speaking to them. I , suddenly checked my money bag on my hiding place , I looked for it but it wasn't there .
"Looking for this ?" She throws at me the money bag , it was empty ,
"Where's my money?what have you done?"
They exchanged glances , then Leila said "Idiot, Mama took it , she found out about it and !–"Leila said as Keira smiled at her .
"–No!"I said hopelessly.
I hurried and went on the kitchen to where my aunt was , "Aunt, please tell me you didn't use it– "
"–Crazy and ungrateful child. You never intended on paying us , huh? , you evil little wrench! You're nothing without us , your mother dumped you here , you're a burden to us . But still how selfish you are you keep your own money, not intending to be grateful at once, you were supposed to give all your earnings to us !"
"But , Aunt Kathy, I always give you money for home's daily needs and then I saved the extra money left–"
"–Do you think you really spend enough money here at home? Oh , what a fool !. For fourteen years you have been under my house , being taken care of by me and now you requite me with this !"
"It's not like I was even taken good care of by you Aunt " I said with tears on my eyes.
She was to say something but Mr Williams came in , angrily and said before he gave me a snare and grabbed my hair "What did you just say ? You little tiresome – you have no rite to talk like that on your aunt, or I'll make you reap what you sow " He at last let go of my hair and shove me over , I fell on the floor . As he walked pass me snared , when I look at my aunt she had a sly smile on her face , I , with tears rolling down from my eyes got up and glance on the money with pain as I think, Now there's no college or I'll have to start over, I stare at her as she returned my stare with a triumphant look she said "you're not getting this back ."
"Why do you detest me so ?Why can't you love me as you love your daughters" said I.
"You're asking me why do I detest you? Right , you should ask your mother the same question !"
I stared at her for a while before I turn and return to my room , I find Keira and Leila standing by the door, as I enter they glance at me aware of my rising anger , I passed beside them and fetch my hoodie and went outside, having no interest to come back home .
