Beneath the Shadows

Switching sides on my very stony bed was I. I didn't know if I was strong or feeble. I also didn't

have an idea if I actually had a sweet night's rest. This was always how my life was. Most times,

I'd wake up with very swollen eyelids signifying that I didn't get enough sleep at night. To make

matters worse,it was almost like I lived with a woman who didn't care about my well being at

all.Unfortunately, she happened to be my mom...

" Julia!!" I heard someone scream my name as I was adorned with fatigue and I whispered a

reply. I shuffled myself off my bed and reluctantly went to see why my mum was calling me. I

walked out of my room and to the living room to see her looking so drunk on our weevil infested

couch.

" Mom? You're drunk? By this time of the morning?"

" What the hell is your business?" She said, sounding like a complete junkie which she is.. I

twisted my neck left to direct my eyes to the clock. I was so shocked to see that it was just

11:30a.m_______

" Mom, it's not even 12 o'clock yet and you're this drunk?"

" Just Shut Up You Fool!!!" She shouted. As she stood up staggering.

" You're the cause of all the problems I had to go through in this life. If only you never came

along then maybe I would have been happier. You stupid girl.. I actually called you cause I'm

fuckin' hungry. Get me something to eat" she ordered me as all I did was breathe a sigh and let

her be. I went to the kitchen to cook something for my mom. The truth is, my mum doesn't value

me at all. She always sees me as the cause of all her problems.

It makes me feel really bad each time she tells me shit like that... I actually care so much about

my mum cause she's all I've got... I kept being drowned in this pool of thoughts as I kept stirring

the food and thought to myself... Was this all because my dad abandoned her and because her

family left her and threw her on the streets that got her to be so cold hearted ¿??

"Julia!!!" She screamed my name at the top of her voice. The rate at which she shouted made

my heart skip a dangerous and horrified bit. I had to run down to my psychopathic mother's

room and saw her lying down on her bed so tired. All I could feel for her at that point was

pity_______

" Yes mom?"

" Where's my meal?" Is she insane? It's not even up to 5 minutes since she told me to make her

meal and she's already asking for it.

" Mum, I'm not done yet"

" What the fuck is taking you so long? I'm fuckin' hungry. "

" Please give me some more time, I'll make it soon"

" ...why should I be Julia?? You didn't give me time to enjoy my youthful days before you just

came and ruined my entire life so why should I give you time?" I was actually just left so

dumbfounded at her statement. Did she really have so much anger and grievance towards me?

" Answer me Julia. Why on earth should I give you time? My whole life has been ruined. I don't

have any family. They all abandoned me at your birth." It put me in very serious tears and a tear

just crawled down my mother's eyes. I've never seen her so unhappy. This was the first time I saw my mother cry remembering this. The experience made her so stony that she doesn't even

cry anymore_____

" Mum, I know you're hurting and I'm so sorry for everything you went through because

you_______" before I could even finish my statement, I received a huge slap on my face that

led straight to the ground.

" Just shut up... Just shut the f**k up Julia. You aren't sorry. Cause if you were sorry,then you

would have never come in the first place. I hate you Julia. You disgust me and I hate the fact

that I'm the one who gave birth to you." All these things she said plus the slap she gave

me,made me tear up heavily. I just let them all flow.

" Get up from the damn floor and go and get me something to eat immediately. I'll forever treat

you as a slave till my last breath. Get out" I immediately stood up from the floor

" But mum" I sniffed

" GET OUT!!!!" She screamed so I just obeyed her and left. As I got to the kitchen,all I could do

was just shed tears. I was so disheartened and sad.I didn't want to think about it too much so I

quickly made her food and took it to her room for her. Once she opened the door, I gave her the

tray of food______

" That's better" she dragged the tray from me. She didn't even say "thank you"

" ... What are you doing standing there? Stop looking at me like a fool which you are and get out

of my sight" she rattled as I left her. After that I went to my room and started sobbing profusely. I

was so sad with unhappiness.

" Why does she have to hate me so much? " I asked myself as I kept crying and crying...

RICARDO'S P. O. V...

*****. *****. *****. *****.

I just climbed over the fence at noon to go see my best friend through her room window. I

climbed up the tree to her and her mum's apartment which was at the last floor of the building.

Once I reached there, I dived into the window and fell to the ground. I noticed she was sitting on

her bed facing backwards so she didn't know that I entered her room. I decided to play the trick

which I normally do each time she doesn't notice that I entered her room. She falls for it all the

time and it never gets old. I tiptoed to her and then I'll made a sound

" Bhooo!" She gasped in fear as she turned around and I started laughing_____

" Julia, you keep falling for this trick everytime_____" I took a quick pause when I noticed that

her eyes were red and swollen. She must have been crying again. I honestly hope it's not the

reason I have in mind.

" Hey,why are you crying? What's the matter?"

" It's nothing Ricardo"

" What do you mean nothing? You're obviously not happy. Like you're literally looking like

someone who just got beaten up and you're saying nothing?"

" Nothing happened Ricardo. If you are gonna make things harder for me then I suggest that

you just leave. Please " she raised her voice and continued sobbing. I couldn't help but still feel

worried about her. So I gently sat down by her side and put my arm around her shoulder to

comfort her_______

" Just take it easy on yourself. Please just calm down. Take a deep breath. Everything is going

to be ok Julia." I said calmly as she immediately pulled me in for a hug. I could feel her pain in

my heart with every sniff she took in and every tear that she shed.

" Ric, I don't even know what to do. I can't bear this anymore. I'm always insulted. She talks me

down with every chance she gets" just as I had earlier suspected. It was her mum who made

her cry. That woman is such a parasite________

" Hold on a sec Julia. Don't tell me it's about your mum again."

" It is Ric. It is"

" Oh no! What happened this time around?" I asked curiously. She then started narrating

everything to me. She explained so descriptively as though she was some author. I felt so bad

to have heard of all that happened. Her mum's just so cruel and cold hearted.

" But you don't deserve this. Why does she keep doing this to you time and time again? You did

nothing wrong"

" I know but she has a lot against me. She had to raise me alone on her own terms. Everyone

left her because she decided to keep me"

"...and how's that your fault? It's not your fault at all. Besides, you didn't tell her to have sex

while still in high school. This was her decision and she should have been ready to face the

consequences of her action. No one told her to be a loosed girl____"

" That's enough Ricardo" she interrupted

" Look I know you don't like what my mum is doing to me but that doesn't give you any right to

say such ruthless things about my mum. Please if not for anything, I've never insulted your mum

before. She's also a single mum and we're almost alike just that your mum was more privileged

than mine. Please don't do this again"I immediately cautioned myself and quickly apologized to

her

" I'm really sorry Julia. Please don't be annoyed. But it doesn't change the fact that I detest

everything your mom does to you. It gets me pissed each time I hear it."

" Thank you Ric. But I still want to change her and I believe she can change. My mom wasn't

always like this. It's never right to judge someone before you get to know them. If my mom was

so heartless and hated me, then she would have never preserved my pregnancy. It's just that

sometimes she gets constantly reminded about her horrible experience. I still love her no matter

what. And please I'd really appreciate it if you respect that " I just looked at her and smiled.

" Okay Julia. I'll respect your decision to respect and love your mum. I'm sorry for all that I said. I

just said it cause I don't like what your mum does to you. Please don't be mad at me."

" It's alright, Ric. And thank you for always being there to care for me. It's really sweet. Thank

you."

" It's not a problem. What are friends for?" We both chuckled in amusement.

" So Ric,why did you come to my house in the first place?" She asked and that reminded me of

my real intention behind coming here.

" Oh! Right. That reminds me. You've heard about the new movie coming out today."

" Yeah. You mean BEYOND SUSPICION? The Nollywood movie right?"

" Exactly. I got us both tickets to the movies to watch it" she was so excited as I brought it out

and gave it to her

" Really? OMG! Ric... Thank you, thank you so much. I always wanted to watch that movie. I

really appreciate it. Thank you " " It's alright Julia. The movie is at 4:00 p.m... So just get ready."

" Right. But honestly I need your help before then."

" Okay, what for?"

" The house is a mess. And I also need to pick up a few groceries. Can you please help me out

with the cleaning and drive me to the grocery shop?"

" Sure,why not?" I agreed and she was overwhelmed with joy as I did.

" Thank you so much Ric"

" So where do we start?"

" I'll go clean my mum's room,the toilet and my room, while you clean the living room and the

kitchen. How does that sound?"

" Good. I'll do it " so that's how we got to work. I just feel that Julia does quite too much for a

woman who doesn't even consider her as a priority. She doesn't even act like Julia's her blood

daughter. It's quite unfortunate that she has a good daughter who puts her first. Since she wants

me to never insult her mum then I'll respect her decision....