Dark Skies

Her eyes opened at the sound coming from her parent's room. She wondered why there was so much noise. Opening her eyes lazily, she found everything in her room dark and quiet. Yesterday was the last day of school, and if nine-year-old Zoe was sure of anything, she was sure of the fact that the next day after Friday was Saturday and that meant she could have a long sleep.

She got up from the bed she shares with her little sister, Emily, rubbing her eyes with her hand she stood up and walk out of the room and to her parent's room.

They were arguing again. She had always wondered why they were fond of arguing, it had become a normal thing since her last birthday. They used to be a very loving family until her mother started complaining about everything.

The room door was open, and Zoe could see them clearly; her father was getting ready for another interview with his documents neatly arranged in a clear bag. Zoe leaned on the door frame as they were too busy with their arguments to notice she was there.

"I don't just understand why you’re applying for a position lower than your previous position. I mean I don't understand, how do you expect to feed our family with such a small income?” Zoe's mother, Darasimi ranted.

Zoe's father acted completely unbothered by her words as he put on his shoes.

“Gbemiga, I'm talking to you!” Darasimi yelled.

"What do you want from me woman!!” Gbemiga replied, obviously frustrated by his wife's nagging. "When I didn't have a job, you made life a living hell for me. Now, I'm trying my possible best to get one, you still won't give me peace of mind,” Gbemiga added.

“I won't, Gbemiga, what is your problem. I have been fending for this family for the past 8 months after you lost your job. And you've not made a tangible effort to get back on your feet, even better than before.”

"Dara, can you listen to yourself? Yes, for the past eight months you've taken responsibility, which you've always rubbed in my face. But I have not relented in finding a new job, I have tried my best Dara,” Gbemiga said.

"Your best is not enough, my dear, because if it was you wouldn't be looking for a job as a secretary,” Dara nagged.

"What do you want me to do, when I couldn't get a job for better positions? Why can't I accept this one? At least it will pay the bills if we cut down our cost of living.”

"That's it!” Dara said getting up from where she had been sitting. "Gbemiga, I won't let go of my designer clothes and jewelry, my daughters won't go to a ghetto school all because of your incapability,” Dara added.

"Ah, Dara. It's all about money for you, right?! You don't care about anything else but money, money, money, money!” Gbemiga yelled.

"Yes, darling, it's about the money. And trust me, if you don't get a better job, I'll leave you and I'll leave with my daughters,” Dara threatened as Gbemiga got up and faced her.

"You can go to hell for all I care but delete the idea of taking my daughters to your sugar daddy’s place. It's not like you've not been involved in the trash before now,” Gbemiga said, causing Dara to fume with anger.

"How dare you!!!” Dara said as she landed a dirty slap on Gbemiga's face.

"Mom!” Zoe yelled as she entered the room. "What happened!” she said as she looked at them. She was on the verge of crying as she was scared and worried about what she just saw.

"Zoe, why are you up, my darling?” Gbemiga said as he walked up to his daughter.

"I heard some noise, and I came to check. Why are you guys fighting?” innocent Zoe asked.

Gbemiga laughed causing Zoe to be calmer and he said. "No, darling, Mummy and Daddy aren't fighting. We are just talking about how wonderful you are."

"Huh. Okay,” Zoe said unconvinced; she might be young, but she wasn't stupid. "Where are you going, Daddy,” she asked.

"I'm going for a job interview,” Gbemiga replied.

"But it's Saturday, and it's so early in the morning."

"Yes, darling, it's a Saturday, but this company wants very serious candidates, so they made the interview on a Saturday. And I'm going early because, darling, I sold my car and I need to be their very early. So, I must leave home early,” Gbemiga answered.

"Okay Daddy,” Zoe said.

"I love you, baby,” Gbemiga said.

"I love you, Daddy,” Zoe replied.

"Come here,” Gbemiga said pulling her into a hug. He went over to the bed, as Darasimi frowned and wrapped her arms together. He took his file, his wallet, and phone walked up towards the front door.

"If you like, don't come back early. You might not come back at all. Lazy man,”Gbemiga and Zoe heard Dara say. Gbemiga smirked as he bent down to look his daughter in the face.

"Zoe, darling, I'm leaving now,” Gbemiga said.

“You'll be back right?” Zoe asked.

"Yes, darling I will, I promise,” Gbemiga said. But Zoe couldn't get past the possibility that her Dad might not come back, as her mother said. She loved her father a whole lot. Her mom wasn't so nice, but her Dad was perfect. He bought her everything she asked for and was always around to hang out with her and Emily. Unlike her mother, who only cared about her fine clothes and makeup.

“Dad, it's my birthday tomorrow. You'll be there right,” Zoe asked.

Gbemiga laughed loud at her question, "Yes, I will, darling. And I'll buy you a big, beautiful gift.”

But he was never going to be back, he was never going to fulfill that promise.

A few hours later.

Zoe and Emily were watching cartoons, while Dara was busy painting her nails. Dara's phone rang and she checked the caller ID; it was her husband Gbemiga. She hissed and cut the call, but the number kept calling. Finally, on the third time, she picked up.

“What is it?” she asked angrily.

“I'm sorry ma, but the owner of this phone was involved in an accident,” the person on the other end said hurriedly. His voice was so loud Zoe could hear what he was saying.

“What! How?! Where?!” she asked as she stood up from her seat. Zoe walked to her, as Emily watched.

“Yes, ma, along the expressway. There was a collision between his cab and a truck.” The person said. “I'm sorry ma, but he didn't make it out alive.”

"Haaaaaaaaa!!” Dara screamed as she fainted.

Eight months later.

It was a difficult time for Zoe, she always wondered and hoped her dad would walk into the room, holding flowers and gifts for her birthday.

He had told her he would return. He promised he would, but for eight months he hadn't. Zoe had seen him in the coffin dead and lifeless but refused to believe her father was gone.

He was the life of the family. There was no way Zoe would ever forget his love; the bedtime stories, the movie nights, the many times they spent in the kitchen making dishes together which ended up tasting terrible. The many dancing lessons he had given her, the times he took her out for lunch and shopping; none of these memories would ever be forgotten.

Emily was young and couldn't understand much about what happened to their father, but it was obvious she knew something was wrong. She had asked their mom where their father was on the day of the burial, and Dara had told her he was in a better place.

Zoe wondered how her mother could have moved on so easily. She was back to her usual nature two months after Gbemiga's death. She would leave the girls with the neighbors while she attended parties. There was no financial lack in the home because somehow, she had lots of money even without working.

Zoe nurtured a hatred for her mother in her heart, she believed she was the reason her father had died. Her father died in a motor accident when her mother refused to let him drive in her car; the car he bought for her when things were good and rosy. She had even asked him not to come back home that very day. Her wickedness and awful behavior must have caused her father's death.

On one of the many days of her negligence and self-gratification, she came home with her best friend, Sharon, who happens to be one of the wives of a minister in the country. They had a discussion Dara didn't want Zoe to hear, so she told her to go into the room. But inquisitive Zoe leaned on the door frame, covered with a curtain, so she could hear what they were saying.

“Darasimi, I'm telling you. This guy likes you, no lies. You better shine your eye and grab him unless someone else does,” Sharon had said.

“Sharon, I understand you. But what of my children, he also has a daughter.” Dara replied.

“I know, but does that mean you won't give him another child? Even children. Come on! You are young and in good shape. If you want to have four children for him, you still can.” Sharon said.

“You don't seem to understand me, do you remember when he was talking with Morris? Do you remember what he said?” Dara asked.

“Yes, I remember, Dara. But there is a solution to everything my dear. He said he can't marry a woman with more than one child, right?” Emily asked.

"Yes!"

"Simple, you will just become a mother of one!” Sharon explained.

"Sharon what are you saying, I have two girls. I don't understand you.”

“You will,” Sharon said sitting closer to her. “You will tell him you have only one child, which will be Emily. And you will take Zoe to someone else's house to live.”

Zoe was shocked at what her mother's friend said. She hoped her mother would borrow a little sense and not agree with what Sharon suggested.

“Hmmm, that's true. My God! I never thought of that. Babe, you are a genius!” Dara said giving Sharon a high five.

Zoe was shocked, to say the least, her little feeble heart couldn't take it. She was heartbroken her mother would want to do that to her.

"To think that Zoe is so much like her father, always complaining and being picky. She was her father's favorite, and she looks too much like that loser. I'll make her live with someone, and I'll take Emily with me.” Dara said with a wide devilish grin.

Her mother just decided to get rid of her, but she tried hard not to think too deeply about it.

Mummy will never leave me, she kept saying to herself, but she couldn't speak this into existence. Her mother was determined!

Her father left her and never returned, she hoped and hoped he would walk in one day, but he never did. She couldn't hear his voice again. All that remained of him in her, were the sweet memories they had shared.

Emily was leaving her too, not like she understood what was going on. But Zoe couldn't help but feel betrayed that her sister was leaving with her mother to have a better life. She couldn't help but feel she was never even wanted in the equation.

Her mother was living her life and she was not ashamed of doing so. Her mother was leaving her without a second thought, all the time grinning wide and laughing. She was leaving her all alone to live life without hope and reason. Without love and its rhythm, she was to live an empty life.

The ones she cared for had all left her, so no one was allowed in Zoe's space.

Zoe rolled on the bed as the alarm went off. The night was cold, which she loved, but getting of bed seemed like a Herculean task. She had no choice though. It wouldn't be great being late to school on the first day of the final year. She groaned as she simultaneously pulled the blanket from her face and turned the alarm off.

She sat up as she managed to open her eyes, blinking them as she rubbed them with her hands. Her room was a self-contained apartment, an attachment of the main building which housed the family she was living with.

She lived alone, ate alone, read alone, and played her video games all alone. She was lonely, but she never admitted that, never. Her summer holiday was spent in the library, playing games, watching movies, and listening to music. Her life was just happening, nothing special.

She finally stood up and walked around the room. She switched on the light and her pink room brightened up. The features of the small room were in full view, the bed covered with pink sheets, blankets, and her teddy bears. There was a dressing table just beside the bed with a mirror and a chair, a reading table just on the other side of the room with a bookshelf just above it, and a small couch positioned in front of the television with a small table.

She walked into the bathroom and grabbed her toothpaste and brush. She brushed her teeth and removed the nightwear she was wearing and stepped into the bath as she turned the shower on.

After a few minutes, she finished her bath and stepped out of the bathtub. She dried her wet body and creamed it. Just then her phone rang, she picked it up as she stared at the screen. Seeing the caller ID, she rolled her eyes and hissed silently as she picked the call.

"Hello,” the caller said in a whisper.

“Hello Mum,” Zoe replied.

“Hush, don't call me mum. My husband is awake; he can't hear you saying that please,” Darasimi said in a whisper.

Zoe rolled her eyes at her mother's words. “Okay.”

“So how are you doing?” she asked.

“I'm fine,” Zoe said dryly.

"Fine? Just fine?” Dara asked in wonder.

“Yes! Just fine.”

"Okay, so the reason I called you is to inform you I'll be sending you some money later today.”

“Okay,” she paused. “How is Emily?” Zoe asked.

“She's fine, she's preparing for school,” she answered. “I have to go now, talk to you later,” she said as she cut the call.

Zoe dropped the phone and started dressing for school. After a few minutes, she was all clad, she sat on her bed to put on her socks as her phone chirped. She checked the phone; it was a message from the bank. Her mom had just credited her account. One hundred thousand nairas. She sighed and dropped her phone.

She finished dressing and stood in front of the mirror. Her lips curved in a small smile as she stared at the image in her view. She wondered how her Dad would have felt about her growth if he was still alive. Zoe had grown into a big girl in the years since her father’s death. A lot had changed.

The once bubbly little girl, who loved to have fun and play around had become the opposite. With no friends and lonely, she had become cold and weird.

She looked so much like her dad and it had become a habit for her to stare at the mirror for long. She believes a Gbemiga still lived, deep inside her.

The morning was beautiful, quiet, calm, and chilly. It had rained in the early hours of the day, so the ground was wet, and the atmosphere cold, but that was the way Zoe loved it. Zoe was fond of cold days. They reminded her of the good memories she had with her Dad. It made her miss his warm embrace and how it made her feel safe. Back in the day, she would always spend the night with her parents on cold nights.

Zoe's mind traveled to these beautiful memories again as she sauntered off to school. The path she took to school was lonely and quiet. It was an estate so there were big buildings on either side of the road. She clasped her hands and rubbed them as she was really cold.

It occurred to her that it was weird to have a rainy morning on the first day of a new session. She smiled as she remembered what her dad usually said when it rained in the morning: he believed something beautiful was about to happen. He would call it 'showers of blessing.’

Zoe never believed this. She had experienced many rainy mornings, but the day only ever turned out to be clumsy with little or no activities. Zoe walked on until she got to the road leading directly to the school. The road was busier, as cars, buses, and bikes drove into the school. Students were walking to school too, grinning widely, obviously excited about the new session.

Her eye caught a particular family; two students from the school with their parents talking. They looked so alike and the thought of how beautiful they looked almost made her wish she had a family. She wished so much. She hastened her steps as she took her eyes off them.

She walked into the school gate and saw some of her classmates laughing boisterously. She smirked and shook her head in disapproval as the girls behaved childishly, laughing and making noise. The only reason that could have made them this happy was because the girls, Julia and Gracious, got promoted.

They were the dumbest students in the class, the two struggled with who would have the lowest grade every session. Their attitudes were irritable to Zoe, but probably cool with the other students, who seemed to love them a lot. Their clumsiness was the only thing that made Zoe notice them, especially Julia.

Julia and Zoe had been classmates for kindergarten. They were friends while younger, but ever since the death of Zoe's father, their relationship drowned. Zoe and Julia also became classmates in secondary school, but for the past five years, Zoe can count the number of times she had spoken to Julie. The times they did speak, Julia was the one to spark up the conversations.

Zoe was known to be on her own, with no friends and possibly no enemies, no one gets closer to her than two conversations. Julia was the fun one with many friends on the block, she was the one to get invited to parties and the one whose name was always on people’s lips. She had always strived to get Zoe's attention, looking for ways to talk to her and maybe looking for a way to mend their friendship. But then, Julia wasn't just a friend Zoe had before her father's death; she was also the dumbest girl in class and Zoe didn't want anything to do with her.

Zoe continued walking, not greeting anyone, and walked straight to the back of the class. But she stared at the desks because they looked different, they were joined together now. She winced and turned to her left. Her classmates were spotted together. She tapped one of the boys, Matthew, on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, then she asked, “Why are the desks like this?” Matthew stared at her in starstruck awe, completely carried away by the fact that Zoe was talking to him, that he forgot all about the question.

Matthew had a long time crush on Zoe, he had confessed when they were in SS1, but had been rejected in a terrible way. But he had never stopped liking her, even when Zoe said he looked stupid in his saggy glasses. Zoe would never talk to him, so her standing in front of him asking some question he had forgotten about, was an achievement for him.

"Hello?” Zoe asked, bringing him back to reality.

“Huh?” he asked. Zoe brought her hand to her face to show her frustration, the guy didn't answer the question.

“Why are the desks like this?” she asked again, her voice sending chills down the poor boy's spine.

“Oh, that's the new arrangement. You know, final year students sit together,” he finally replied, and he blinked his eye, avoiding direct eye contact with the angel that just dropped from heaven.

“Oh.” Zoe sighed as she walked to the back of the class and sat at the back seat on the middle column.

It was a tradition in the school for final year students to sit in twos. Zoe had always thought it was stupid, her cold nature buttressing this. Who would be ready to sit with a freak like her? She was not ready for anyone trying to get into her space. Throughout the morning, no one came to sit beside her because her gaze alone wasn't welcoming.

After the morning gathering, the students went back to class. Julia was sitting right in front of her, and Zoe groaned at this development. Julia was always sleeping in class, not finishing assignments—that wasn't a type of vibe she appreciated. And Julia was the type who would take the opportunity of copying homework to starting a stupid conversation. One thing that amazed Zoe was that Julia was always doing poorly, but she had never repeated a class.

The class became noisy and full of vibes as the students were all excited about the new session. Zoe was on her own as always, reading a new novel she had just gotten. She was so engrossed in the novel that she only noticed the teacher enter when the students greeted her.

"Good Morning, ma, you are welcome!” the class chorused.

Mrs. Komolafe, the class teacher, was fond of Zoe and liked her a lot. Zoe's name was always on her mind when she corrected other students. She also loved to send Zoe on lots of errands.

"Good morning class,” Mrs. Komolafe said as she walked around the class, staring at her student's robust faces.

"I see you all enjoyed your holiday, with your round cheeks and fat bodies.”

The whole class laughed at her comment. But stopped as soon as her demeanor changed.

“This is your final year in this school, students. And you have a lot of work to do, starting from today, this moment. You need to work hard! Your final exam is months away. You need to work early now, start working now! If you were not working hard before, you need to start working now! I would love you to clap your hands for Zoe Adeleke. She was the best student for SS2 again,” she said. The class clapped as Zoe watched with a straight face.

“Zoe, I wouldn't be nervous about your performance in the final exams, no. You have proven your capacity and I'm so proud of you.”

“You guys should emulate her. Especially those of you that got promoted on trial. You need to work hard like Zoe. I'm disappointed in some of you, for example, Julia, you always make me ashamed in the staff room. Your results are nothing to write home about, and if you are not careful, I'm not sure of your success in your final exams,” Mrs. Komolafe said.

Zoe watched as Julia dropped her head as soon as Mrs. Komolafe started talking about her grades. She smirked and looked out, watching the school compound from the class window.