Deadly obsession ,Chapter 1
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It was morning, and I woke up and sat up, looking around the room. I stretched my arms and legs, feeling a bit groggy. I noticed that Zamo was no longer next to me, and my heart started racing. I got out of bed and searched the house for her, calling out her name. I couldn't find her anywhere, and I started to panic. I was about to give up when I heard a noise at the front door. I rushed to it, and when I opened it, I saw the stranger from the night before standing there with Zamo in his arms. They were laughing and talking,as if they were old friends. I felt a mixture of relief and confusion. I rushed up to them and took Zamo from the man's arms.
Me:"Where were you?" I asked her, my voice shaking. "Where did you take my sister?" I turned to the man, my voice rising.
Him:"Hey, it's okay," he said, holding up his hands in a calming gesture. "Everything is okay. Zamo and I went for a walk. Ahe wanted to go with me"
I looked down at Zamo, who was smiling up at me.
Me:"Zamo, you know I've told you not to go off with strangers," I said sternly. "I thought we talked about this." Zamo looked down at her feet, looking ashamed.
Zamo:"But he's not a stranger," she mumbled. "He's my friend."
Me:"I don't care," I said, still upset. "You should never go off with someone you don't know. Do you understand?"
Zamo nodded, her eyes wide and scared. I felt a pang of guilt for yelling at her, but I was so relieved to have her back.
I look at the man and say
Me:"don't ever do what you did taking my little sister with you without telling me first are we clear?"
He nodded, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes - regret, maybe? I didn't want to hear what he had to say, so I turned and took Zamo back to the room. She sat on the couch and I went to fix up the bed we had been sleeping in.
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There was a knock on the door, and Zamo ran to answer it. I heard her talking to someone, and then she came back into the room. She was carrying a bag, and she handed it to me.
Zamo:"Sis, here are your clothes," she said.
Me:"Where did you get these?"
I asked, feeling a knot in my stomach.
Zamo:"The stranger brought them for you," she said, beaming. I looked at the bag in my hands, feeling a mix of emotions. On the one hand, I was grateful for the new clothes. On the other hand, I was upset that this man had been shopping for me without my knowledge or consent. I looked at Zamo, who was wearing new clothes as well. I realized I didn't know what to do next.
Zamo:"You see? There's no stranger that can do this, sis. I told you he is my friend," Zamo said as she went back to the couch. She seemed angry. I sighed. Maybe I had overreacted, but I was just trying to protect her.
Me:"Come," I said to Zamo. "Let me help you get a bath."
Zamo:"No," she said. "The doctor has already bathed me."
I was stunned.
Me:"What?" I asked, a feeling of dread settling in my stomach.
Zamo:"The doctor," Zamo repeated, her voice shaking. "When I told Uncle stranger it hurt down there when I pee, he took me to a doctor."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My heart started to race, and my hands began to shake. I felt like I was going to be sick.
I left Zamo where she was and went into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me, turned on the water, and let it run cold. I stripped off my dirty hoodie and got into the shower. The water felt good on my skin, and I closed my eyes, trying to clear my head.
When I finished, I got out and dried myself off. I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that were bought for me. They fit perfectly, which was strange. How did this man know my sizes? I brushed my hair and tried to compose myself. I couldn't stop thinking about what Zamo had told me. How could she trust a stranger like that? I knew she was only five years old, but it was still hard for me to understand. I left the bathroom and went into the living room. I saw the man standing at the kitchen table, making breakfast. He looked up at me as I entered the room.
Him:"It's rude to stare, miss," he said. I looked away, embarrassed. I had been caught staring. I walked over to the table and stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do. The man placed a plate of food in front of me.
"Eat," he said, his voice gentle but firm. I looked down at the plate. There was bacon, eggs, and toast. It smelled amazing, and my stomach growled. I was so hungry, I hadn't realized how much I'd been ignoring my hunger. I picked up a fork and started eating. The food was delicious, and I couldn't help but feel grateful to this man for making me breakfast. I still had so many questions, but I decided to wait to ask them until after I had eaten. I focused on my food, and the man disappeared in to the kitchen .
The man came back into the living room, carrying a small plastic . He placed it on the table in front of me.
Him:"These are the medications the doctor gave me for Zamo," he said. I nodded, my stomach in knots."I'm sorry for what happened to her," he said, his voice soft and full of compassion. I finished my food, my mind racing. I didn't know what to say. I finally looked up at him.
Me:"I---- thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "For all of this."
Him:"All of what?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. I paused, not sure what to say. How could I even begin to express my gratitude? Finally, I spoke.
Me:"Everything," I said. "For saving me and Zamo, for taking care of us, for feeding us, for taking her to a doctor." I paused, trying to find the right words. "I don't know what I would have done without you." he smiled,
Him:"It's no trouble," he said. "I'm just glad I could help."
There's silence for a while.
Him:"She said this isn't the first time he's done this," he said, his voice quiet and somber. I choked on my coffee, shocked by what he had just said.
Me:"What?" I said, my voice trembling. "She told you that?" He nodded, and I felt like the ground was falling out from under me. I thought back to all the times Zamo had been distant or withdrawn. I had thought she was just acting like a typical five-year-old, but now I wondered if there was more to it.
Me:"Why didn't she tell me?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Him:"Maybe she was scared to tell you," he said, his voice kind and understanding. "It's not an easy thing for a child to talk about, especially with a family member. She may have been worried about how you would react." I sat there, absorbing what he had said. I knew he was right, but I couldn't help but feel hurt that Zamo hadn't come to me. I had always tried to be a good sister to her, and I thought we had a strong bond. How could she not tell me about something so important?
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
Me:"I'm just... processing it all," I said, my voice still a bit shaky. "It's hard to believe that something like this was happening, and I didn't even know about it." He nodded, his expression sympathetic.
Him: "It's not easy to hear something like that," he said. "But it's good that you know now. You can help Zamo and make sure she's safe." I felt a wave of protectiveness wash over me. I would do anything to keep Zamo safe, no matter what.
Him:"Listen, I need to go out for a little while," he said. "You'll be okay here, right? There's food in the fridge, and you can watch TV or read a book if you want. I'll be back soon." He took off the apron he was wearing and walked to the door, grabbing his keys as he left. I stood there for a moment, feeling a bit lost. I decided to go to the kitchen and start washing the dishes from breakfast. I finished that task and then went to check on Zamo. She was fast asleep on the couch, her face peaceful and serene.
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ZIBUSISO
How could a father do something so horrible to his own daughter, especially one so young? I could not understand how someone could do that to a child. It made me so angry and so sad at the same time. I was glad that Zamo had opened up to me, even though it was hard for her. I knew it took a lot of courage for her to talk about what had happened. I felt a new sense of respect and admiration for her. A five-year-old, with the strength to face such a horrible experience and still be so resilient. It was truly amazing.
I closed my eyes and silently prayed that I would never have to see her father at all noy even by mistake. I didn't know what I would do if I did. I forced myself to think about something else, and I decided to go to the office and do some work. It was the only thing I could think of that would take my mind off of everything. I worked until I was too tired to think straight, and then I went to the chill house to see my friends. I needed some time away from everything, and I knew they would understand.
I arrived at the chill house and was greeted by familiar faces. We sat around the fire.
to be continued…
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