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ANNA~

There's this thing about tragedy; it doesn't strike once. It just waits for the first one to strike.

What do they even say about tragedies? That it's a phase. Well, maybe they're right but it's got to be the longest phase of my life. Saddest one even. In just a blink of an eye everything turned sour and bitter.

Last year, early February, my father lost all his money- millions- to a Ponzi scheme. While we tried to get the grasp of things, my brother of fifteen years was diagnosed of cancer in April. My father borrowed a lot of money and eventually sold our house and we had to relocate to this part of Abuja.

Everything we had went into my brother's chemotherapy. My parents became a shadow of themselves. Things changed drastically. There was less laughter to share and even less words to speak.

In exactly six months, he died and took everything with him. My father had a cardiac arrest that put him in coma for a month and finally gave up the ghost.

My little brother took our laughter and the last love we had, leaving us with so much pain while my father left us with so much debts to pay. My mother still haven't recovered from the loss of son and husband. She spends all day in her room and leaves me to deal with the debts, including the landlord who's been breathing down my neck.

We concluded the funeral rites last month and all the money we got from the burial was used in paying the debts we owe.

I graduated and did my compulsory National youth service last two years and will turn twenty-four in December. It's all the more heartbreaking that I have to deal with everything by myself and still care of my mother who wouldn't stop grieving.

I sat down on the tiled floor in the empty living room and went through the envelopes that wouldn't stop coming. They are just too much to sort and they are over so much millions.

Why did he have to borrow so much? Henry still died, didn't he?

Remembering that I still have to make lunch for my mother, though she eats so little, I got into the kitchen to heat up the soup that I got the previous day from the restaurant where I work part time. I've been working there for two months now and though it doesn't pay much, it keeps us fed.

I took it to her room, opening the door just a little to peer inside. Sometimes she gets startled, so I make sure I move slowly and quietly around her. She had a wrapper draped over her as she faced the wall.

I settled down beside her bed, dropping the tray. If she knew I came in, she didn't show it. She hardly talks or even acknowledge my presence.

"Mum!" I whispered. She still lay motionless. "I brought your lunch. You need to eat before you take your afternoon pills. The doctor says it'll help calm you down so you shouldn't miss it." I said to her and got up to leave, sparing her one last glance before shutting the door quietly behind me.

A loud rap suddenly came on the door and my heart almost flew out. We don't receive visitors, so it's probably one of the men we're owing or the landlord himself. The landlord has been coming by himself to our flat, since we're owing over a year rent.

I dragged in air to my lungs and went to open the door. Just like I thought, it was the landlord. He is one of those men that drank more than they should have when they were younger. His potbelly that was protruding like that of a pregnant goat , his ogling dark eyes and his fat hands always makes me want to throw up.

I smiled begrudgingly at him and stepped away from the door, giving him enough room to walk through.

"I don't have the rent yet but if you could_" I told him as he stood at the centre of the room and turned to face me. Though he's an ugly bastard, he still intimidated the life out of me.

"If I could what, Anna? How many more years should I give you?" He said angrily, his Yoruba accent punctuating each word.

"I need more time, please."

He advanced closer to me, "I don't have time but I gave you a choice." He replied, looking squarely at me.

"And I still won't change my stance!" I said between clenched teeth. "Just give me till the end of the month. I'll pay."

We glared at each other till he finally gave a nod.

"I'll give you till then but if you don't_" he left the rest hanging in the air.

I swallowed and nodded, "I'll pay, I promise."

When I shut the door behind him, I felt so dizzy that my feet wobbled. I sat down on the floor to catch my breath. I was that way for over three minutes till I heard my phone ringing.

I picked myself up and went into my room, which was empty except for my clothes, my personal belongings and my brother's stuff. I could never bring myself to get rid of them, so I kept them.

I picked up the only expensive thing I own- my phone- from the bed and looked at the caller ID. It doesn't look familiar even as I pressed it over my right ear.

"Anna, It's me Cynthia. I sent you the address. You're still coming over, right?" A female voice which was a little pitched said into the phone.

I remembered right then that I had ran into a classmate, Cynthia. I saw her at the restaurant two days ago when she came to buy food. We were pretty close during our University days so was delighted to see each other. She took my number and said she'd call me and would love for me to pay her a visit.

I must have totally forgotten about it. You can't blame me though but God! She looked really good.

"Yes, I am just getting dressed. I'll be there." I lied.

When the line went dead, I searched through my inbox and read the address to myself while making a mental picture of what to wear.

When I was about leaving, I knocked on my mother's door to let her know I'll be stepping out for a while. I didn't get a reply and I wasn't surprised.

I texted Cynthia when the taxi I boarded dropped me infront of a building in an estate in Jabi. I was about calling her when I saw her come out from a gate and wave at me.

"You finally made it." She said when I got close. I gave her a wide grin without saying anything. We started up the front stairs of the house and I could see how beautiful and decorated the house is.

"I live with Estelle and Linda. You remember them right?" She asked as she pushed open the front door and stepped aside for me to precede her, shutting the door after her.

Of course I remember them. Estelle was the stubborn girl that almost fought with a lecturer during an examination. She was almost suspended but after everything, she was pardoned. While Linda was the girl that was rumoured to have something with the Dean of Studies. Nobody cared about the truth because all the male lecturers had a soft spot for her and it was so obvious.

I stepped into the living room to see Estelle sitting on the floor with her legs pulled up to her chest, though there were three sofas in the room. The television was on and she was eating something from a paper bowl. She turned to look at me and a big smile broke out.

"Anna! Wow! Is this really you?" She dropped the bowl and got up to hug my side, not wanting to smear me with whatever she was eating.

''Is Linda still on that call?" Cynthia asked, sitting down on the nearest sofa, pulling me along.

"Yes. Seems like everyone is booked."

Though I tried to hide it, I couldn't stop myself from admiring the decor. They were really doing something right, I admitted. While they tried to make me comfortable, I still felt out of place.

"How come no one is available_" Linda started and stopped abruptly when she saw me. Her anger was replaced with a big smile.

As we sat and talked, I realized how much I've been holding in and for so long. It felt relieving to talk to someone else about my unending problems that I almost cried.

They let me help myself to the chicken drumsticks Estelle was having earlier. As the conversation drifted from my sad life, we talked about funny moments in the university and every other thing.

When was the last time I laughed?

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