HER SAFE HAVEN

When I said I no longer stayed with my parents you probably thought they threw me out on the street.....well they couldn't.



Even though I deserved that, having stood up to my mother like that.



I don't know how, but somehow I ended up living with my Grandmother for the next four years of my life.



My mom had made that decision out of anger but I couldn't care less, as long as I had a chance at chasing my dreams.



I'll be honest, this decision wasn't the best for me at first.....



If I were to choose, I would have chosen my Aunt, who had a nice house, job and family.



Too bad I couldn't choose. 



Anyway, Grandma's place turned out to be the best option eventually.



My first three months were intimidating anyway. I was not fond of relating with elderly people because they are like fortune tellers.



It can be really creepy...



Well, this creepy grandmother was my safe haven. She was and remains the best! 



This woman literally saved my life.



The irony is that she gave birth to my mother.



My mother who out of God knows what kinda love decided to stand against my dreams....



My grandmother was quite the opposite. She supported me all the way.



In my grandmother's house, there I met Mary, the househelp.



Mary was three years older than me. She was kind and seemed like a perfect daughter for my mother and granddaughter for my grandmother.



On my arrival, my grandmother seemed to frown at everything I did. Even when I took in air, she would have something to say.



I was so frustrated that I decided to find out the reason behind her behavior towards me....



So one evening, I decided to have a mini family meeting with my grandmother right under the mango tree where she loved to sit...



"Grandma, I'm sorry", I started, believing I sounded sorry.



Not knowing what to expect from her, I continued.....



"I'm really sorry grandma. I'm so sorry ma"



"These are the words you should say to your parents for this despicable attitude of yours"



Oh, I didn't tell you? Well my grandmother was a classroom teacher in her days. I always found it exciting to hear her speak the English language.



But now wasn't the time to hear grandma show off her fluency. I just needed to hear those words badly.



I needed to hear her say she would not stop me like my mother did.



I just needed her to tell me I still had hope even though I was now living under her roof.



"But grandma, you know...I was...I mean I tried to.... uhm.....I"



I started stammering because at this point, I was really nervous.



"What would you do in return if I grant you the freedom you long for?"



Well, this was different from what I wanted to hear but I could work with this.....



"Anything you ask me to do ma. I'll do it all"



Her mischievous smile meant nothing to me since she had already promised to support me.



If only I had known that it was just a trap....oh my God! 



Before I could protest and get myself out of the mess I just got into, Grandma had turned me to Mary, the househelp.



I literally did all the house chores. The necessary ones and the ones that weren't necessary.



You can put the blame on me though.....



"Grandma, I promise to do anything you want me to do ma. Just name it. You can even ease Mary of her work ma. I would do what Mary cannot do for you"



That's the devil at work. I made false promises just so I could get favour from my grandmother.



She laid Mary off like I suggested and that was how I became Allyson, the househelp...,...