Patience Sitali

Chapter One

My name is Elizabeth. I was the only child in my family. My parents always practiced hospitality and had taken over so many cousins that I never really faltering the loneliness anymore. A tragic accident happened one day and both my parents found themselves on a death bed. A month later, my dad passed away and my mother was stuck in a comma.

My eldest cousins quickly took control of everything immediately after dad's burial. George and Godfrey treated me like trash and tormented me in my own parents house. My other cousins were silenced because they feared going through the same torture but I knew they didn't really care.

Melissa was the only one who cared. She encouraged me to keep on fighting and that I'll be able to get through it all. She told me that everything happens for a reason and that my current condition was meant to prepare me for something greater in the future. I tried to understand her perspective but my heart was to hurt to allow all the pain in and silently tolerate it. I wanted a way out.

Everyone claimed they had suffered under my parents hands but I knew they were just a bunch of ingrates. They said I was the reason because my parents always favoured me above all of them but my parents were fair, so fair that at times I wondered if they remembered that I was there biological child.

"Melissa, I am going away from here," I said to Melissa one night. Everyone had gone to sleep so there was no chance of someone overhearing our conversation.

"And where are you going to go? This is your home Liz," she said.

"No Lisa. This was only my home when our parents where here. This is now a strange place to me. It will never be my home, at least not with mom and dad," I told her as tears rolled down my cheeks. I missed my parents badly.

"And what if mom comes out of her coma and finds you not here. How am I supposed to explain to her?"

"I will visit mom everyday and so when she comes out of her coma I'll be the first to know and I will tell her everything."

"What about me Liz? Who's going to be here for me? You know I don't get along well with the others. You are my best friend."

"Stay strong Lisa. You best friend will be back for you. Right now you have a roof on your head and an assurance of a meal. You won't have that with me because I'm not staying no matter what you say. So for me, take care of everyone," I told her.

"I'll miss you Liz. And I will take care of everyone."

"Thank you Lisa. I'll be leaving tomorrow night."

"Can I know where you are going?"

"I myself don't know but just promise that you'll take care of yourself because I don't want to lose the only true sister that I have."

"I will."

We slept peacefully that night. It was the most peaceful night I had ever had since my parents accident and also the last in my parents home. The following day, I was a good girl. Doing everything I was told and not answering back at anyone.

"You know, if you continue like this, your life here might be more tolerable," Jennifer said, she was the eldest among the girls. I gave her a sweet smile and continued with whatnot was doing.

"Liz, are you really leaving us?" Melissa asked me.

"Shhh, someone might hear. And yes I'm leaving" I told her.

"Can I come with you?"

"No Lisa. I don't want you to join my suffering," I said.

"What are you two whispering about?" Jake asked. He was just a year younger than Jennifer and also the second youngest among the boys. He was also the rudest. The youngest boy, Timothy, was the sweetest. He was two years younger than me.

"Nothing," I quickly answered.

"Yes, nothing. At least non that concerns you," Melissa said. I really admired her courage. Had I been the one to answer like that, a slap would have greeted my face. But she was lucky George was her biological brother, he was the one calling all the shots.

Jake glared at us then left. Melissa burst out into laughter.

"Did you see his face?" she asked me and I just smiled and shook my head.

"You better get out of here because your brother won't hesitate slapping me if he finds us gossiping," I said.

"Oh come on. We aren't gossiping," she said.

"No one will believe that. Either way, we can't tell anyone that unless we intend on sharing the truth, which I don't," I said.

"Okay," she sulked and dragged herself away.