Chapter Nine- Sorrow

She played with the meal on the table in front of her using the fork in her right. It was her favorite meal;Pepperoni Pasta especially when it's prepared by her granny but she just couldn't bring herself together to eat it.Maa Samira watched her quietly from her seat just across her, this had been so for the past one week.

Yes, a week and She seemed not have forgotten what had happened to her. She shook her head: Not even a year would make her forget the most painful misfortune she had had to encounter.

"Baby Doll!" Maa Samira called but she was silent because she never heard her. She sighed and almost shouted her full name "Raina Akeem!"

She raised her head a bit to meet the sad eyes of her Grandma.

"You should eat if you want to live, I don't expect you to get over what had happened to you so quick but if drown yourself in sorrow then I'm sorry to break to you that you would never be able to move on"She revealed to her in a calm tone. Tears began to roll down her cheeks; "I can't...!"She stammered and sniffed in loudly; " I can't because no matter how I try to the events of that day keep replaying in my mind, I always get nightmares about it happening to me again....it..!"She choked on her tears; " It's become a scar.... a scar I would have to live no matter how many years that would pass it'll still be there because I will always remember it" She threw the whole truth at her. Maa Samira nodded slowly. She was right but she wouldn't make her believe she thought so.

"But that shouldn't stop you from eating you need to recover Raina don't tell me you would want to limp for the rest of your life you're still a teenager and it'll be bad to have back pains at your age even an old lady like doesn't have back pains who does in this modern world!" Maa Samira joked and Raina giggled a bit. The first after a week. Her mind went to her family: Had they forgotten her or do they miss her like she was missing them?

Her Mom, Her Brother, Saiba; Although She was a prick in her life she still missed her and.... and her Dad. Was he back from his trip and already knows what had happened to her? Her heart skipped a painful beat.

" Would you eat or should I forcefully feed you?" Maa Samira's voice interrupted her thoughts.

She slowly shook her head; " I would eat!" She informed her as she slowly took a bite with the fork. She paused and took the taste in her mouth as she continued to chew it: The same taste; Delicious. She slowly began to eat and Maa Samira seemed satisfied seeing her do so. She smiled wryly.

" Do you like it?" She asked her even though she the answer. Raina nodded severally " Delicious and Edible as always!" She revealed and she saw Maa Samira blush a bit.

They continued to eat silently when the telephone from the living room began to ring; " I'll get it!" Maa Samira exclaimed as she slowly got up and walked to the living room living Raina who was curious. Who could be calling her Grandma? She wondered because since she arrived at her house a week ago she hadn't received any calls.

She got up stood by the pillar inches from the dining room where she could see her Grandma in the living room.

"Hello who's this?" She heard her ask a bit annoyed as she waited for the other person on the receiver to reply.

" Meiza..?" Raina's eyes widened in shook when she heard the name from her Grandma's lips.

"Yes she's here with me I thought you knew that?" She spoke a bit irritated with one hand on her waist.

" You're coming here what for?" Raina was in more shock as her legs became weak and couldn't support her anymore. She slowly sat on the floor with her back against the pillar as tears fell rapidly from her widened eyes. No, this wasn't happening?

" Alright whatever suits you!" Her Grandma said before hanging up. What would happened to her now? She knew she would have to face but she never it'll be this soon. She placed her head on her knees as she continued to weep bitterly. Her Grandma saw and knew she had heard the conversation she had with her father; Meiza Akeem. She knelt by the girl and slowly placed her hand on her back to console.

She knew she was scared of facing her father and she wouldn't blame because she knew her nephew Meiza was a strict person. Raina slowly raised her head to meet her Grandma's eyes: " I'm scared!" She confessed still weeping.

Maa Samira felt moved as she hugged her ; " Don't worry I'm here, he wouldn't dare do anything as far as I'm around" She gave her word. Raina knew it was true: because she trusted her more than herself.