Silent Screams - Season 1 - Episode 18

4 years ago

Silent Screams - Season 1 - Episode 18

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Unedited
Leila pushed the door open and softly walked into the living room Chibuye had just dropped her home.
She greeted her parents but they didn’t respond, she was about to walk past them into her room when her father called her name.

‘Yes,’
‘Where were you this evening?’ he asked glancing at his wall clock.
‘I went out with a friend after work, I am sorry I lost track of time.’
‘Who is Chibuye and why did he pick you up from work today?’

Leila’s heart slammed hard against her chest, she knew she was in trouble but how did her father know about Chibuye, did he have her followed?

‘When I warned you about boyfriends you though I was crazy, didn’t you?’
‘Dad Chibuye is just a friend there is nothing between us.’

‘How many times am I going to tell you to behave like a married woman, do you want to bring destruction upon this family huh is that what you want?’

‘Aside from the fact that I am being forced to marry someone I don’t know, I am not allowed to have a social life too?’ She angrily asked

At that she felt a hot slap across her face, ‘Don’t f--k with me Leila,’ her father yelled in his harsh voice.
‘I am tired of this humiliation and I am tired of being treated like garbage. If you don’t want me in this house anymore then I will leave,’ she yelled back at him.
Leila had had enough and this time around she wasn’t going to stand by and watch him her like this, she was going to fight back with all her might.

‘Leila please don’t talk to your father like that,’ her mother pleaded
‘You and your husband are birds of the same feathers, shameless people.’
‘How dare you?’ Her father asked, she could see the anger in his eyes.

‘Every single day I am more than convinced you people aren’t my parents.’
Her father was infuriated, he raised his hand to slap her again but this time around, Leila grabbed his hand and pushed him down.
‘Not anymore father, I will not allow you to abuse me anymore.’

‘Leila!’ Her mother screamed in disbelief
‘The minute you raise this filthy hand on me again, I swear I will kill you,’ she yelled through gritted teeth.

‘So you have grown big headed,’ her father laughed.

‘Call it whatever you want but don’t you dare hit me again, I am tired of your abuse.’
He stood up, ‘Young girl you don’t know me very well.’

‘Daniel let her be,’ his wife pleaded
She turned to Leila, ‘Please go to your room.’

‘With pleasure,’ Leila mumbled to herself before she left for her room.

*

Daniel was furious, his daughter was turning out to be a problem and if he didn’t find a solution soon, destruction would befall his family.

‘Abby you need to talk to that girl, did you just hear what she said.’
‘You are putting too much pressure on her Daniel, can’t she live a little.’

‘I am doing what’s expected of me, you need to do what to do too. Don’t get too attached to the idea of having her with you always.’

‘I kept her in this womb for nine months, she s----d these breasts and I watched her take her first step, tell me how could I have not gotten attached?’
‘You knew she wasn’t yours in the first place.’

‘I just hate to see my daughter in so much pain.’

‘There is nothing we can do about it, you know the consequences.’
‘Can’t she elope can’t we say no to this?’

Daniel laughed, ‘Abby we have been through this already.

Take a deep breath take a bath and just calm down.’

‘Do you even care about her, did you ever love our daughter.’

‘She was never ours Abby.’

Abby shook her head,’ talking to you is a waste of time.’

Daniel shook his head, before he stood up and headed for his bedroom.

*

Leila had just finished taking her bath when someone knocked on her door.

She threw on a bath robe and slightly opened the door.

It was her mother.

‘How can I help you?’ asked Leila,
‘Can I come in?’
‘I need to rest mother please.’
‘Leila.’

‘What do you want from me?’ she asked annoyance in her voice
‘I just want us to talk.’

‘Fine,’ she stepped aside and allowed her in.

She closed the door shut and walked past her mother to her closet.
‘How are you?’ Her mother asked
Leila laughed, ‘Since when do you care about how I am doing?’
‘You are my child and I care for you Leila.’
Leila clicked her tongue, ‘I see.’
She pulled out a pair of pajamas.
‘Leila I am your mother and I love you as much as I love Alfred and Jada, if I could save you from all this I swear I would……’
‘But?’ Leila cut her short.
‘Things are just way too complicated right now and you can’t understand.’
‘Are you even my real mother?’ Leila asked
‘Leila.’

‘How come he is allowed to hurt me and you never do anything, shouldn’t you be my safe place?’

‘Leila you wouldn’t understand.’
‘Is this all you came to tell me?’
‘I came to tell you to be strong Leila and to accept whatever comes your way, please don’t fight this and please don’t go around seeking for answers.’

‘Did he send you?’ she yelled, ‘did your husband send you to tell me all this?’
‘No,’ she shook her head. ‘He didn’t send me.’

‘There was a time I actually thought I had a mother but not anymore, please leave my room I need to get dressed.’
‘Leila.’

‘Please leave before I say something I will regret later.’

*

Abby turned to leave the room and paused at the doorway to look at her daughter one more time.

There was a mixture of anger and pain in Leila’s eyes.

She walked out, quietly shutting the door behind her.
*