It was the middle of the night, the pale moonlight spilling across the room, casting soft patterns on the walls through sheer curtains.
In the stillness of the night, the restless sounds of cupboards being rummaged through reverberated like whispers in the dark.
Maya, a little girl snuggled in her bed, stirred as her brows knitted together, the persistent noise plucking at her sleepy awareness.
As she blinked her eyes open, her long dark lashes fluttered like the wings of a startled bird, and she squinted at the figure of her mother, silhouetted in the dim light, hastily packing items into a large suitcase.
"Mama," Maya called out, her voice barely a whisper, edged with confusion.
She watched her mother's frantic movements—clothes flying in and out of the suitcase, the air thick with urgency.
When silence swallowed her initial question, she tried again, her tone rising to a firmer pitch, "Mama, what are you doing?" She perched on the edge of her bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her small hand, the fabric of her nightgown warm against her skin.
Still, there was no answer.
Fully awake now, curiosity propelled Maya to her feet, and she padded silently across the cool floor toward her mother.
Tentatively, she reached out, tapping her gently on the arm, but was abruptly pushed back, the force enough to send her stumbling.
Shock widened her brown eyes, bright with innocence. "Mama?" she inquired again, her voice trembling.
"Enough, Maya!" Romina snapped, her voice sharp as a crack of thunder, her eyes narrowed like thin slits. "I've had more than enough of your interruptions. Go back to sleep and pretend you didn't see any of this!"
Maya felt a thick lump form in her throat, tears brimming in her wide eyes. "Mama, what do you mean?" she questioned, glancing at the luggage that seemed to speak of departure. "Are we going somewhere?"
Romina scoffed, the noise bitter and harsh, breaking through the fragile quiet.
"We? No, I am going, and you are not coming with me. I've had it with taking care of you and your endless needs. I have my own life to live, and I refuse to be held back by you!" Her words sliced through the air like a knife, each one wrapped in frustration and resentment.
"You're the reason everything has changed for me. You came into my life by mistake, and now I'm entangled in a mess that I never wanted. If I hadn't gotten pregnant, my life would have been brilliant—I would have mingled with important people and attended glamorous events instead of being trapped here with you."
Maya's heart sank, the weight of her mother's words settling heavily on her small frame.
She struggled to grasp this unexpected torrent of anger. She had always tried to be a good daughter—quiet, obedient, and striving to bring light to her mother's dark moods. But today, it felt as if she had become a burden.
The final sound of the suitcase zipper closing echoed in the silence, a finality that made Maya's heart race.
Romina stood tall, suitcase in hand, her back turned as she moved toward the door, leaving Maya behind in a whirlwind of confusion and despair.
Fueled by desperation, Maya hurried forward, wrapping her small arms tightly around her mother's leg, her grip firm and unyielding. "I'm sorry, Mama! I promise I won't cause any trouble again. Please, stay with me!" she cried, desperation lacing her voice, as tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking her nightgown.
"Let go of me, you're being ridiculous," Romina shot back, her tone laden with irritation, attempting to shake Maya off, but the strength of the little girl's grip startled her mother.
Maya refused to relent. Her world revolved around her mother—this woman was her only anchor, her sole companion in a life that felt vast and lonely. She couldn't bear the thought of being left behind.
"Mama, please! I'm begging you," she whimpered, her voice breaking, as fear and sorrow coiled tightly around her heart. "I swear I'll be better. Just don't leave me."
In that moment, with tears glistening like jewels on her cheeks, Maya poured her soul into her plea, yet Romina still remained hard-headed and angry, as if the girl's tears would never move her.
"If you don't let me go right now, I swear I'll make you regret this!" Romina snarled, her voice dripping with defiance.
Maya stood her ground, determination surging within her despite the fear clawing at her heart.
Romina gritted her teeth, the taste of anger bitter in her mouth, as she leaned down, her fingers straining to pry Romina's iron grip from her leg.
The girl's fingers were like a vice, impossibly tight, but Maya knew she had to summon every ounce of strength she possessed.
After an arduous struggle, filled with grunts of exertion, Romina finally managed to peel Maya off, sending the girl stumbling to the floor.
Seizing her chance, Romina dashed for her bag, the fabric swaying wildly as she charged toward the door.
The last image etched in Maya's mind as the door slammed shut was the fury etched across her mother's half-shadowed face—a mix of anger and something unrecognizable—before the world plunged into a suffocating silence and darkness.
As the darkness enveloped her, dread coiled tightly in Maya's chest.
Desperate and disoriented, she scrambled to her feet, her heart racing as she dashed into the farthest corner of the room. There, she wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, trying to shield herself.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and heavy, as she clung to the fragile hope that this nightmare was just a cruel figment of her imagination—it was not; the reality was far harsher.
Maya cried until exhaustion finally claimed her, surrendering to sleep's embrace in the cold corner, alone and vulnerable.
At dawn, the quiet was shattered when the door swung open with a violent force, as large figures swaggered into the room, their imposing silhouettes casting long shadows on the walls.
Panic surged through Maya as her wide eyes darted around, searching for answers, her heart pounding like a war drum.
She held her breath until she spotted a man of average height, his pot belly protruding like a deflated balloon, a stub of tobacco clenched between his teeth.
The landlord had arrived.
****
Hello.
Dear readers, I'm on a new journey again. I hope you can join me until the end, I promise to get better at each writing and give you the satisfaction you want. I only write for you, after all.
If you like this chapter, don't hesitate to engage. I'll always respond, you engaging fuels me into writing more, so don't hesitate.
Love, Zia.