5| ZOE

Dark Skies: 5

5| Zoe

Saturday mornings and the feeling they bring, a feeling of freedom and rest, Zion inhaled the air with closed eyes and a smile on her face. She rolled on the bed grasping some portions of the sheets in her hand. She opened her eyes as she stared at the ceiling of a bigger room than she was used to. She sat up as she rubbed her eyes, she had slept there the previous night and it felt good to be served and honored, she did savor the entire moment.

Her mother was coming to see her today after six months, and somehow she felt good. It was always the same as the last time she came, with the hatred she nurtured towards her mom. Some way she always found herself being excited to see her again, even if she didn't show it.

She wished Emily would come this time, but she scolded herself immediately at the thought. She had not seen her sister since the day she was brought to live here. In the early years, she had cried and asked to see her many times but her mother never allowed that. Zoe assumed she was scared Emily would spill the beans about having a sister to her step-dad. Zoe got the chance to see her sister only on social media, the pictures her mother posted. And from the look of things, Emily had grown to look so much like her sister, that made Zoe very happy.

She got off the big bed and walked into the bathroom. She had entered the house after six months, yesterday, the Owolabi's had treated her special, showering her gifts, clothes, and good food. Just because they wanted her to give her mum good reports about them. She agreed simply because her bad comments won't even change anything. Her mom would only scold the Owolabis', and the worse scenario was making her leave there to live with someone else, Zoe was not ready for that kind of drama so she would follow the script.

Upon entering the bathroom, Zoe took the toothpaste and brush from the cup, she had dropped her toiletries in the room so that if her mother thought of doing an inspection there won't be any loopholes. She brushed her teeth thoroughly and then removed her clothes to take her bath. After taking her bath, she stepped into the room, started getting dressed. Halfway done with her getting ready, she brought out her Bluetooth speaker from the drawers and connected it to her, soon a song was blaring in the room and possibly across the rest of the building.

She swayed her hips to the beat of the song as she wore colorful loungewear. She packed her hair which she had loosened with the hope that her mom would take her to the salon, the chances being very very low, her mother wasn't as nice as her brain was painting her to be. After she was done, she jumped on the bed and picked up her phone. With the music still on she opened the phone, scrolling through the icons on her screen, she found the one she looked for. Zumba Classic, she tapped on it and the phone brought out a game layout.

She played the game for a long while before a knock sounded on the door. Zoe paused the game and music and walked towards the door. She opened it swiftly as saw Angela, who was the first daughter of the Owolabi's standing in her front. Zoe was just a year older than her, but Zoe was made to do all her chores while she still lived there. Zoe sneered as she glanced at her, assessing the fake smile etched on her face. There was no way she was happy with her, Angela was a very selfish person so seeing someone else sleeping in her room was upsetting her.

"What?" Zoe asked.

" Your food is ready" Angela responded with a smile.

"Okay", Zoe said curtly, slamming the door in her face, she was a hundred percent sure she was growling behind the door, this thought making Zoe smile.

She walked towards the bed and picked up her phone, checking the time it was 10:35 am.

Typical Saturday breakfast.

She walked outside the room and went downstairs to the dining, where the family was already eating. She saw her food covered on the table, walking briskly to the table she greeted the people on the table and lifted the food off the table.

"Why? Zoe darling you can eat with us". Mrs. Owolabi whined in her voice so sweet Zoe wanted to puke.

" Thanks for the offer ma, I'll eat in the lobby," Zoe said and motioned to leave.

"No dear, you eat here," Mrs. Owolabi said and before she could respond in the negative, he spoke up again. "I insist". 

Zoe groaned as she realized it was a lost fight, she would have to have breakfast with these hypocrites. She dug into the food and ate, after some minutes she was done, and so was everyone. She stood up to pack her plate when Angela held her hands. 

"Don't worry I'll do it" She muttered with a smile. Zoe watched in disbelief and Angela packed her plates, she loved to see it.

A knock sounded on the door which cut everyone's attention, Zoe was sure it was her mother, she had felt it. When the last born in the family walked to the door and opened it, she saw her mom in full view. She wanted to smile, rush to her, and jump on her hugging her, but her body restrained her. 

She just watched with moving as her mother entered the room and walked up to her.

"Zoe" she heard her mother say, he voice cold which caused shivers down her spine. She blinked her eyelids as her mom pulled her into a forced hug, still her body didn't bulge. She hugged her tightly as Zoe caught a whiff of perfume.

After a few more seconds, her mother released her, the remaining people in the room staring at the duo. "You've grown so big" Darasimi commented as she placed her hands on Zoe's shoulders, searching her eyes for any expression she could find.

"Good morning ma" Zoe greeted politely.

Darasimi nodded as she removed her hands and walked towards the chair, and sitting on it. She greeted the family and asked Angela and her brothers to bring in the things she had brought.

"Thanks for taking care of my daughter, I can't thank you guys enough," Darasimi said as she gestured Zoe to come to sit with her.

"There's no problem ma, Zoe is a special child and she is like a daughter to us", Mrs. Owolabi said making Zoe winced and smirk as she sat beside her mother. 

"Wao, that's great". Zoe's mother said as she drew Zoe closed, wrapping her arms around her 

"And we must say, thank you for the money you sent earlier in the week". Mr. Owolabi said.

"Oh, that was nothing" Zoe's mother stated. "I would love to take my daughter out now". She added.

"Oh okay". 

"So Zoe, shall we?" Zoe's mother said stretching her hands to the door. 

" Okay ma, I'll go change". Zoe said. 

"No you look good, you could just change your footwear and get your purse. I'll be waiting". She said with a smile.

Zoe rushed up the stairs and into the room, she changed her footwear into white sneakers. She grabbed her purse on the dresser and pulled the drawer, retrieving her headsets.

When she was done, she opened the door and rushed back down. Her mother was already standing at the door, she walked up to her as her mother took her hands.

"Okay, we'll leave now". She said as she opened the door. They stepped out of the door as Data and Zoe walked to the car, it was a range Rover sport. Dara walked to the driver's seat and unlocked the doors making Zoe able to open the passenger seat.

Zoe slide in the car as her mom fixed the car keys in the igniting, turning it and making the car engine come to life. Dara smiled as she reversed and drove out of the gate. Dara then made a move to start a conversation.

" Zoe darling, how is school. I hear you are the best in your class". Dara said.

"Uh uh," Zoe nodded in agreement as she stared at the buildings they passed.

"That's my daughter". Dara said with a grin. Zoe looked at her with detest and anger.

That's my daughter?

She was proud of her daughter's achievement, but couldn't identify as her mother outside, she kept her a secret from everyone she knew. Her words made Zoe locate the anger that had been bottled inside her for a while, but she remained calm, this wasn't the time to lash out, she looked out the window and continued to observe the commercial activities going on, on that Saturday morning.

" Where do you want to go?" Dara asked Zoe with her eyes still fixed on the road. 

"Anywhere". Zoe answered faintly.

"Anywhere?" Dara asked stealing a glance at her daughter. "Don't you have favorite places"? Zoe smirked and looked at her mother.

"It's not like I go anywhere", Zoe mouthed rolling her eyes.

"What did you say? Don't tell me you still sit at home all day and night without going anywhere. You have turn yourself into an unseen entity abi? Do you even have any friends?" Dara queried, gesticulating with her left hand as she spoke, keeping her eyes on the road.

Zoe remained mum, she didn't want to start this conversation. " Didn't you hear me? Zoe, do you have any friends".  Dara asked again.

" No, I don't". Zoe said.

"Wao, so you are a loner now right. What is now, you've always been like that. I called one of your teachers the other day and she says you don't even talk to your classmates" Dara complained.

" They'll leave me at the end of the day so why stress". Zoe snapped slightly raising her voice.

" This is about me right because I remarried? What kind of child are you, do you think if I had stayed, playing mummy with you, you would be able to afford school?" Dara said. " It's about your father too right…" she said before Zoe interrupted.

" Let's just go to the ice cream shop. Don't bring my father into this". Zoe said curtly. Dara inhaled deeply and shake her head as she drove into the ice cream shop Zoe pointed at. The car drove slowly till it came to a halt in front of the building, the duo got out and entered the building. 

Dara searched for space and found one in seconds, taking Zoe's hands, they walked there and sat. As they settled, Dara beckoned the waiter, the waiter walked swiftly towards them with a smile. Zoe ordered a vanilla-flavored ice cream while her mother ordered chocolate.

Their ice cream cake and the duo started eating.

"You still don't like chocolates right?" Her mum asked. Zoe nodded as she concentrated on the ice cream. " Just like your dad" Dara commented.

"When are you getting your hair done". Dara asked, her question making Zoe stroke her hair. 

" Today?" Zoe redirected, Dara smiled understanding what her daughter meant. She smiled and replied.

" Okay, we'll go to a salon when we are done here. I want to take you to the boutique, so when we are done there we'll go make your hair, okay?" Dara said.

"Okay ma". Zoe replied.

" Please call me mum", Dara pleaded. Zoe smiled a little and corrected herself.

"Okay, mum".

Zoe and her mother, Darasimi, left the ice cream shop as soon as they were done. Darasimi took Zoe to a top-notch boutique in town, buying her expensive clothes, shoes, and bags. Zoe just watched as her mum spent her money on expensive clothes she wouldn't even wear, she only picked a lot of lounges wears, sneakers and purses. Her signature look outside the school was plain, sweatshirts, ripped jeans, sneakers, and small hats, and that was what she picked. But her mum had to satisfy her urge of buying many other expensive kinds of stuff, at the end of their shopping, the bags were so heavy that they needed an extra hand to carry them.

After that, Dara drove Zoe to a salon. It was a unisex salon, which was popular in the environs. Zoe was attended to, her hair was washed and the hairdresser made beautiful box braids on her.

It was evening when they finished, and while Zoe spoke to a hairdresser who was giving her some hair advice when she saw her mother run towards her and grabbed her hands.

"Run!" Her mother said as all eyes were on them, she pulled her as they ran out through the back door. They bent down so the people in the salon will not be able to see them as they ran towards the car.

 On getting to the car, Dara opened Zoe's door and made her enter, she ran to the other side and rushed inside too. Turning on the car engine, Dara drove off, rather widely out of the salon.

"What was that for?!" Zoe queried raising her voice. "Who or what were we running from?" She added.

" I saw my husband". Dara said as she panted. "With his son". She added, stroking her hair continuously with one hand, while the other balanced the wheel.

"So that was what made you run like that", Zoe proved further. "Come on mum, only a thief runs like that". 

"Are you trying to call me a thief?" Dara said raising her voice.

"I didn't say anything like that, but if you are running like that hiding me away. Just to keep a marriage based on lies and material things, I don't know what to say to you, Mum!" Zoe said rudely.

" How dare you", he mom yelled as she swerved to the left and packed in front of a restaurant.

" Look at me," Dara said pointing at herself. " I do not owe you, or any other person any explanation for whatever I did, okay! Get that into your skull and watch your words before you open your mouth and say rubbish about your mother".

"You are pleased with yourself, right? You killed him! For what? The sophisticated and expensive cars you ride, your expensive clothes bags and wristwatches, your dream holidays abroad. Is that why you killed my father, separated me from my sister, and abandoned me. Was it enough reason!" Zoe bawled. Dara raised her hands to slap her.

"Don't even dare!" Zoe yelled making Dara halt what was about to do. "You've lost that right since you left me all alone six years ago". Her words stabbing her mother as tears rolled down her eyes.

Dara faced her front as she wiped her face, after a few minutes of complete silence. She finally spoke up.

" Let me get you dinner here," she said as she opened the door and stepped out of the room.

Zoe bent her head and placed it on thighs, she cried as her throat felt hot and cracky. Somewhere inside her, she wanted to feel guilty about what she just did. But the part that hailed her as dominant. She cried, without an exact reason, after some seconds she raised her head, wipe her face with a tissue in the car, and switched on her phone. 

She was reading a manga comic when she noticed her mum opening the door, she closed her phone as her mom entered with big nylon filled with packed food, drinks, and snacks. 

"Here you go," her mom said in a cheerful tone as if her daughter hadn't just made her cry.

"Thank you". Zoe mumbled.

The drive home was quiet, it was already dark, Zoe rested her head on the headrest and stared at cars flashing their lights through the window. Her heart was heavy and clustered that she couldn't think about anything. 

They got to the house as Dara packed in front of the building. She came out and helped Zoe carry some of the things they bought to the entrance of the building. The Owolabi's weren't home so Dara had to leave.

She hugged Zoe tightly and muttered, "I love you baby. Take care of yourself". She said as she released Zoe, patting her in the back. 

"Goodbye, Mom". Zoe said. Zoe waved as her mother drove out of the building, another visit, the next in six months.