Chapter nine

The playlist for this chapter is

Kesha -Tik tok (I like this song for Joy's carefree attitude)

Billie Eilish - Everything I wanted.

SOMEWHERE IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

JOY'S POV  (BEFORE SHE DIED).

The morning was bright. Even the sun was smiling down on earth today. I stood in my balcony that early morning gulping hot chocolate tea and watching the environment.  I  would not say that I had rich parents because I didn't have parents. I had parents, but I preffered to use the term I didn't have parents.

I lost my father when I was thirteen and my mother was always disappearing and appearing. I lived with my elder sister  Florence.  Florence was twenty one years old,she had this habit of controlling me like I was her robot and it annoyed the hell out of me.

"Speak of the devil." I mutter when Florence opens the gate of our apartment to enter inside.

"Joy. Why haven't swept the house?" She asks as soon as she comes to the balcony.

"Where were you last night? "I ask with a smirk as I bring the hot chocolate to my lips without turning to look at her .

"That is not what I asked you? "She says.

"I swept the whole house, I even mopped it,dusted the whole house  ,but your stuck up face wouldn't see that." I tell her calmly.

"You sound like mom. Always lazing about thinking of things that are never going to come true." She tells me.

"Don't tell me that!!" I snap and turn to face her."You sound like dad and his pessimistic views on people.  Where did that get him?" I ask her angrily.

"You...you... don't ever tell me that you ungrateful little thing. "She shouts and walks off to the kitchen.

I follow her to the kitchen and settle myself on the counter.

"Why didn’t you come home last night? "I ask her the question from earlier.

"Don't you think you are too curious for a thirteen years old girl?" She asks.

I shake my head.  If Florence knew what I was up to while she was not around. That stupid neighbour. Mamel or what is that his stupid nickname. I remember the day when he asked me to help him buy bread and beans from that woman at the junction. He told me to come inside and I stupidly obliged. What happened next was history. I was so used to it now and I can't control it . I've  started sleeping around at this age of thirteen.

"Have you ever wondered what it will be like to fall in love?" I ask Florence breaking from my thoughts.

"Love is bullshit. "She remarks dryly and I gasp.

"When my prince charming comes.  You will know that bullshit ain't love." I say dreamily and pick a knife and start twirling it on my finger.

"I wonder where your life is going to with all this bullshit. You don't think about the future. "She says.

Future?  Ohhh. She doesn't know I have cancer. I'll tell her now. Dad died of cancer and Florence managed to escape it. The day I was moving in with Florence. Mom told me I had cancer, I wonder why she didn't tell Florence.  I admire Mom a lot and my once sweet Florence loved dad. She was the one dad would always carry first when he came back home,the one dad always bought things for. To him ,mom and I were never there. He died and that sweet Florence was gone. Replaced by this bitter Florence.  Who was always buried in work never wanting to have fun. The Florence that would laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh until she couldn't no more was now the one that laughter irritated her ears and didn't even smile.

"I want to tell you-" I start to say,but I'm cut off.

"Save it. You are so irresponsible.  Is this how you want to live for the rest of your life?" She asks gesturing to our shabby apartment.

I'm transported to those nights when mom and dad argued over matters like this because of mom and her 'carelessness ' I quote.

"Stop." I tell her.

"No. Listen to me . In two years you have been kicked out of five schools. Your mates are getting educated,nurturing thier future. You are here sleeping with men old enough to be your dad's age. Yes. I know about all of it. So don't bother denying it. What is your problem joy. What?" She asks me and I'm boiling by this time. The knife in my hand is clenched tightly.

"You know you are just like mom. So selfish and bitchy.  You never think about the future, all you know is now." She finishes.

"Don't call me mom." I spit out angrily.

"Why?your heroine is not here to feed you bullshit about true love and the perfect man." She mocks."You are both pathetic fools ,idiots and retarded fools!!" She screams and tears runs down her face.

All I see is red now,but I can hear her voice.

"The mom if I may ask where is she?" She continues and I come stand down from the counter with the knife still in my hands." Shes gone face it . She never cared. Dad cared more than anything else.  Where is she now? You see you are just like her.  No sense . You are just like mom. A selfish bitch! !!" She finishes and breaks down in tears.

I scream and lunge at her before I  know what I'm doing.  The knife is in her stomach.  She gasps as blood pours from her mouth.

"Why?" She asks and I get angrier. I remove the knife and she falls on the floor.I straddle her and continue stabbing her.

"You ask me why?!!!" I scream and continue stabbing her as the blood  comes out uncontrollably.

"Mom loved us.  But you were to busy with dad to see that. She cared. Now you have the mouth to call her a selfish, bitch!!!" I scream.

Florence is bleeding profusely now,she is still alive,but so weak and I'm still angry and finally Florence says her last words.

"I love you sister."She coughs out and I'm transported to reality.  I stand up from my dead sister's  lap in shock.

"What have I done?" I scream.

She said she loves me.She said she loves me.

I fall back onto her and shake her.

"I love you too Florence.  I'm sorry please come back!!!" I shake her body violently and convulse in tears.

The door swings open and some neighbours walk in with the police.

"We heard screaming here." The man says and stops when he sees me hugging my sister's bloody corpse .

I don't say anything.  I hold my hand out for the police to take me away.

"I hate you mom." I say as and kick her picture down from the wall as the police takes me out.

The police take me to the station and immediately I got charged a two years sentence in juvie.

I went to juvie alone with no one,but the words of a broken girl  who tried so much not to break me,but I broke myself.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Joy spent a total of five years in juvie ,and died there. Her mom never came back . She died a happy person knowing that she was going to see the person who loved her more than her mom.we all wonder where her mom is?

This was why she wanted Sam to forgive and forget.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE TWO SISTERS:

Joy Phillips and Florence Phillips.

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Jokinglyjinxed 💜