I left Nancy's compound about thirty five minutes after I got there. I had spare ten minutes to get home and that was very risky. I hit the road from their street five minutes after I left their compound.
The road was quite free as there were only few cars on the road. I was checking my time constantly so I don't exceed the little time frame that I had to get home unnoticed especially by my mother.
The next thirty minutes on the road made me realize that sometimes the way you set your time table doesn't mean that's the way the outcome will look like. Without the involvement of external forces, your schedule is just incomplete. Why? Because, no matter what, external forces most be involved.
The funny part is that you cannot predict what the external force would be nor how long it's gonna take or how long it's gonna last.
I was happy that I didn't meet any traffic jam, till I got the road which will lead me close to my street, that when I saw that, when setting plans, there's need to set extra time for unplanned events.
The traffic jam I met on the road was quite heavy and I wasn't seeing myself at home anytime. I saw trouble infront of me and except something is done.
I checked my time and saw that I just had thirty five minutes to get home. Mom will be home by that time and if the car is not in, then I don't know what I will do about that. If she finds out I left the house, she is definitely going to tell Alex, which if she does, trouble will definitely brew up from that.
I prayed in my heart, hoping that whatever was causing that traffic jam will be sorted out soonest. I was constantly checking the time I had left. It looked like it was counting so fast.
Fifteen minutes later, but I was still where I was and I wasn't seeing anything that looks like I still had a chance. I had twenty minutes to go home, that was a very slim chance, I bet if I could beat that.
Fortunately, about three minutes later, those in front of me had started moving, so that have me a little glint of hope again.
As soon as I left the whole traffic thing, I increased my speed to a very high level. Very careful of my environment so I don't get into an accident as I was trying to get home before my mother did.
I got to my street thirty minutes later than I had planned. My heart was really racing, though I tried as much as possible to calm myself down.
Immediately I got to the front of the house, I got down and opened the big gate. I ran back to the car and drove into the compound, still got out of the car to close the gate before climbing back into the car. I parked the car carefully in the garage, so it looks exactly like the way it was before I took it.
Done with that, I grabbed my bag, running into the house so quick like I was being chased by a Lion, you might not understand that feeling.
As I entered my room, I closed the door, tossing my bag on the bed and kicking my sandals off my feet. On other thoughts, I decided to lock the door, Incase someone might try to come in.
I locked the door properly and checked it to be sure it was actually locked. I removed the cloth that I wore and put them in a bag and hid it inside my wardrobe. I wasn't taking the risk of dropping them in the basket that I put dirty clothes. Since Mom oversees the laundry, she definitely will find out that something fishy was going on. Perhaps, not immediately, but if it happens within a set time, I bet she will. I'd rather not give her that chance to be a bit suspicious.
I quickly had my bath and changed into a light green sleeveless top and a short. Then, I opened the door and headed straight to the kitchen.
I took out a portion of porridge plantain from the pot and was about putting on the microwave, then I changed my mind abruptly.
If Mom returns and wants to use the microwave, she might notice that it's hot and start asking questions. Normally, I don't miss lunch as far as at home. Missing lunch till 2 PM is a bit explanatory to a reasonable level, but missing lunch till past 5 PM is another thing altogether and will definitely spur suspicion, especially my Mom who is very good at that.
I made up my mind that I was going to eat the food that way, I didn't have a choice, do I? I could prevent not eating the food, that would be worse. Questions must come out of that.' Sonia, why didn't you eat? You know you are on drugs and you need food. So, you have started skipping your drugs, right?
Then, maybe Alex, feeling so concerned all that will start probing me. We don't lie to eachother, so I might eventually have to give myself away, so that was out of the question.
Now, it was not just about eating the food, can I finish it up before Mom returns, because as it stands now, she is not around. If she was, she would have been outside waiting for my return, I know my mother to an extent atleast.
I forced myself not to eat the food, but to swallow it as much as I could. I couldn't continue eating it, so I had to go trash out the rest of it in the waste bin.
I washed the plates and dried them, not giving any room for any slight thing that will expose me. I left the kitchen after washing the plates and cleaning up, then, I went to the sitting room to watch a movie.
It hadn't taken up to five minutes I turned on the TV that heard the gate open. I shifted the cotton to look through the window and see who it was. I saw mother close the gate and walking into the house.
I lay down on the bed and pretended that I slept off watching a movie. I heard the door open and close, I needed no soothsayer to tell me that she was inside the house already.
I heard footsteps going towards the other room, which was close to the guest room. After a while, I didn't hear the sound of her footsteps.
Next thing, it was coming closer. I could hear my heart beating so fast. Mom came around and touched me. I didn't react from that at first, so she gave me a slight push again.
I pretended to wake up with a stir, rubbing my eyes gently, I opened it, acting surprised to see her.
"Hey, mother. You are back. Good evening." I greeted, yawning to make it look so real.
"Yeah, I am back as you can see. You sleep deep these days, someone could come into the house without you knowing, that's not so good. By the way, are you feeling better now?
"No, that's not true. I probably just dozed off. Someone can't come into the house. Why bringing that up first of all."
"Hope you took your drugs? She asked
I froze for the moment, how did I not remember taking my drugs. Oh my gosh! I screamed in my head, if I let it out, my mother would probably turn deaf from the noise it could create.
I remembered that I had finished the drugs that was thrice a day, so the ones remaining were only morning and night or just morning. I sighed deeply in relief as I confidently answered her.
"Well mother, I didn't take any drugs this afternoon because I don't have any to take, till night." You could see the pride in my voice as I spoke sagaciously.
"Ohh then, that's great, that's an improvement I must say."
"How was your stuff today? How did it go? I asked, sitting up on the sofa.
She sighed, "it was a bit stressful. But I am glad I really dressed this way, I might have been the only one left out in today's event." She left me in the sitting room and headed to get room.
"I hope you are good? I said after her.
"Yeah I am. I'm just tired. But, I will be fine, after a little rest." She answered and disappeared into the room.
I took a very deep breathe, then after few seconds I exhaled lightly. Today's plan has been achieved successfully, even though I faced so much challenges on the way, atleast I got something tangible I could hold on to and tell myself that I tried my best. I smiled to myself as I sat down comfortably to watch my movie.