CUSP

I should be happy that my sister has reached out and is coming home but instead I mad at her, Wane has been gone for months and we have all been worried sick looking for her and for her to just call and tell me that she will be back home tomorrow unconcerned is worrying. From the way she sounded one can tell that she has been okay all along and our searching might have been in vain.

‘You need to sleep, you know you can’t be pacing up and about the whole night.’ Nancy says not looking concerned

‘Why is it that you are not concerned?’

‘And coming to think of it you really haven’t been concerned all this while.’ I add feeling irritated

‘Caleb what do you want me to tell you that I haven’t already said? If I were her I too would escape, I am not even sure why she is coming back.’

‘Nancy are you hearing yourself?’

‘Loud and clear.’ She responds not once looking away

‘My sister, the only family I have has been missing for months. Now that she has reached out and is on her way back home all you can say is that she is making a mistake?’

She scoffs.

‘What exactly is your problem?’ I ask her

‘Why are you so worked up? You do know that you have that girl pills that were going to kill her baby right? And you expect her to just be okay with you?’

I don’t respond, she does have a point but awake is still a child and everything I did I did for her own good.

‘It’s high time you realize that your sister is not a child anymore, she will be a mother soon and you have to let her grow up. Just stop meddling in her business.’ She says getting out of bed

I watch until she is out of the room and the door closes, this can not be good. My relationship with Besa has been on the rocks and at some point I did think that she was hiding with him but he swore on his life that he too was looking for her. I had no other alternative but to believe him.

I decide to call him and see if he is aware that she is coming back home.

‘I am surprised you have called me.’ He says immediately he picks up

‘Calling you was a mistake Besa, you will never change.’

He laughs

‘We are both going through the same thing and daddy surprisingly can’t tell where she is, whatever has gotten into her must be dangerous because how can he not know where she is?’

Silence

‘Or have you made her join another cult? Is there something I should know about?’

‘What?’ I ask with shock

I walk over to the door and close it

‘Are you insane Besa? Your entire life revolves around a cults now doesn’t it? How much more are you willing to sacrifice because it’s enough?’

‘It will never be enough, you know that the cult is the only true family you and I have ever had and I don’t mind sacrificing a few things here and there.’

I laugh lightly, realizing I have been a fool all along.

‘You are not responsible for her pregnancy are you?’

Silence

‘Why didn’t I see this from the start?’

‘She wasn’t supposed to be pregnant and she can’t be, she needs to carry my child. That child will bring me such good things and I can be next in line.’

The way he says everything worries me, there was a time I was hungry for power but never this much power. I still had good in me and I choose a happy life and not one of oppression but here he is.

‘Wane might be your sister but you have no control over what daddy says, you know the price you had to pay and she will never forgive you when she learns who you truly are.’

‘That is in the past, I paid my price and I can’t pay another one. Wane and Nancy are the only family I have, the only ones I will ever have.’

‘Well you still have Nancy, Wane has been picked.’

I shake my head like he can see me.

‘Son.’ I hear daddy’s voice, I haven’t in years. He had promised to leave me alone and I didn’t think this day would come.

I drop the phone and get on my knees, head bowed down.

‘I didn’t think this day would come.’ He says in his ever commanding voice

‘I didn’t think you would be visiting again.’ I say swallowing hard

‘You know the things that could happen, your sister has associated herself with other forces and unfortunately she belongs to me. She is the chosen one.’

I feel tears sting my eyes.

‘You know you will always be my son, in nine months you will hold your babies.’

I look up but my face burns so I look down.

‘Yes Caleb, I will give you and your wife twins. Let your sister bare us a son and everything will be back to normal.’

‘Daddy.’

‘Twins Caleb, twins. And a better job to sustain you a life time.’ He says breathing out

‘You can have her.’ I say tears falling rapidly

‘Good, I knew you would always be my son.’ He says and the room stills.

The tears continue to fall as I touch the part of my face that has a burn, I have just given up my sister for children and a good life. But how can I not do that when my wife and I have been struggling for a baby. How can I not.

..

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Winnie

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