I'm currently washing my clothes because it's already the weekend. Every weekend we don't have an extra day for school.
I already set up the washing machine and decided to sit down on the couch and watch some movies while waiting.
“My boredom is killing me, I already washed the dishes, and cleaned the house, I'm just waiting for my laundry to be done,” I murmured.
I stood up, and went to the fridge, and look for something to drink, but it seems like our fridge was empty.
My shoulder slumped and decided to sit down again on the couch. All of a sudden, my phone rang.
“Hello? Yes, I'm in our house, do you need anything?” I asked. It's Zoe, her voice is trembling.
“Are you crying? Did someone hurt you? Tell me, I will fetch you anytime.” My heart starts to beat like a beating drum.
She didn't answer my questions, “Okay, I will fetch you to your house—” She cut me off from the other line. She said that I should stop coming to their house.
I asked her, “Why? Is there something wrong?” she answered that I don't need to come, and I will fetch her to the coffee shop.
At the same time, the washing machine was already done, I hang my clothes, and let them dry.
Finally, I can go to the coffee shop. My mother speaks up, and she's from her room, “Oh, where you going?” she asked.
“I will go to the coffee shop, and I will fetch Zoe, she's waiting for me,” I responded. She smiled.
“Tell her that come to our house, I will cook for her, and please tell her that I want to know her,” she giggles. I smile because of my mother's reaction.
“Sure, Mom, wait for us.” I searched for the car key, and walk towards the garage. I went inside the car, and start the engine.
My mother was standing at the front door, she mouthed the word, “Take care!” I nodded as a response.
After 30 minutes, I arrived at the coffee shop. I searched for her, but unfortunately, I can't find her.
I decided to go down, and get inside the shop, I examined the whole place.
My sight stopped at the familiar figure, she's sitting at the corner. I walked immediately to reach her.
“Hey, what happened?” I examined her whole body. She's having some bruises, and her eyes were welled up in tears.
“It's a long story, I can't tell it to you, please, get me out of here, or take me anywhere, I need to calm myself.” I hold her hand and began to walk.
We reached my car, and I help her to get inside the car. When the things were put in the right place, I looked at her.
“My mother told me that she wants to know you, and she will cook for our dinner, do you want to accept her request?” I questioned.
She gave me an exhausted look with a forced smile, “Sure, why not? I'm glad to accept her request, let's go?” I nodded.
I sighed, she's suffering, and I can sense it through her eyes. However, I want to help her, but it seems like she doesn't want someone to help her.
We reached our house, and I opened the door for her, my mother's reaction looked like she saw a ghost.
“What happened to you? Where did you get those bruises? Do your parents hurt you?” Zoe shrugged her shoulder, and she moves her head left and right.
“I'm okay, Mrs. McKenzie, I got these bruises from the wooden plank, I accidentally hit myself with those planks.” I scanned my mother's face, but it seems like she's disagreeing with her statement.
“Are you sure?” my mother asked with a hesitant voice. Zoe nodded, and she forced a smile.
I feel like a thousand knives were stabbing to my heart when I'm seeing those forced smiles. I want to see her genuine, and lovely smiles.
“Have a seat, and feel free to move inside of our house, and please, don't call me Mrs. McKenzie, just call me Mom, mother, mommy, or what, except for Mrs,” my mother stated.
My mother went back to the kitchen, so I decided to sit beside her.
“Are you sure? Are you really fine? It doesn't look like you're fine, because of those bruises.” Her tears start to flow from her eyes.
“M-My mother, she slapped me, and she kept hitting me a hard object, I think it's a large metal, I didn't see it clearly because my vision became blurry,” she stated with a dejected voice.
I clenched my fist and gasped for air. What was their reason to did this to Zoe? I think it's too much.
“Since when? When does it start?” I asked, “Since my biological mother died.” My jaw dropped. Biological? So, her present parents were her adoptive parents.
“What? How?” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She responded, “They were my aunt, and uncle from my father's side, they decided to adopt me when they heard the news that my mother was gone.”
I couldn't easily absorb this kind of situation, I mean, it's so heavy to carry on, and to absorb.
“I don't know their real reason of why did they keep abusing me, I'm serving them, and doing all the things that they've been commanding me for all the times,” she explained.
“Let's report it to the police, maybe, they can help you,” I said. She shrugged her shoulder.
“It doesn't help, what I mean, every time that I reported it to the police officer, my parents were always killing the detectives, and officers that were in charge of my case.” She's still sobbing.
I looked at the other side of the house. My mother is standing at the door of the kitchen, and she's speechless.
“What if, we will report it to the other city?” she widened her eyes, “They will know it in no time, they're still can find it, and search for it.”
“In my instinct, they are watching us, so we must be careful, they don't want to tell it to anybody, and I know, they will hunt for your family.” It can't be. I will do my best to protect my family.
“Please, Mrs. McKenzie, take care, be careful, and observe your surroundings, I don't let anyone would be hurt by my parents, please,” she pleaded while looking at my mother.
My mother's eyes start to stream some tears on her face.