-Tamara-
  "Welcome home, Princess" I heard his baritone voice and I flinched.
He switched on the light and I could saw his disgusting face, with a smirk plastered on it.
"Won't you greet papa?" He asked, still smirking but I only swallowed very hard.
"Look, he glanced up at the wall clock- this is 9:00pm. I have warned you severally about you coming home late, isn't it?" He asked with a cold voice now and without been told, tonight won't be good.
"Answer me!" He yelled and I flinched again.
"I..trekked..down home" I stuttered, with my eyes fixed on my feet.
"Wow.. You've done well, sweetheart" He said, sarcastically.
"You trekked from your working place to your home with an hour? " He asked, walking closer to where I was.
"Father, I am sorry... " but before I could complete my statement, he landed a slap on my left cheek and I think I saw stars.
"You are always sorry!"
"Aren't you tired of always being sorry?" He asked with scowl and i tried hard to fight those tears that were threatening to summon in my eyes.
"You are just shameless! " He said pulling my hands.
   "Tell me, when last have you prepared dinner in this house? He asked through gritted teeth, bringing his face closer to mine- he smells of liquor.
I tried moving my face away from his,but he wouldn't let me and suddenly, he forcefully grabbed my hair and started dragging me to my bedroom.
Good lord, not this night.
I prayed.
"When last have you served your father in bed?" He asked in a low voice as he threw me on the bed.
"Agh" I bit back a groan.
And the tears finally dropped freely from my eyes now.
"Unclad yourself" He ordered.
"But father.." I tried saying in a pained voice but quickly shut my mouth when I saw the glare he shot me.
This is not right.
He jumped on me roughly and began to pull my hoodie over my head.
I tried begging him but he only turned deaf ears...
He had his way with me again, forcefully.
When would this stop?
Am I brought to this earth only to suffer?
Will I ever be freed from this monster father?
I asked myself.
He picked up his shirt, and without sparing me a glance, he left my room.
God why?!!
Why me? I cried out.
Why do my father find happiness in hurting me?
   Why is he bent on ruining my life?
So many questions I've been harboring for so long but I haven't gotten any answer to none and it's really killing me.
I wiped my tears and sluggishly went into the bathroom to freshen up.
The following day....
The morning sun shone to my face and I wondered why it was shining already.
"Holy Jesus!" I exclaimed loudly as I glanced at the wall clock.
It's fifteen minutes past eight.
I raced into the bathroom and hurriedly did my business before stepping out.
"Father, I swear you will rot in hell" I fumed, while dressing for work.
I adjusted my dress and brush down my hair in front of the dressing mirror.
I got to the living room and glanced around.
"Thank goodness he's not here" I mumbled with an eye roll.
I headed towards the door with hastened steps.
"Where are you going to?" I heard his ice voice.
I stopped walking immediately and slowly turned to look at him.
"To work" I replied in a low voice.
" And where's my breakfast?" He asked calmly.
'Father, I am late and you are the cause!'I screamed inwardly.
"Ummm.."
I thought of what to say.
"Get my breakfast ready this minute!" He yelled after the short silence and i flinched. I shot him a secret glare before rushing into the kitchen.
 
 I got to the kitchen and thought of a quick meal to prepare-cursing my cruel father inwardly.
Sandwich and Coffee should do. I thought and began to prepare it.
I finished preparing after some minutes and placed it on the wooden dining table in the dining room.
I just pray i don't earn a slap afterwards with what i served.
He didn't utter anything, he sat down and began to eat and that was when I left for work.
Thank goodness.
I walked into the coffee shop but only to bumped into her.
Gosh!
  "Good morning" I greeted Mrs Olivia-the manager.
"And what's good about the morning?" She roared.
Okay
I was quiet expecting this.
"You are just coming to work at this hour, and you still have the gut to tell me good morning" She half yelled.
Why's she getting work up about this, after all she knows I barely came late to work and that's only when the real beast in my father surface. I thought, with a secret eye roll.
"I am sorry" I apologized with my head bow.
She shot me a glare and turned away.
It's not your fault.. I almost shouted after her.
"Hey girlfriend" Alicia greeted, ecstatically as soon as I got to the staff quarters.
Ummm.. She's always happy.
"Oh my goodness!"
"What happened to you?" She asked with widened eyes as she came to me.
"Why are your eyes swollen like this? She added before I could comprehend what she meant.
Oh.. My eyes are swollen, and I didn't even notice before I left home.
"Hmmm.. Nothing" I answered tiredly and she frowned.
"You can't possibly tell me nothing, Mara you look like you cried all night. So tell me what's wrong." She said frantically and I smiled.
She was just like my guardian.
She cares a lot about me but I couldn't tell her all I was going through. She knows I don't have a mother right, but telling her my secrets was what I was afraid it might leak out in the future.
I didn't want to become a laughing stock.
"I am okay Alicia, don't worry too much" I told her with a sly smile and she sighed.
She held my cheeks and looked into my eyes.
"You can tell me anything, I mean anything at all and I promise to always listen to you. Please Mara, if you are facing one problem or the other, do not hesitate to share them with me, you shouldn't be keeping things to yourself. I am always here for you." She said tenderly and I nearly cried.
Who's this lady that was absentmindedly acting like my mother?
"Thank you Alicia, I will forever appreciate your kindness towards me" I said as a tear drop from my eyes.
"C'mon, princess don't cry" She cooed as she uses her palm to clean my face and I smiled.
"Girls!!" We heard Mrs Olivia shrieked and we both chuckled before returning to work.
Finally, the long day was over and I couldn't be more glad.
I felt so tired and weak.
Alicia and I walked side by side as we kept talking about yesterday-how Rodney had came to the coffee shop.
I laughed so hard when Alicia reminded me of how I nearly pee in my panties.
Funny!
"Hmmm.. Alicia" I called after the laughter had subsided.
"I met Rodney earlier yesterday" I confessed and I couldn't bring myself to look at her.
"I knew it!" She exclaimed.
"Someone like Rodney would never come in and charged towards you like that if there was nothing behind it"She continued.
"So tell me something" She squealed, beaming.
I heaved a short sigh and explained all that transpired between Rodney and I that morning and she laughed so hard.
"What so funny?" I asked and nudged her playfully.
"Nothing.. I can't just help it" She replied still laughing and I also joined her as we both laughed like children.
It was time for her to board a bus.
I gave her a parting hug and she pecked my both cheeks before entering the long bus.
I continued with the short journey to my way home after parting with Alicia.
I got to my bus stop after the short walk and something caught my attention from afar.
Hold on.. was that not Rodney Shaw in the poster?
I scuttled to where the large poster was pasted and it was really Rodney.
I gasped- still staring at his picture.
He was invited to a show in the city.
Oh my God!
I pray he comes, cause most times he didn't make it to the city shows.
And nothing can stop me from attending his show this time-not even my father.
"Get ready Rodney, we are meeting again!" I squealed and turned around to leave but oops...
I bumped into someone and his phone screen crashed on the floor immediately.
Jeez!
He was still backing me.
Oh Mara..
The person turned to face me and flashed me a dangerous look.
And suddenly, I wanted to pee.
"How dare you?!" He flared.
Okay
This is not good.