章 12: FREEDOM?
With a newfound strength born of anger and pain, Omotolani slowly lifted herself from the floor, her gaze fixed on her mother with a fiery intensity."You will not win," she growled, her voice shaking with rage. "You may have beaten me, but you cannot break me."Her mother looked back at her, a mixture of shock and fear in her eyes. "What are you doing, girl? You're just going to get yourself hurt again."But Omotolani was beyond listening.
You lie!" Omotolani screamed, her voice raw with emotion. "My father's family did try to contact me! They wanted to know how I was doing, but you hid their letters and calls! You lied to them, just like you lied to me!"Her mother's face hardened, her eyes narrowing into cold, calculating slits. "They abandoned you," she hissed. "They didn't care about you, not like I did. I protected you from their indifference, and this is how you repay me?"
Omotolani's jaw clenched, her body trembling with rage. "Protect me? You didn't protect me, you trapped me! You lied to me, you beat me, you kept me from my family!"The air between them crackled with tension, the silence broken only by the sound of their ragged breaths. Then, her mother spoke, her voice low and dangerous."You ungrateful little brat. You think you know what's best? You don't even know what it means to be a mother. To protect a child. To sacrifice everything for them.
"You're not a mother," Omotolani spat, her voice venomous and accusing. "You're a monster, a psychopath! You don't know the meaning of love, of sacrifice. All you know is how to hurt and manipulate others."Her mother's face twisted in fury, her hands clenched into fists. "How dare you talk to me like that? I brought you into this world, and I can just as easily take you out of it. You'd be nothing without me!"Omotolani's eyes flashed with defiance.
"You can try," Omotolani said, her voice steady and cold. "But I'm not a child anymore. I'm not afraid of you. And I'm not going to let you control me anymore."Her mother's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed like she might lunge at Omotolani. But then, she seemed to regain control of herself, her lips curling into a cruel smile."If you think you're so tough, then leave," she said, her voice dripping with contempt.
Omotolani's heart raced, a mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through her veins. She knew that this was her moment, her chance to break free from the chains that had bound her for so long.With a sudden burst of courage, she stormed past her mother, up the stairs, and out of the basement. She ran through the house, her feet pounding against the floor, her breath coming in ragged gasps.And then, she was outside, the cold night air washing over her like a baptismal blessing.
Omotolani didn't stop to look back, to think about what she was leaving behind. All she knew was that she had to keep moving, to put as much distance between herself and that place of pain and darkness.The streets of Lagos were alive with energy, the bustle of traffic and the chatter of people creating a symphony of sound that drowned out the echoes of her past. She weaved through the crowds, her feet carrying her further and further from her mother's house.But as she ran, her mind was racing, too. Where would she go? What would she do?.
As Omotolani ran through the streets of Lagos, her mind raced with possibilities, each one more uncertain than the last. Should she try to find her father's family, the people her mother had kept hidden from her for so long? Or should she strike out on her own, forge a new path for herself in this harsh and unfamiliar world?But in the chaos of her thoughts, one thing was certain: she needed money. Money for food, for shelter, for a new life.
With this thought in mind, Omotolani headed towards the bustling markets of Balogun. The streets were crowded with vendors selling everything from colorful fabrics to cheap electronics, their shouts and laughter filling the air.She wandered through the maze of stalls, her eyes searching for something, anything, that she could sell. A pair of shoes, a phone charger, a fake designer handbag - anything that would fetch a few naira.And then, she saw it. A woman's purse, left unattended at one of the stalls.
Omotolani hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt in her mind. Was she really about to steal? She had always hated her mother's thievery, the way it had twisted her into a bitter and broken shell of a person.But then, she thought of her mother's face, the cruelty that had been etched into her features like a mask. And suddenly, the choice became clear.Omotolani moved quickly, her hands closing around the purse and slipping it into her own bag before anyone could notice.
Heart racing, Omotolani turned and walked away from the stall, blending into the sea of people as best as she could. The purse felt heavy and alive in her hands, like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.She walked for what felt like hours, her feet taking her deeper and deeper into the heart of Lagos, the bright lights of the cityscape creating a halo around her. And all the while, her thoughts turned to what she would find in the purse, the potential wealth that could open up new doors for her.
At last, Omotolani found herself in an alleyway, quiet and secluded, a safe haven from the bustle of the city. She slid her hand into the purse, her fingers brushing against a thick wad of naira notes.She pulled out the money, staring at it in awe. There was enough here to last her a few weeks, maybe even a month if she was careful.But as she counted the notes, another thought entered her mind. What if this was someone's rent money? Their grocery money? Her conscience gnawed at her, her heart heavy with guilt.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット