EPISODE 4

 There is an Akan adage that says “ Aboa bi beka wo a, ne ofiri wo ntoma mu. If an animal will bite you, it will be from your clothe”. This has always been the case with my sister. She was the one wrapped with the cloth and I had always been the animal clutched in that cloth and biting off her flesh. She didn’t know most of the time, but in some cases, she did but turned a blind eye. Only if she had stood up against me from the beginning, she would have been probably alive by now. But no, she was so feeble, and never had the courage to confront me instead she would always make excuses for me like, “ Abena, I know you didn’t mean what you said, it was probably a slip of the tongue” or “ Abena, I know what you did wasn’t on purpose, I’m sure it was a mistake, even if was deliberate, there must be an explanation for that right?” she would always say in her angelic voice even after I slept with her boyfriend.  She was always trying to make me who I wasn’t, trying to convince me that I had a heart of gold. Even if that was true, I would have sold that gold for a fortune, a long time ago.

You know, in every house there is a particular person who causes trouble. Well, my sister never accepted the fact that I was the trouble in the house, I’m sure that’s why she sometimes took the blame for things I did. An instance was when I once ate the food my mother had reserved for my father. He hadn’t returned from work and I wasn’t sated with the food my mother had given me, so I secretly ate my father’s food. He’s irritation was beyond measure when he returned and instantly, he knew I was behind it. He swore to beat me to death but Araba interceded and took the blame. I remember vividly how my father’s aggressive expression slowly transformed into a soft, worried one. Even his angry tone had become mild when he asked, “But why did you do that Araba? Weren’t you satisfied with what your mother gave you?” He dropped his belt and went into his room. He didn’t even touch a hair on Araba’s skin but was on the verge of killing me. That was how it always was, with Araba, there was always a reason for her misbehavior, but for me, there was none because I was considered the bad nut since birth.

My sister always supported me regardless of whether I was at fault or not. Even if I had a quarrel with someone, she would instantly jump to my defense. Though we were twins, she was like the elder sister, always sober and sane, ready to jump to my rescue. She would always give me anything I asked her for even if they were brand new and she hadn’t used them. Meanwhile, I never made her touch anything of mine, even on the day we were on our way back from school and the sole of her shoe yanked off, I refused to give her the slippers I had in my bag and she walked barefooted on the hot ground till we reached the cobbler’s shop.

Even when I was given money or gifts for the both of us, I made sure she never got her share, I barely even mentioned it to her. But if it were her, she would share the money or gift equally and sometimes give me more.

Yet I hated her, it was obvious and she knew it. She was oblivious to how intense my hatred was till that day, her last day on earth, but it was too late. I’m sure she wished she hadn’t let her guard down, especially toward me.

But the fact remains that, she shouldn’t have followed me that night. She should have just minded her own business and not taken the role of a spy over my life. That night was one I had been planning for weeks and an interruption was the last thing I ever wanted. My mother had set rules that no one was allowed to stay out late else that person would never step foot into the house again. We knew our mother, she meant every word and was capable of doing such. So at 8:30 every night, she would lock the gate and keep the key under her pillow. Well, as the master is busy formulating strict rules, the subordinate is equally busy looking for ways to break them. Once, my mother left the key hanging on the gate and went to visit a friend in the neighbourhood. I took the key and hastily went to the market and made a duplicate of it.

The music concert which had the most famous musicians on its list was near and I had made all the preparations, I got new clothes, shoes, make-up, and other accessories, my aim was to make one of those musicians notice me if not Sarkodie then maybe Samini. I really didn’t care who it was so long as he was one of the top musicians. I just wanted to be popular too and probably trend on social media for some weeks.

The night of the concert came and I waited till my mother locked her gate and went to bed. At 10 p.m., when I was sure my sister was fast asleep, I stealthily got dressed and sneaked out of the house. There wasn’t a single soul on the street and I was relieved when I got a taxi. Unfortunately, the taxi driver told me he wasn’t going directly to the venue, but he could drop me somewhere closer. I readily agreed because I had no choice. He stopped at an isolated street and sped off immediately I alighted. From where I stood I could hear the loud music from the concert but I was certain that it hadn’t began. I was halfway crossing the road when I heard my name. I immediately got irritated though I hadn’t even turned to see who it was. I knew that voice, it was Araba’s. I finally turned and saw that witch approaching.

“ Are you out of your mind? What are you doing here?” she asked.

“ No, what are you doing here? Why are you following me? Can’t you just mind your own business for once?”, I retorted.

“ Look, let’s just get back home before mom notices our absence. You know what she’s capable of”, Araba said while pulling my arm. I shook her off and said, “ Did I come here with you? Please just go home and let me go where I want” She didn’t listen, instead, she began dragging me off the road. I pushed her hard and she fell on her face. Just then, I saw a car approaching from afar. I ran to the other side of the road like I always did. I had a phobia of roads and would run at my greatest speed anytime I spotted a vehicle even if it were a thousand miles away. I realised Araba was still on her knees struggling to stand up, she was wounded.

“ Hey, hurry there is a car approaching” I screamed but Araba only staggered and stretched her arm towards me. I impulsively climbed the road but went back when I noticed the speed at which the person was moving. I urged Araba to hurry while stretching my arm to pull her immediately she got closer. But she didn’t. She got scared and froze. I screamed her name but she had turned deaf. I had hoped that the driver would slow down at least, but he or she didn’t. Maybe the person was drunk or probably had faulty breaks. I watched as the car ran into Araba and didn’t even stop. She was on the ground, with her head broken and blood oozing all over her face. Her head was turned towards my direction and I could see her blinking slowly and her fingers moving. I wanted to scream for help but my mouth wouldn’t open. I did nothing, I just stood and stared. After a few minutes, her eyes closed and I knew she was dead. I heard voices from afar and I instantly took to my heels and headed home.

Fortunately for me, my mother was deeply asleep so I hurriedly changed into my pajamas, hopped into bed, and hid under my blanket. The sound of my heartbeat was audible and I clutched my chest to prevent it from probably bursting out. I stayed awake till the next morning and the image of my sister’s body had been my companion throughout the night. I heard my mother’s footsteps and feigned a deep sleep. She entered the room without knocking and stood for a while, glancing around. She shook me vigorously while mentioning my name and I knew she had noticed Araba’s absence. I sat up, feigned a yawn, and stretched my arms.

“ Where is your sister?”, she asked. I glanced at Araba’s bed and back at my mother with my eyebrows furrowed.

“ I don’t know, she was on her bed when I fell asleep”, I say with a shrug. Without uttering another word, she left the room and went in search of Araba in the other rooms. I heard her scream after a while so I jumped out of bed and went to her. As usual, she was expressing her grief by rolling on the ground.

“ My daughter has disappeared o, they have taken my daughter”, she yelped dramatically.

“ What if she went to buy something?”, I grumbled. My mother went silent for a moment as though considering what I said. She stared at the gate which I hadn’t closed after I came in, stood up, and adjusted her lappa.

“ But what would she be buying at 5 a.m.? No shop would be open” she said with scepticism. I was able to convince her to remain calm till sunrise and maybe she could begin to panic. It was thirty minutes past eight when my mother’s disquiet heightened. She informed our neighbhours about Araba’s disappearance and they all admitted they hadn’t set eyes on her. A search party was immediately organised and the whole neigbhourhood was searched even the forest which was separated by a road from my house. They found no traces of her. At noon, a neighbhour who happened to be a nurse entered our house with extreme haste and informed us that a body had been brought to the mortuary of the hospital she worked in. And she was convinced it was Araba’s corpse. My mother refuted her claim and decided to go there herself, with me right behind her.

“ God forbid, it can never be my daughter”, she said while hitting her chest.

“ Amen, Amen”, I say in response but my heart wouldn’t stop racing for I knew the truth. We reached the hospital and my mother confirmed the tragedy. She passed out and didn’t wake up till 11 p.m. She wore a blank look and barely smiled nor spoke. These new features stayed permanently to date, I can hardly remember how she was before Araba’s death. Araba was buried behind our house where a huge mango tree is now situated. To everyone, Araba was on her way to the concert when she met her untimely death. Nobody knew I was present at the accident scene nor the truth behind it all. They will never know because I intend to take that secret to my grave.

“ Happy birthday!”, Cane screams into my ears, startling me and bringing me back from my journey to the past. I’m standing on the rooftop and if there were no railings I would have probably fallen to the ground. Cane laughs and then apologises. It’s our birthday today and if Araba were alive, she would have bought me a present. I never got her anything, but she was unperturbed by it. Rather, the gifts she gave me, increased each year.

I turn to Cane and I see him jutting out his palms with a tiny box resting on them. I smile at him warmly and unwrap the present. Inside it lies a beautiful necklace with a purplish rhombus design. I instantly fall in love with it. Cane really knows my taste. I find the gift extraordinary because it’s in my favourite colour. Last year, he got me beautiful designer shoes and the year before, a white and purple purse. Cane never disappoints.

“ I love them. Thanks so much, Cane”, I say to him with all sincerity. He waves my gratitude off and asks, “ So what are your plans for tonight, any birthday party?” I shake my head slowly, a party is the last thing on my mind right now.

“ Let me take you out eehn,” he suggests but then I tell him I’m not in the mood.

“ You still don’t want to give us a chance?” he asks for the twentieth time since we started working together. I remain mute and cast my eyes on my laps.

“ Why do you keep rejecting me? Haven’t I proven myself enough? I love you Abena and all the things I do is purposely to just make you happy, can’t you see?”

“ Let’s not visit this topic now, I’m so not in the mood please” I stand up to leave but he pulls me back and keeps insisting I accept his proposal. At this point, I get irritated and lash out at him.

“ Fine, I will tell you why I can’t accept you. You’re just not my type. You’re too bony and less educated. You still find it difficult to fend for yourself, so how do you intend to take care of me? Just tell me” he draws his head back and stares at me in astonishment. He straightens up and puts both hands into his pockets. His expression changes into something I have never seen before and I instantly regret what I said. I switch back to calmness and touch his shoulder.

“See, I’m doing this for our sake. We are good as friends so let’s just maintain it at this level. I really like you, but just as a friend so please try to understand”

“ It’s fine, I totally understand you. I just hope you don’t regret your decision someday”, he says jovially with a grin. But then I sense the intensity of his words. He gently takes my hand from his shoulder and rubs it fondly. He gives me a lopsided smile and without uttering another word, walks away.