An excerpt from my book Vile Obsession
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“You lied to me, Emma.”
When Emma kept mute, he said “You know how much I hate lies, say something.”
“I did not lie to you. I just did not mention anything about it. And it is kind of all your fault. If you had let me escape with you, I never would have found out.”
Elvis was not taking the news well, “Find out what in particular that your father deals in illegal activities or that he is the psychopath that killed your friends.”
Emma went cold inside out but she kept mute while Elvis ranted on. “He is dangerous, you should expose him instead of protecting him.”
Emma bit out, “You do not tell me what I can or cannot do. He is my father and I love my family and so I am willing to do anything to keep us together.”
Elvis shook his head, “Talk about dysfunctional family. Can’t you see what is right in front of you? Any reason he gave you for the atrocities he committed was just an excuse. The real reason Eve, Jennifer and David are all dead is because he wants you all to himself. He is dangerous even to you.”
Emma hissed at him, “What do you know? You do not have a father that loves you. You have not even been loved properly in your entire life so you do not have any right to judge. Father was right, I was wrong thinking you could help me get over David.”
She angrily picked her bag and stormed off. “Crazy runs in the family” Elvis shouted after her.
#review #story #Afrikwriter
“You lied to me, Emma.”
When Emma kept mute, he said “You know how much I hate lies, say something.”
“I did not lie to you. I just did not mention anything about it. And it is kind of all your fault. If you had let me escape with you, I never would have found out.”
Elvis was not taking the news well, “Find out what in particular that your father deals in illegal activities or that he is the psychopath that killed your friends.”
Emma went cold inside out but she kept mute while Elvis ranted on. “He is dangerous, you should expose him instead of protecting him.”
Emma bit out, “You do not tell me what I can or cannot do. He is my father and I love my family and so I am willing to do anything to keep us together.”
Elvis shook his head, “Talk about dysfunctional family. Can’t you see what is right in front of you? Any reason he gave you for the atrocities he committed was just an excuse. The real reason Eve, Jennifer and David are all dead is because he wants you all to himself. He is dangerous even to you.”
Emma hissed at him, “What do you know? You do not have a father that loves you. You have not even been loved properly in your entire life so you do not have any right to judge. Father was right, I was wrong thinking you could help me get over David.”
She angrily picked her bag and stormed off. “Crazy runs in the family” Elvis shouted after her.
Prompt: Write a story about an old family secret resurfacing.
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“I love you so much, Nora.” Phoebe Shane sighed. “But honestly, I am tired of all kinds of dates -blind dates and not.”
Nora pouted her lower lip at her girlfriend and roommate and tried to make puppy eyes at her but Phoebe was not done.
“For starters, all the guys you pick out are just wrong. The last guy you set me up with was the Antichrist. He was rude, had bad eating manners and would not stop making nasty remarks about how I look. At the end of the torture, I still footed the bill.” Phoebe exclaimed gesturing angrily before slumping weakly on her bed while Nora bust out laughing.
Despite how long ago it had happen, Phoebe felt the same humiliation again on realizing that her date was a broke man but had eaten half the restaurant. She glared at her friend till she stopped laughing and covered up her laughter with minute coughs. She had not found the situation funny, that unforgettable date had left a dent in her bank account.
Of the two of them, Phoebe was the good girl, the responsible one, the easily embarrassed one and the girl who could not stand up for herself while Nora was the sass master, she was daring and lively.
“Okay. You have a point.” Nora Sanchez said trying to find another approach to get her friend on this particular date. “I am sorry. I got Billy from a dating site and he just seemed to be the perfect match for you. But I promise, you will love this guy. I know him personally, he is so cute and rich and he is not even an ex. He is not into me either and you two have a lot in common.”
Phoebe had stopped to listening to her after the first sentence. “Did you just say you got Freddie from a dating site? You told me you knew him!”
Nora's eyes widened at her slipup and she slowly raised her hands in the air, “Billy. I didn’t say dating site per say… I’m pretty sure I said dating insight.” She started running around their room as Phoebe angrily launched half her wardrobe at her. “Okay. You caught me. I am so sorry. I lied. It is just you are very picky and you already do not like half of my friends.” She confessed and Phoebe stopped her projectile activities.
“Apology not accepted. Have you seen half of the guys you move with? They all have criminal records.” She said with faux fury, eyeing her best friend.
Nora rolled her eyes at her friend’s exaggeration but did not argue with her, “I am sorry, Pheobs. I just want you to be happy. And I can’t get married if you are still single. Please, meet this new guy. His name is Justus and you will love him, you both have a lot in common. I won’t ask you on another date ever if this one fails.” Nora promised.
Phoebe considered the proposal and stared at Nora’s expression. Nora was never serious even in a matter of life and death, she was always frivolous but this time around, she actually looked serious.
Before Nora could add more convincing speeches, Phoebe raised her hand to stop her. “Nothing you say would make me go on this date.” Although you retiring from being a pain in my bum is an attractive proposal, you are not quite there yet.
“Fine, I will be there with you the whole time. If I notice that he makes you uncomfortable, I will be your damsel in shining armor.” Nora tried to convince her stubborn best friend and received a blank stare in return.
Tempting. Try again.
“Okay. About the Billy guy. I will share half the expenses. It was partially my fault after all.” Nora suggested again.
Bingo.
“Wrong. It was totally your fault but I might have to take you up on that offer.” Phoebe said eventually and Nora broke into a short dance of victory. “So where are we going?”
…
Night at Classy Fooders was the usual. Rihanna's latest song was playing softly in the background as a good looking waiter led Phoebe and Nora to their table.
“We are early.” Phoebe remarked to her friend but Nora was not listening to her because she was busy trying to charm her way into the good looking waiter’s pants. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Phoebe asked
#review #story #afrikwriter
“I love you so much, Nora.” Phoebe Shane sighed. “But honestly, I am tired of all kinds of dates -blind dates and not.”
Nora pouted her lower lip at her girlfriend and roommate and tried to make puppy eyes at her but Phoebe was not done.
“For starters, all the guys you pick out are just wrong. The last guy you set me up with was the Antichrist. He was rude, had bad eating manners and would not stop making nasty remarks about how I look. At the end of the torture, I still footed the bill.” Phoebe exclaimed gesturing angrily before slumping weakly on her bed while Nora bust out laughing.
Despite how long ago it had happen, Phoebe felt the same humiliation again on realizing that her date was a broke man but had eaten half the restaurant. She glared at her friend till she stopped laughing and covered up her laughter with minute coughs. She had not found the situation funny, that unforgettable date had left a dent in her bank account.
Of the two of them, Phoebe was the good girl, the responsible one, the easily embarrassed one and the girl who could not stand up for herself while Nora was the sass master, she was daring and lively.
“Okay. You have a point.” Nora Sanchez said trying to find another approach to get her friend on this particular date. “I am sorry. I got Billy from a dating site and he just seemed to be the perfect match for you. But I promise, you will love this guy. I know him personally, he is so cute and rich and he is not even an ex. He is not into me either and you two have a lot in common.”
Phoebe had stopped to listening to her after the first sentence. “Did you just say you got Freddie from a dating site? You told me you knew him!”
Nora's eyes widened at her slipup and she slowly raised her hands in the air, “Billy. I didn’t say dating site per say… I’m pretty sure I said dating insight.” She started running around their room as Phoebe angrily launched half her wardrobe at her. “Okay. You caught me. I am so sorry. I lied. It is just you are very picky and you already do not like half of my friends.” She confessed and Phoebe stopped her projectile activities.
“Apology not accepted. Have you seen half of the guys you move with? They all have criminal records.” She said with faux fury, eyeing her best friend.
Nora rolled her eyes at her friend’s exaggeration but did not argue with her, “I am sorry, Pheobs. I just want you to be happy. And I can’t get married if you are still single. Please, meet this new guy. His name is Justus and you will love him, you both have a lot in common. I won’t ask you on another date ever if this one fails.” Nora promised.
Phoebe considered the proposal and stared at Nora’s expression. Nora was never serious even in a matter of life and death, she was always frivolous but this time around, she actually looked serious.
Before Nora could add more convincing speeches, Phoebe raised her hand to stop her. “Nothing you say would make me go on this date.” Although you retiring from being a pain in my bum is an attractive proposal, you are not quite there yet.
“Fine, I will be there with you the whole time. If I notice that he makes you uncomfortable, I will be your damsel in shining armor.” Nora tried to convince her stubborn best friend and received a blank stare in return.
Tempting. Try again.
“Okay. About the Billy guy. I will share half the expenses. It was partially my fault after all.” Nora suggested again.
Bingo.
“Wrong. It was totally your fault but I might have to take you up on that offer.” Phoebe said eventually and Nora broke into a short dance of victory. “So where are we going?”
…
Night at Classy Fooders was the usual. Rihanna's latest song was playing softly in the background as a good looking waiter led Phoebe and Nora to their table.
“We are early.” Phoebe remarked to her friend but Nora was not listening to her because she was busy trying to charm her way into the good looking waiter’s pants. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Phoebe asked
Part two
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She had never seen her lose her calm once and she did the evilest things without shouting or batting an eyelid… like how she threw her out of her house.
“How is your grand daughter any of my concern? My Justus is a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. I am not going to meddle in his affairs for you.”
“You know their relationship is not right, Andy. He is the son of the child you had for my late husband. We have to stop them.” Barbara tried again feeling desperate.
“Don’t patronize me, Barb. We are not in this together, I don’t care about their relationship. If you do not want them together, tell them the truth and stop them yourself. Tell them you are a murder and you killed my daughter.”
If only, Andy. If only. Barbara thought.
…
“You are wrong, girlfriend. Cole is exactly the kind of man you need. He is a great cook, you are a terrible cook, he is not in jail and he has no criminal record like all your exes. He is just the perfect change you need.” Phoebe advised Nora as they arranged her dining table.
Phoebe had invited Justus over and he was bound to arrive any minute. They had been at it for months now and she was convinced he was the one. In the first few months of their relationship, she had opened her own PR Agency and ArtHood had been her first client. He made her happy and it was not just about the money. He brought out the best in her and… there was also the other thing.
“Cole is too uptight, girl.” Nora and the waiter from Classy Fooders had been going out and he was the first of Nora’s boyfriends that Phoebe approved of.
Before Phoebe can say what’s on her mind, her doorbell rings. “Whatever you will figure it out.” She said quickly before rushing into her room to powder her face and rushing back out, “How do I look? Good? Cool? Okay? What?”
Andy rolled her eyes, “You look like Phoebe. Now open the damn door and let the Greek god in.”
Phoebe giggled and took in a shaky breath before opening the door.
Instead of Justus, her grandmother- Barbara walked in, followed by her mother- Jane, Justus mother- Kelly, a woman that looked like Kelly’s elder sister and then a confused Justus trailed behind them.
Phoebe quietly shut the door behind them and followed them into her sitting room. She and Nora shared a look of confusion and surprise. She studied her mother and Justus’ mother, was it her or did they look so much alike? She wondered what other prank her grandmother was about to pull because she was the only one against their relationship and for no good reason.
“Your grandma is ready to come clean. You might want to sit down for this.” The lady who looked like Kelly’s elder sister spoke in her thick American accent. Justus introduced her as his grand mother and Phoebe marveled, she looked younger and she had beautiful skin. But something about that statement did not sit right with Phoebe. She glanced at Barbara briefly and she noticed her grandmother looked uncomfortable.
“This better be good. Y’all are ruining our dinner for this.” Justus said.
Barbara knew they were all clueless on why they were here. She had only told them it was urgent because she knew she had to tell the truth now that she had the courage.
“What are you waiting for, Barb? Tell your precious grand daughter why you are against her relationship. Tell her what you and your husband did to me.” Andy mocked.
“You knew my grandmother?” Justus asked the question everyone else was dying to ask.
“Andy and I go way back. I met her when she was just an orphan that escaped from Juvie. I really loved you, Andy. I took you as my own, I cared for you and gave you shelter and so you can imagine my shock when I caught you in bed with my late husband. I was disappointed in you and heartbroken.” Everybody in the room turned to give Andy looks of prejudice.
“You don’t really believe that, do you? It doesn’t change anything, whatever I say isn’t going to change anything. You would believe only what you want to believe. But for the record, the truth is your dumb husband molested me and
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She had never seen her lose her calm once and she did the evilest things without shouting or batting an eyelid… like how she threw her out of her house.
“How is your grand daughter any of my concern? My Justus is a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. I am not going to meddle in his affairs for you.”
“You know their relationship is not right, Andy. He is the son of the child you had for my late husband. We have to stop them.” Barbara tried again feeling desperate.
“Don’t patronize me, Barb. We are not in this together, I don’t care about their relationship. If you do not want them together, tell them the truth and stop them yourself. Tell them you are a murder and you killed my daughter.”
If only, Andy. If only. Barbara thought.
…
“You are wrong, girlfriend. Cole is exactly the kind of man you need. He is a great cook, you are a terrible cook, he is not in jail and he has no criminal record like all your exes. He is just the perfect change you need.” Phoebe advised Nora as they arranged her dining table.
Phoebe had invited Justus over and he was bound to arrive any minute. They had been at it for months now and she was convinced he was the one. In the first few months of their relationship, she had opened her own PR Agency and ArtHood had been her first client. He made her happy and it was not just about the money. He brought out the best in her and… there was also the other thing.
“Cole is too uptight, girl.” Nora and the waiter from Classy Fooders had been going out and he was the first of Nora’s boyfriends that Phoebe approved of.
Before Phoebe can say what’s on her mind, her doorbell rings. “Whatever you will figure it out.” She said quickly before rushing into her room to powder her face and rushing back out, “How do I look? Good? Cool? Okay? What?”
Andy rolled her eyes, “You look like Phoebe. Now open the damn door and let the Greek god in.”
Phoebe giggled and took in a shaky breath before opening the door.
Instead of Justus, her grandmother- Barbara walked in, followed by her mother- Jane, Justus mother- Kelly, a woman that looked like Kelly’s elder sister and then a confused Justus trailed behind them.
Phoebe quietly shut the door behind them and followed them into her sitting room. She and Nora shared a look of confusion and surprise. She studied her mother and Justus’ mother, was it her or did they look so much alike? She wondered what other prank her grandmother was about to pull because she was the only one against their relationship and for no good reason.
“Your grandma is ready to come clean. You might want to sit down for this.” The lady who looked like Kelly’s elder sister spoke in her thick American accent. Justus introduced her as his grand mother and Phoebe marveled, she looked younger and she had beautiful skin. But something about that statement did not sit right with Phoebe. She glanced at Barbara briefly and she noticed her grandmother looked uncomfortable.
“This better be good. Y’all are ruining our dinner for this.” Justus said.
Barbara knew they were all clueless on why they were here. She had only told them it was urgent because she knew she had to tell the truth now that she had the courage.
“What are you waiting for, Barb? Tell your precious grand daughter why you are against her relationship. Tell her what you and your husband did to me.” Andy mocked.
“You knew my grandmother?” Justus asked the question everyone else was dying to ask.
“Andy and I go way back. I met her when she was just an orphan that escaped from Juvie. I really loved you, Andy. I took you as my own, I cared for you and gave you shelter and so you can imagine my shock when I caught you in bed with my late husband. I was disappointed in you and heartbroken.” Everybody in the room turned to give Andy looks of prejudice.
“You don’t really believe that, do you? It doesn’t change anything, whatever I say isn’t going to change anything. You would believe only what you want to believe. But for the record, the truth is your dumb husband molested me and
Pardon my confusion,
I am just not used to your definition.
Love is the abusive husband
Love leaves bruises on mother’s face
Love is the creepy look father gives me when I walk by
Love is the boyfriend who thinks my body is his right.
Pardon me but I sometimes get creeped out
How can you say you will be on my side forever?
Love is the lies and promises unfulfilled.
I think I might need more time to get used to your strange love
#review #poetry #Afrikwriter
I am just not used to your definition.
Love is the abusive husband
Love leaves bruises on mother’s face
Love is the creepy look father gives me when I walk by
Love is the boyfriend who thinks my body is his right.
Pardon me but I sometimes get creeped out
How can you say you will be on my side forever?
Love is the lies and promises unfulfilled.
I think I might need more time to get used to your strange love
#review #poetry #Afrikwriter