Family First

The moment Amara pushed open the front door, she knew something was wrong.

The tiny apartment was unusually quiet. Very quiet.

Too quiet. Normally, her mother would call out from the living room.

"Amara, is that you?"

Or she would tease her for coming home late.

"Don't tell me you have been busy breaking boys' hearts at school."

But today Nothing. A cold knot tightened in Amara stomach.

"Mum?" she called.

No answer.

Her school bag slipped from her shoulder as panic surged through her chest.

"Mum!"

She rushed toward the bedroom. The door was slightly open And what she saw almost made her heart stopped breathing.

Her mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, breathing heavily, one hand pressed against her chest.

"Mum!"

“What happened to you?”She asked.

Amara dropped to her knees beside her.

"Are you okay?"

Her mother forced a smile.

"I am fine."Her mother replied.

"You don't look fine."

You are not fine.

"It's just a little dizziness."

"You said that last week."

"And I survived."

Amara wasn't laughing. Fear gripped her heart. She is very scared Because lately, the little dizziness had become more frequent.

And every time it happened, her mother smile looked weaker. Then Amara helped her mother lie down.

"Did you take your medicine?"

A guilty expression crossed her mother face. Amara immediately knew.

"Mum."

"What?"

"You forgot again."

You forgot to take your medicine

"It skipped my mind."

"It didn't skipped your mind."

Her mother looked away. The silence said everything.

They couldn't afford another refill.

Amara chest tightened. The medicine bottle on the table was nearly empty. Only two tablets remained.

She quickly turned away before her mother noticed the tears gathering in her eyes. Her eyes was very red.

"We will buy more tomorrow."

Her mother sighed.

"Amara."

"We will."

"Sweetheart, stop worrying."

"How can I stop worrying?"

The words escaped from her mouth before she could hold them back. The room fell silent.

Everywhere was very silent. Quiet. Her mother eyes softened.

"Oh, my baby."

Amara immediately looked down. She hated crying.

Especially in front of her mother But sometimes the fear became too much.

"What if you get worse?" she whispered.

"What if one day I come home and"

"Don't."

Her mother gently squeezed her hand.

"Don't think like that."

“Stop thinking like that.”

Amara bit her lip.

"But I do."

The old woman smiled sadly.

"Then think about this instead."

"What?"Amara asked.

"I am still here."Her mother replied.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the old ceiling fan spinning above them.

The ceiling fan was blowing gently. Slow. Steady. Like a reminder that time never stopped moving.

Later that evening, Amara entered the kitchen. The refrigerator was almost empty.

Half a loaf of bread. A few eggs. One bottle of water.

That was all. There is no foodstuffs at home again.

She swallowed hard Then she noticed something. The food her mother had prepared was enough for only one person.

Amara frowned.

"Mum?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you only make one plate?"

"I am not hungry."

That answer came too quickly. Amara froze. It was the same excuse Again. The realization hit her.

Her mother wasn't skipping meals because she wasn't hungry. She was doing it so Amara could eat.

She was doing it because there is no much foodstuffs at home again. A lump formed in Amara throat.

"Mum."

"Hm?"

"When was the last time you ate properly?"Amara asked.

Her mother laughed nervously.

"Don't interrogate me."Her mother replied.

"Mum."

The old woman looked away. That was all the answer Amara needed. Tears burned Amara eyes.

"You gave me your food again, didn't you?"

"No."

"You did."

"Amara"

"You always do this!"

Her voice cracked. The room fell silent. Very silent. For a moment, neither spoke Everywhere was very quiet.

Then her mother reached out and gently touched her cheek with her hands.

"You need it more than I do."Her mother said.

"No."Amara replied.

Her mother smile trembled.

"You are my daughter."

"And you are my mother."

The words echoed loudly through the room. Both of them fighting their tears back. Both refusing to break.

After dinner, they sat together on the old couch. They were sitting down beside each other.

The television played quietly in the background. Neither paid attention. Amara rested her head on her mother shoulder.

Just like she had done when she was a little girl For a while, they sat in comfortable silence Then her mother spoke.

"You know what scares me?"Her mother said.

Amara looked up.

"What?"Amara asked.

Her mother eyes became distant.

"Leaving you alone."She replied.

Amara immediately sat upright.

"Mum"

"I am serious."

"Don't say that."

"What if one day"

"Stop."

Tears filled Amara eyes. Her eyes were very red.

"I don't want to hear it."

"But you need to."

"No."

"Amara."

"No!"

The word exploded from her mouth. The room fell silent. Her breathing became shaky.

"I already think about it every day."

Her mother expression softened. Every day Those words carried more pain than any tears could.

Those words really hurts her so much. Amara lowered her head.

"I pretend to be strong."

Her voice trembled.

"I smile at school."

She laughed bitterly.

"I act like everything is okay."

Tears slide down her cheeks.

"But I am scared all the time."

“Am very scared.”

Her mother immediately pulled her into a hug.

She hug her tightly.

"My baby."

"What if I lose you?"

The question shattered whatever strength remained inside her. She broke down completely.

She start remembering the Years of fear. Years of worry. Years of pretending. All pouring out at once.

Her mother held her tightly And for a while, neither said anything. They simply cried together.

Mother and daughter Holding on to each other As if letting go would break them forever.

Later that night, Amara tucked her mother into bed, She cover her mother with blanket on the bed.

The old woman smiled.

"You worry too much."

"I learned from the best."

Her mother laughed softly.

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

"Goodnight, Mum."

Amara switched off the light But instead of going to bed, she sat beside the window.

She sat down on a couch beside the window. The moonlight spilled across the room.

She start Thinking. Planning. Determined. She couldn't keep living like this. Something had to change.

She needed money. She needed opportunities. She needed a way to save her mother.

No matter what it took And for the first time in her life.

Amara made a silent promise.

"I will give my mother a better life."

I will make sure I give her a better life.

"I don't care how hard it is."

No matter what happened.

"I won't fail."

The next morning, as Amara prepared for school, her phone suddenly vibrated.

She quickly pick up the phone from the table she was placing it. It was a message notification.

A notification appeared on the screen. Unknown Number. Her eyebrows furrowed.

She opened the message. The moment she read it, her eyes widened. Her heart nearly stopped.

Her heart beat faster. She couldn't breathe very well again Because the text contained information that should have been impossible for a stranger to know.

And at the bottom of the message were seven chilling words:

"I know what happened to your father."

Amara froze. The phone nearly slipped from her hand Because her father had disappeared years ago.

And nobody.

Absolutely nobody.

Had ever told her the truth.