Leave us alone…
SOPHIE’S POV
” What do you mean, her dad picked her up?” I yelled as I found out that my daughter was missing again. The class teacher slurred as she talked, which irked me.
That morning, as I left, I made sure to give her the instruction to keep an eye on Selene and now no one knew where she was.
Rather than meeting her at the entrance as usual, Selene was not there and I had to go to her class when I got there. I assumed she had been delayed, so I went to the classroom to check.
When I arrived, there were no students in the classroom, but some were gathered outside the door. My thoughts raced to where she was, and I looked about but could not seem to find her.
“Excuse me; have you seen Selene?” I questioned Selene’s classmate who was at the door still chatting with a few students around.
” Yes ma’am, she left with her dad after school dismissed.” She answered, and I thanked her before asking her to go.
“What dad?” I murmured to myself as I approached the principal’s office to file a complaint. I tried not to freak out even though my mind was buzzing. I promptly informed him of my daughter’s disappearance upon reaching his office.
“I can not find my daughter,” I told him when I got at his office. My mind was racing with possibilities about where she may be, but I did not appear to have any answers. He assured me to calm down that he was going to find her soon enough.
I tried to relax but I couldn’t I could not believe my kid had gone missing again in the same week. I could not contain my emotions and was prepared to vent them to the school administration.
“I am going to sue you all after this is finished because I gave strict instructions not to let her out of your sight. What kind of bullshit is this?” I strode around the principal’s office, enraged. My kid had disappeared from school for the second time in less than a week.
My head throbbed so much that I was trembling so badly that I had trouble coordinating. The notion of my baby disappearing was making me sick.
“A young man posing as your spouse arrived to get her, and Selene confirmed he was, in fact, your husband,” the class teacher said, and I gave her a nasty stare. She was dumb for talking such nonsense. When has she ever seen me with a man?
“With everything going on, what was I expected to do now?” I paced about, muttering.
Thinking about who the man may be, I abruptly stopped pacing about. I pondered whether it was Karl, but quickly discounted the possibility because he could not possible know my daughter’s school.
“Who is the man you all seem to be talking about?” I turned around and asked the teacher. She gazed at me blankly, so I asked again. This time more intense and boisterous than the previous time.
“What husband are you all referring to ? Did I ever tell you I was married?” I yelled out, expecting to garner a reaction, and they all turned to look at me in disbelief when I mentioned that I was not married. I looked into their eyes, unaffected by their surprise. I needed to find my kid as quickly as possible.
“But, I thought…” The teacher attempted to speak, but I cut her off before she could say anything more because she was still attempting to cast doubt on my marital status and did not want to hear her justifications for allowing my daughter leave with the school with a stranger.
” Well you thought wrong!! and my daughter is at risk because of your thoughts.” I shouted, gasping, as I was already fatigued.
” I dont pay y’all to think, I pay you to do your job and you can’t even do that. What is wrong with everyone in this school?” I inquired again, turning to face the instructor I met and had told to keep an eyes on her when we arrived at her class that morning. I moved close to her, staring into her eyes and accusingly pointing at her.
“I instructed you to keep an eye on her, didn’t I?” I questioned her, but she simply gazed at me blankly.
” We would find her ma’am, we really thought he was your husband.” The principal beckoned for me to have a seat as he offered me some comfort, and I sat down to think about how to get my child back. Soon enough, I yelled out, threatening the authorities.
“You will all pay for your ineptitude” I eventually stood up wanting to stormed out of the office, still unsure about what to do next. However, I paused when I heard the principal’s voice as I was about to leave. He appeared to be enraged with my behaviour and yelled out.
“We apologize for not keeping an eye on your daughter, but with both your behaviours, I suppose if she is found, we will have to reconsider her scholarship and she will most likely be expelled.”
As I heard the principal, a startling realisation hit me. I was not even paying the school; how did I let my rage get the best of me?
I attempted a smile and expressed regret for my outburst as I turned. Selene acknowledged that he was her father, even though the school was also to be blamed.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“I apologise for my outburst.” I mouthed as I walked out of the office While my daughter’s safety was my top priority, I also did not want her to pass up this chance.
I did not want to jeopardise her opportunity to attend one of the city’s premier schools for free. I slowly exited the office, embarrassed of my conduct. As I was walking outside, someone shouted out for me. It sounded like my daughter’s, so I turned to see who it was.
I felt a sense of relief as I saw Selene excitedly headed towards me holding an ice cream cone. I hurried over to her, and we gave one other hugs. I was upset at the time, but I was also happy that she was back.
” Baby where have you been my love, you got mummy worried sick?” When I inquired, she sipped her ice cream once more and gestured for me to look down the road to see who was coming.
I raise my head to look at where she was pointing and I saw Karl headed towards us with a boy about same age with Selene headed towards us.
“Uncle Karl took me to get ice cream.” She was overjoyed as she sipped it and hopped about. I gazed at her and turned to face Karl as he approached us.
“I suppose you have signed it, Meet my son.” Karl remarked as he walked towards us, grinning broadly and gesturing for me to look at his kid, who was standing next to him. I was so enraged that I lost control of everything.
“How dare you?” I screamed at him as he walked to where we stood. He sensed I was irritated and motioned for me to lower my voice as we walked away from the children.
He looked at me as though he was perplexed, and I told him in a stern manner to never do it again. I kept ranting, and he reacted aggressively.
“You should mind your tone, I would not have you insult me.” He remarked as he attempted to walk away. I was not done with my ranting
“Do not come near my kid or myself ever again.” I muttered, dragging Selene with me as I made my way out quickly so we could go home. He turned to face me, startled by my courage, and turned to go.
We boarded the bus, and all I could think about was how I almost lost my kid again. Upon arriving home, I observed that the door handle had a new, distinct appearance.
I discovered the door had been altered when I attempted to open it. My kid had almost gone missing, I had just lost my job, and now our keyhole had been altered.
“How horrible could my day get??” I questioned myself as I stood at the entrance, unsure what to do.