The wife he bought

Chapter 2

I was still standing outside the apartment staring at the sky when I heard footsteps. I turned around. It was the man who calls himself my father. The same father I couldn't leave even when I said I would.

But not anymore.not this time.

I walked back inside. Away from him. I didn't tell him about the diagnosis, there was no reason to, he hasn't been a father to me all these years, he wouldn't start now.

He followed me back in, walking behind me like someone who has done something bad and wanted to say but couldn't say it out. He always does this when he needed money and I have none to spare.

I turned around facing him "what is it dad, I have no money to give to you so stop following me" I said to him.

"That not it" he said almost immediately I ended my sentence. His hand to his head itching like a kid who doesn't know where to start.

"The thing is-- the thing is" he stammers

"For christ sake dad --- say something" I shouted

"I-- l-- did it again" he said "you did what, dad what in heavens name did you do"

"It happened again -- but-but this time I was so sure I was gonna wins, I mean I did win but decided to go again, then I lost all my winnings and loans" he confessed

"Wait what, you did what" I was dumbfounded I had just cleared the last debt and now another "how many thousands?" I asked he hesitated to speak at first but finally did "7 digits hon"he said "what!!" 7 what!!? You gambled away a million how did you even get a million" I shouted already feeling dizzy

"The thing is I won hon I actually did win but I decided to go again the stakes were high I was sure I would win, so you'd never have to lift a finger again so I took a loan and signed you off as the collateral" he said

"You say what now – you did want? Sign me off? What am I?

Your property?"

I can't do this. No I won't

"It's your problem dad it's on you so you go solve it"

"I have nothing to do with it" I said my piece

I couldn't stay in this house with him one bit longer so I grabbed my bag and proceeded to go out.

Few steps out I heard a voice or rather we heard a voice. A voice I can never forget just hearing the voice alone give me a shock. Gold teeth as I addressed him and his men. Loan sharks. They are here and it only means one thing. Trouble.

I looked back at my father " you see what you've done" I said to him. He came closer pulling me by the arm "come hide they must be here for you" he said

My dad took me and shove me in a pile of clothes even taking more from the closet and adding it " don't come out he said"

I stayed quiet. Breathed quietly even when the smell of the clothes made me feel like I was being strangled. I stayed still.

Gold teeth came in-- I call him that due to his gold teeth implants that were unevenly placed.

He came in grabs my father by his neck asking him where I was. my father didn't say. The other men he brought along with him were busy looking for any thing valuable or sellable in the house but nope nothing was valuable in the house we'd had already sold most things to clears debts.

My father gets beaten but still begs for time with the little strength he has from getting hit repeatedly "if you don't bring your daughter to us by tomorrow or our money we'll rip out all your organs that are sellable and give your remains to dogs" gold teeth said and he meant that --- they have been cases where some persons who owes them goes missing and were never found.

They eventually left and I came out furious but on looking at how awfully beaten he was I couldn't say anything but just sat there with him ---- yes he is my father and I hate him so much but- I guess I also love him. Apart from being an addicted gambler and a drunk he was also a caring at times. The way he cleans my shoe and puts them in position before I go to work each day, waits for me when he closes so we'd go home together saying "a young lady shouldn't walk alone when it's dark" he says

Those little things

Those little things mattered. To me

If - if only he didn't gamble. if only.

I looked at him and remorse was written all over his face. Same face I've seen so many times. Again. And again.

I'm not doing this I thought to myself. Before I could mutter out the words from my mouth I heard him say "you should run, don't look back and go you have done enough, I've tried to stop but I can't, I really tried hon, so go before they come back" he had this look on his face I have never seen before when he said that. I hesitated. Looked at him. He blinked twice slowly while silently saying "go"

Tears rolled down my eyes I do love my dad but what about me. Don't break. I told myself." You're dying so be the bad daughter for once"

I stood up looked at my dad one last time "there's money behind my closet get yourself treated" I said and walked towards the door. The gate to my freedom was finally Infront of me----- or so I thought. I opened the door to find gold teeth standing there with both hands to his waist smiling.

"My dear Zara you are going to be auctioned" he said