Chapter 2 The divorce and my regrets

The noise was over the roof and Erica feared it might cause an earth quake since their was a loud music coming from next door, their noisy neighbor who would always prefer loud music to a quiet one.

Miriam grabbed Andrew by the shirt pulling him very hard with a cigarette a cigarette still stuck at the end of her mouth.

Erica looked up from under the table to see what was happening, her eyes were very tiny and blue.

"You would do nothing Mr Johnson!" Miriam yelled.

That is what she always calls Andrew when ever they are thick in between an argument, Mr Johnson is what you here everywhere and not the usual sweet names.

"Let go of my shirt Miriam, let go!" He yelled back trying to get her hands off his shirt but she rather tightened her grip on it and made ugly faces at him.

Andrew was getting even more upset, Erica could clearly see depression in her father's eyes as he struggled to get Miriam's hands off his shirt, this seemed like an impossible mission.

It was getting very hot in the house with the noise evaporating high up in the air.

The arguments have become a normal routine in the family whenever Andrew returns which was easily resolved but this morning was hell on earth.

Joan feared that this time around, it might never get resolved.

Joan felt bad for both of her parents and knew things wouldn't have gotten this bad if her father isn't a soldier and is always around cause their mother only gets to maltreate Erica when he isn't home.

She glared at Erica who was shaking under the table and blamed her for everything that was happening and for not keeping her mouth shut.

Miriam was know as her husband and kids to be a smoke and drug addict but she barely does that whenever Andrew is at home.

She squanders most money given to her by Andrew on drugs which was totally unhealthy for her as a mother.

Miriam was a house wife who doesn't let a day go by without smoking a packet of cigarette, she's addicted to it.

Erica lacked the love and care of a mother, whenever her father is away, she feels like an orphan.

Most nights she goes to bed hungry and when she complains to Miriam, she gets cigarettes plunged into her skin.

Miriam always called Erica a nag, would call and would yell at her for no reason.

Sometimes out of fear, Erica ends up peeing in her pants whenever Miriam threatens to cut her ears off.

Two nights ago, had hit a wooden spoon on Erica's head and used a lok.

"You are out of your mind for confronting me in front of the kids!" Miriam yelled.

"You are so cruel Miriam, what type of a mother are you?" Andrew yelled.

This was getting frustrating for the kids, an argument that seemed to have no end.

Erica couldn't stop blaming herself for what was happening at the moment but at the same time she knew some day that her father might find out.

If only Miriam treated her just the way she treated Joan, she wouldn't have to complain and her father wouldn't find out that she had injuries all over her body.

For years Erica nurtured the feeling that her mother hated her and loved Joan, this got her jealous most times.

Erica couldn't forget that morning she woke up feeling that something was wrong with her and maybe that was why her mother hated her so much so she confronted her and threatened to kill herself, but Miriam only laughed at her.

Erica felt very stupid for thinking that she could get her mother's attention with such words.

Joan had her hair tied in pony tail with fancy ribbons and a nice pink dress on which moved left and right as she wrapped her hands around her mother's waist.

"Daddy, it's okay please" Joan cried.

Joan was bold unlike Erica who was always shy and afraid.

"Mummy please stop yelling" Joan kept saying with tears streaming down to her jaw but neither her father or mother listened to her.

Erica doubted if Joan would ever forgive her for reporting their mum to their father, Joan has always advised her to learn to tolerate their mother, but now Erica was wondering how long she was going to do that.

Erica brushed her tears off taking a deep breath.

"I am done with this marriage!" Andrew screamed.

Erica's eyes widened on hearing that, she grew even more scared with my fingers stuck in her mouth.

Miriam chortled "really? Is that it? Well I am sick and tired of you too!"

She went straight into her room, took her bags.

"Dad please, mum please...." Joan kept saying in tears.

Miriam returned to the living room with their bags few minutes later.

"Erica, Joan, we are leaving here this minute!" She said.

Erica's heart fell into her stomach.

"You are going no where with Erica!" Andrew yelled.

Miriam laughed "then watch me!"

Miriam found Erica under the table where she was hiding and dragged her out.

"Please let me go!" Erica cried out.

"You are going with me!" Miriam said looking mean.

"I insist that you are going no where with Erica, you can go to where ever you want with Joan" Andrew shouted.

"She is my daughter too and I would not have you take her away from me!" Miriam cried out.

Tears clogged her eyes.

"You should have thought about her when you decided to treated her like an animal!" Andrew yelled snatching Erica's hand off Miriam's.

"Let the girl make her decision" Miriam said turning to Erica.

"I promise to love and take very good care of you only if you came with me child" Miriam said looking into Erica's eyes.

Erica felt lost, she had always wanted to have the love of her mother and right now, she is offering it to her with an option.

She took a glance at Joan who encouraged her to listen to their mother with a sign.

Erica looked up to her father who only kept a straight face looking at Miriam's face.

"I... I... would stay with daddy" Erica said.

Miriam gasped "I can't believe that you would turn your back on me Erica, you are just a foolish child."

She held Joan's arm and left at once.

That was the last time Erica ever saw her mother or Joan.

For years Joan sent Erica messages and emails blaming her for their parents divorce, Erica hated that feeling a lot.

Years later....

Erica is a grown woman now.

Straight legs and with a beautifully curved body.

She was dressed in a yellow shirt and a pair of black trousers.

Her eyes were perfect as they connotes her sparkling skin color.

An elegant yellow ribbon was sitting on the side of her hair giving more volume to her looks.

Erica was waiting for her sister Joan who later became a friend when she got tired of blaming her for their parent's divorce.

Joan and Erica became best of friends even when they only saw pictures of themselves and never met.

Through the same emails Joan used as a medium to insult and say horrible things to Erica, they settled their differences and started having decent conversations over the years but they were never able to see each other since they lived in different states.

Andrew made sure that Erica had nothing to do with Miriam Johnson, her mother.

Erica was sitting in a coffee shop, she had a pipping hot cup of coffee sitting in front of her, she was busy writing on a book, she calls it "Hidden Diary" this was where she wrote down all her life experiences.

She was writing to keep herself busy while she waited for her sister.

Joan and Erica have been planning to meet for months but their busy schedule would always disrupt their plans but today, they are not letting anything stop them from meeting each other not even the fact that Erica is missing her lover.

Erica knew she needed to see him, she was tired of giving him constant excuses and not being able to be there when he needs her because of work but that didn't change the fact that she loves him alot and always called and texted to check up on him, she had planned visiting him before the end of the day.

Today, Erica is about to find out why her mother made life miserable for her as a child and she was so curious and at the same time nervous.

Erica believes that Joan has all the information she needed and has promised to share it all with her.

The day was still fresh like spring water and a free one for Erica.

Days as smooth as this don't always come her way since she was a creative writer and her job has been absolutely good at keeping her so busy.

You can imagine having to work your ass off even during weekends without having a single time for yourself.

She took more sips of her coffee as she wrote on her book.

Erica took a quick glance at her wrist watch and sighed.

Her phone started ringing.

She dropped her pen at once.

In a minute her once nervous looking face broke into a beautiful smile.

She picked the call giggling slightly.

"Hello Sarah, did you miss me?" She asked.

"You know I miss you Erica, enough of the games already" Sarah cried out.

Erica couldn't help but laugh at the way Sarah spoke, she had this baby voice.

"You see, exactly what I am talking about" Sarah said sounding pissed off.

"What?" Erica asked rolling her eyes.

"You are never serious Erica, I hope we are meeting tonight?" She asked waiting impatiently for Erica's response.

Erica was quite.

She frowned hitting her palm on her forehead.

"Why didn't I remember I was meeting her tonight when I was planning to spend the rest of the day with my boyfriend?" She thought.

She scoffed biting on her lower lip "what am I to say to Sarah right now?"

Erica actually accepted to hang out with Sarah that evening when she called last night.

They both shared the same busy schedule and barely spend quality time together as friends.

"Erica, you aren't saying anything?" Sarah yelled over the phone dragging back Erica's attention.

Erica sighed "Sarah you know...."

"I don't want to hear it Erica, we had an agreement, you know how busy I can get with work too, don't forget that I am a banker but I haven't forgotten how to create time for my friends unlike you" she yelled.

Erica nodded "I know...."

"Yes I know that you know Erica, so we are meeting this evening" she said boldly.

"Sarah I haven't seen Liam in a while now, I miss him" Erica said sadly.

Liam is Erica's sweet boyfriend whom she had talked about earlier, the one who her heart beats so loud for.

As far as Erica was concerned, Liam was the hottest dude around.

Sarah groaned "fine... have fun while I wallow in boredom."

Erica rubbed her hand on her head "Sarah I am sorry but I promise I would make it up to you."

Sarah chuckled "yeah.. yeah... I have heard those lines before, take care of yourself Erica."

And she hanged up before Erica could say another word.

Erica bowed her head looking a little upset, she could swear that Sarah was mad at her, especially when she sounds that way.