ANASTASIA


    5 YEARS AFTER


    "Why do I have to go there everyday? I wanna go with, u!" She said and turned away from me.


    I sighed, dropped her backpack, lunchbox and my bag on the chair. and stooped to her height.


    "Hey baby," I said softly and she responded by turning away from me again.


    "Amie please," I took hold of her hands but she snatched it away. "Don''t talk to me."


    "Amie, look at me," I said in a firm voice and she immediately turned to me with a pout and watery eyes. I hate to raise my voice at her but sometimes it was the only way to get her to listen.


    I gently took her hands in mine and thankfully, she didn''t pull away this time. "Baby, you can''te with me to work. It''s not allowed."


    "Why?" She sulked, "I can work."


    "I know that, Amie," I said with a small smile. "You''re a very hardworking girl. But right now, school is more important for you, okay? When the time is right you''d work and no one will stop you." "What can''t I work now?" She whinged, "I''m five!"


    I almost threw my hands up. "Exactly, baby. You''re five! You''re too young to work."


    Ever since she turned five, she''s been incessant about helping me


    with chores and getting a job. I really am still wondering where she got all the impressions that she needed to help me. It was sweet but it sometimes got frustrating sometimes. Her shoulders drooped, "But I don''t like school. It''s boring."


    I gasped dramatically, widening my eyes, "How is school boring?"


    He looked into my eyes seriously. "Uh I don''t know."


    "Schooling is fun. First, you get to learn and gain new knowledge, secondly, you meet new friends to learn lots of new stuff with and there''s always break time to y with them."


    She seemed to mull over my words for some seconds then she murmured, "I know, mommy but I want to go with you to work. I want to be with you."


    I smiled, my heart warming. "I want to be with you all the time too baby but it''s what it is." I ced a kiss on her forehead. "Tell your what, if you listen to mommy and go to school, I will get you extra treats on my way back."


    Her eyes bulged, "Really?"


    "Really!"


    She hopped and threw her hands around me. “Thank you, mommy."


    As I hugged her tight to me, feeling her little arms wound around my neck; for the umpteenth time, I was d that I decided to keep the


    pregnancy.


    The news of my pregnancy had, innitially, left me devastated. Normally, I would not have hesitated to run to Aiden and excitedly tell him that we were going to have a child together but then, I had just broke up with him. And with the discovery that caused our


    breakup, he probably was not ready to get tied down fathering a child.


    For weeks, I had remained in my room. Nothing ra did made me budge or step out. My first intent was to remove the pregnancy. I was still struggling to find and cater for myself, adding a child to my life would be unreasonable. But I couldn''t bring myself to terminate the tender life in me. At longst, I made the resolve to keep it. And the father would have no idea that he was a father.


    I closed my eyes and tightened my arms around my bundle of joy. It''s been five years and even though, it was hard at some point, I hadn''t for once regretted my decision. She has brought nothing but happiness into my life.


    "Okay, sweetheart," I reached for her lunchbox and backpack. "Let''s get moving else we''d bete."


    We exchanged fond smiles as I tucked her in the backseat of my car then I took my seat and turned on the ignition.


    The sound the car produced made my heart sink. Ohe on! Wrong timing. I was almostte for work and I didn''t even have extra savings to spend on fixing any car. I nced at the time and furiously tried to get the car started.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "Dammit! Dammit!"


    "Mommy?" Amie called from behind.


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I turned to her with a smile. "We''d have to get a taxi, honey."


    "Okay," she answered, already reaching for her lunchbox.


    I rushed us out of the car. As we walked out of the gate, a fancy car


    pulled to a stop before us. The owner of the car winded down the window, then he waved with a big smile.


    "Dennis!" Amie shrilled, almost jumping out of my arms as she waved back with a big smile.