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I had a deadline to meet, and I was doing all my tasks simultaneously and working at breakneck speed as I needed money to appeal my daughter's custody verdict.
“Jessica, you're working late?” Shontelle asked as she peeped in my corner, giving me that you need to take it easy look.
“What?” I asked, feeling partially uncomfortable because I know what follows next will be long lectures of how I need to take a break and take care of me.
But how can I take a break when I have lost my daughter in a custody battle with her father? I had thought deeply.
“Hello, earth to Jessica,” Shontelle interrupted my thought as she snapped her fingers to my face.
“Leave me alone Shontelle, we all cannot be fortunate with life's luxury”. I grabbed my coffee mug to take a sip but discovered it was empty.
“Ok Unfortunate one, let me leave you to your misery” Shontelle said in a mimicking voice as she headed for the exit door.
“I don't sound like that”, I fired at her grudgingly as I reached out to refill my coffee mug and get on with my projects.
The next morning, I had almost overslept, but thank God for the alarm clock. I dashed out of the house like lightening and was literally functioning on auto mode.
I have not had any sleep and one can easily tell with the dark eye circles and eye bags resting on my once lovely eyes.
All projects secured, done and dusted, I smiled to myself as I calculated my fat pay that is yet to come. But one thing I'm sure of is that all the sleepless nights, and long office hours would pay off eventually when I receive what is due to me.
As I sit my corner texting my lawyer, I overheard my colleagues discuss a ladies night out, but like I told Shontelle the previous day, we all are not fortunate to life's luxuries.
“You should come Jessica,” April said, calling out to me.
I wasn't paying any attention as I was conversing with my lawyer on the appeal process of my daughter's custody.
I can't afford to lose this time around I thought, as I had lost the first custody battle with my child's father due to insufficient funds.
While I ponder on my next move, I never knew the girls were done with their planning and now focusing their attention on me until I heard, “She's at it again”.
Not ready for any of their nonsense, I aggressively replied Tania, “she is at what again Tania?”
Out of the blues, Shontelle asked “How's the custody battle going with your baby daddy?”.
I gave Shontelle the look to stop, but she wasn't paying attention as she kept on. I felt so embarrassed as I didn't want words to go out but here is Shontelle, a supposed friend selling me out.
“You are in a custody battle?” April asked in shock.
“Wow! You didn't think about informing any of us?” Mabel questioned.
“How long has this been going on?” Tania fired from her end.
“Guys, please cut me some slack, I really do not need this right now.” I tried appealing to them, but Shontelle wasn't stopping.
She continued: “That's why she's been working late, carrying on more task than required, looking tacky and missing out on all the fun nights we've been having together.”
At this point I really hated Shontelle, I mean, what is she trying to do? Set up a gang up against me?
I stood up to excuse myself as I wasn't about to let anyone get up in my personal business, but the girls were not letting me off the hook that easily.
“How's the case coming up Jessica,” April asked but this time in a firm and authoritative tone.
"If the case was coming up good for her, I mean she will look good, but look at her." Shontel responded to April.
Shontel stop! I yelled at her.
We are friends, but doesn't give you the right to put my personal business out there.
I got up and walked out to let off some steam. As I stood in a corner breathing in and out trying to calm my nerves, my phone rang, and I saw it was John my child's father.
What does he want now I had thought to myself as I let out a frustrating hello, but instead a familiar voice called out?
“Hello mommy”, and my heart sank. It's been a year since her father took her away from me, but I still cry anytime her thoughts cross my mind or whenever she has the opportunity to call me.
“Hello mommy,” she repeated, “are you there?” she continued.
I quickly pulled myself together to respond trying to mask my teary voice.
“I am here Cynthia, how are you holding up?”
“Not too good Mommy, I want to come home”.
Still pretending like all is well between her father and me I responded, “but you are home baby. You are home with your father and I will be visiting soon.”
“I am Twelve mom, I am not a child. We both know you are not coming, please do not lie to me. It was my birthday and you were not here. We always celebrate my birthday together mommy, and I miss that, please do not let dad take me away.”
I was broken to pieces but still managed to keep it together.
All I could say was “Ok baby I am working on it, we will be together soon”. I mean the girl is not ignorant, so I shouldn't be trying to treat her as such.
I have to go now mommy bye. Cynthia said in some sort of fright.
“Wait, that was quick, I didn't even get to ask about school, are you feeding well? Are you ok?” I joggled up my questions together trying to get a response before the line goes off.
“Of course she is feeding well Jessica, why won't she? Do you think I am as poor as you are that I cannot feed my child?” John responded to me in the most condescending of tone.
“Our child John, she is my child too.”
“Not when you can't afford a decent roof over her head or even give her life's basic.” John cuts in further ridiculing my financial constraint.
I was going to start crying but then I heard Cynthia come to my defense, challenging her father for the first time.
“Do not talk to Mom like that”.
“My friend will you keep quiet and run upstairs to your room.” Her father roared like a wounded lion.
But Cynthia wasn't afraid, as she responded, “Not without first letting you know that your house might be a mansion, but in mother's house we had love.”
And that was all the motivation I needed to keep fighting to get my daughter back.
As the call line went off, I pulled myself together, wore a smile and walked into the office to let my work buddies in on all that had happened, who knows? They just might be of help in the fight to get my daughter back.
But Cynthia wasn't afraid, as she responded, “Not without first letting you know that your house might be a mansion, but in mother's house we had love.”
And that was all the motivation I needed to keep fighting to get my daughter back.
As the call line went off, I pulled myself together, wore a smile and walked into the office to let my work buddies in on all that had happened, who knows? They just might be of help to me winning the appeal.
