PART 1 — THE GIRL WHO APOLOGIZED FOR EXISTING
PART 1 — THE GIRL WHO APOLOGIZED FOR EXISTING
“Wait… what happened?”
Jennifer stared at Nora, completely confused.
The little girl was standing in the middle of the living room, eyes wide with fear, her breathing uneven.
Only a few seconds earlier, everyone had been laughing and talking.
The atmosphere had been warm.
Normal.
Almost like a happy family gathering.
Until Nora suddenly woke up.
She had been sleeping quietly on the edge of Mabel’s chair.
The moment her eyes opened and she realized where she was, her entire face changed.
She jumped up immediately.
“I’m sorry!”
The words came out before she even understood what was happening.
Then she ran.
Not walked.
Not politely excused herself.
She ran through the hallway like someone escaping danger.
The room went silent.
Jennifer looked at Johnson.
Then at Mabel.
Nobody knew what to say.
“Wait…” Jennifer repeated.
“What exactly happened?”
Mabel forced a laugh.
The kind of laugh people use when they want everyone to stop asking questions.
“These village children,” she said, waving her hand casually.
“They can be so funny.”
But Jennifer didn’t smile.
Because she had noticed something.
The fear in Nora’s eyes.
That wasn’t the fear of a child who got embarrassed.
That was the fear of a child who expected punishment.
Inside the bedroom, Nora locked the door.
Quietly.
Carefully.
As if even the sound of the lock could bring trouble.
Then she covered her mouth and cried.
“Oh God…”
She pressed her hand against her chest.
“How did I sleep off there?”
She walked around the small room, shaking.
“Auntie Mabel told me clearly.”
“Don’t enter the sitting room unless she calls me.”
“She said I should stay here.”
“She said if I disobey again…”
Nora stopped.
The memory made her body tremble.
She looked at the door.
Almost expecting Mabel to appear.
“She will be angry.”
“She will say I don’t listen.”
Tears rolled down her face.
“I’m in trouble.”
In the living room, Mabel continued pretending everything was fine.
But Johnson was watching her.
He had been quiet.
Too quiet.
Because he had seen something.
Something nobody else noticed.
When Nora ran away…
Her sleeve moved slightly.
And he saw marks on her arm.
Not an accident.
Not a simple scratch.
Something was wrong.
Jennifer leaned forward.
“Maybe she had a bad dream.”
She looked toward the hallway.
“You should check on her.”
Mabel smiled.
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll go calm her down.”
She stood up.
Her expression remained gentle.
Perfect.
Caring.
But the moment she entered Nora’s room…
The smile disappeared.
The door closed.
And Mabel’s real face returned.
“What was that?”
Nora froze.
“Auntie…”
“What was that performance outside?”
“I’m sorry.”
Nora’s voice shook.
“I didn’t mean to sleep there.”
“It’s your husband.”
“He called me.”
“I was sitting there and I didn’t know when I slept.”
Mabel stepped closer.
Her eyes narrowed.
“You always have an excuse.”
“No…”
“First you don’t listen.”
“Then you embarrass me in front of guests.”
Nora started crying harder.
“Please forgive me.”
Mabel lifted her hand.
And Nora immediately covered her head.
The reaction was automatic.
The kind of reaction a child learns after experiencing the same thing too many times.
Mabel stopped.
Not because she felt sorry.
Because she heard footsteps.
Johnson.
The door opened.
And everything changed.
Mabel’s face softened instantly.
“Oh, my dear…”
She moved closer and pulled Nora into a hug.
“Were you having a bad dream?”
Nora froze.
She didn’t understand.
A few seconds ago, Mabel looked angry.
Now she looked loving.
Johnson stood at the door.
Watching.
Mabel gently rubbed Nora’s back.
“Don’t cry.”
“You are safe.”
Then she closed her eyes.
“Father Lord, please calm this child.”
“I bind every negative dream…”
Johnson said nothing.
His eyes stayed on Nora.
The little girl wasn’t responding like someone being comforted.
She was responding like someone pretending.
Like someone afraid to make a mistake.
After a moment, Johnson walked away.
The second his footsteps disappeared…
Mabel’s expression changed again.
She released Nora.
“You were lucky.”
Nora lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Mabel pointed toward the bed.
“Sit.”
Nora obeyed immediately.
“I’ll deal with you later.”
Then she left.
That night, Johnson couldn’t sleep.
The image kept replaying.
The fear.
The bruises.
The way Nora protected herself.
A thought entered his mind.
A terrible thought.
“What if I don’t know the woman I married?”
Meanwhile, inside her room, Mabel looked at herself in the mirror.
She adjusted her hair.
Fixed her clothes.
Then whispered:
“Children talk too much.”
A small smile appeared.
“But Nora knows better.”
She didn’t know…
Someone had already started asking questions.
And this time…
May you like
Nora wasn’t completely alone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
