1 MY FAMILY

Family is the greatest gift one can ever have in life.

Being the only girl child is horrible atimes especially when you have only your mom to talk with..

I'm danielle lane the only daughter of my parents and I'll be sixteen in a week time. I have two lovely twin brothers, they're seven years older than me. i.e if I'm to be sixteen in a week time, they are twenty-one yrs old and will be twenty-two in next three months.

jessy and Joel have been my favorite ever since I was a toddler. they relocated to another country for higher institutions when I was ten years old, I was so happy for them but I later felt dumped because they were my gist and play mates.

It's difficult to cope without them, having my Lovely mom with me makes me the most special person on earth. My mom is the best thing that has ever happened to me in life, she's my everything, my counselor, best friend, teacher, my twin and my mother.

My mother is a beauty goddess, No wonder my dad was infatuated with her beauty. She's has dark brown hair, light skin and dark brown eyes, all her features I've inherited.

How can such a great woman fall for a man like my dad... who doesn't have time for family, barely visits us, doesn't allow us to associate with others, very strict and cruel.

Seriously, my dad is the opposite of my mom, He's always on business trip, I'm sure he's not aware of me coming of age else, he would have arranged a marriage with one of his wealthy friends for me.

I could remember when they had a serious argument which led to living separately...

*****

"Honey, I think we should live separately so that our children won't be able to know when we're having some misunderstanding, honestly I don't like seeing them like that each time we fight over small things" Lucy (my mom) said to dad after having their dinner not knowing I was there pretending to be asleep.

"ahem" jude (my dad) cleared his throat "sweetheart, I'ld have loved to stay with my family, see my children grow to be independent and able to control things that comes their way.... I want you to be happy with them, even if I'm not there for them as a father....I still cares for their well being and upbringing. That is your job as a wife and mother. But I'll always love to be with you all, if not for my business.... " jude frowned and continued "I don't think you guys have to live separately.. " He paused for a moment, not knowing what else to say my mom interjected

"why?" lucy said with a harsh tone "why can't we live separately? you that have never cared for me or the children. you don't know if we are happy being inside here, without friends. don't you know we human beings deserves interpersonal relationships, are you the only one permitted to have friends and well-wishers, don't we deserve the best... you go out day and night without knowing how we are, even if we're fine or not (tears rolled down her cheeks) we learn new things everyday Jude, this is not what we planned, no... not this kind of life.

I used to have trust worthy friends when I was in my father's house before our arranged marriage which I was against but I accepted because I so much believed in my father, I married you because I saw something great about you and you are different from other men.. but this, wasn't what I expected" lucy hugged him knowing that she has angered him

Jude is not that emotional type "Lucy get your hands off me, you are not going anywhere... you signed for this and that's what you must do in order to survive.. the world is very naked, full of evil... people that have no souls and mind. they're wicked and not trust worthy. Are you that daft? don't you have any knowledge of the world... are you an illiterate? you must be a fool to say such.. in marriage, there're no friends.

No one called friend is meant to be trusted" He said with seriousness.

Mom and dad continued squabbling for some days, jude seems to enjoy the whole drama each day. After some nagging and fights, Dad decided to grant mom's wish but with tight securities everywhere. Everything needed for survival has been provided by him but he never visited.

*****

Atimes my mom's at fault but I can't blame her because she doesn't want that kind of boring life for us..

I was still lying down on the bed when my personal maid came inside the room.

"Good morning danielle, how was your night" Aliyah greeted

Aliyah is my personal maid, my friend and sister.

" My night was great and yours? " I replied with a warm smile

" mine wasn't good dani. you have to get up and get dressed for your lessons today. Your teacher is here" Aliyah responded with a cool face.....

"what happened? gosh! I'm late again" I rushed out of bed heading to the bathroom " when will I stop acting like a kid, I'm a teenager now. (I sighed) Aliyah , tell me what happened to your night? "" I said while getting ready for a warm bath.

"it's nothing, just bad dreams and I don't wish to talk about it now, just get ready for your class" she said. I knew that there's something behind her dreams that ain't ordinary..

" it's just a dream, it's okay. Don't think about it much, help me get my dress ready and also my breakfast. don't forget to include yours" I said.

Aliyah doesn't hide anything from me, I trust her with everything I have.

"Dani, actually it's not about dreams. my night was okay just that I've missed my mother and it's been long since I heard from her" she frowned " your father has not yet responded to my letter I sent two weeks ago. I don't know how to tell you this, I'm sorry". there was a brief silent between us.

After a few minutes silent, I finally said " Ali, you should have told me this before writing to my father. My mom could have done something about it. you are like a sister to me" I wasn't happy but she cheered me up. " I'll talk to my mom about it".

How could she not tell me that she misses her mom.