Song: Can't Let You Go — Sarkodie ft. King Promise

*Unedited* (Dedicated to abbyraechris08)

Edinam and I were going to Auntie Olivia's shop. She was the shop owner whose television I'd been watching. It sat on the parlour of her small shop.

There were visitors at my house, so I was allowed to leave, and it was Tuesday, so the boys were at school. It was sad that I was watching television while they were at school.

We were going to watch 'The Incredible Doctor Pol', but the problem was that the other girls were watching some stupid Mexican telenovela. All they do is watch Indian and Mexican telenovelas, and not even the good Mexican novellas made by Telemundo. God forbid they watch an interesting movie with plot twists.

But Edinam and I were too smart to fight with those girls. We strategized and we executed. We set a reminder on the show, and immediately the clock struck eleven, the channel automatically changed to 'Nat Geo Wild', the station the show was on.

It was too bad that we couldn't celebrate openly. We had to muffle our giggles when the cry of dismay was released. The girls knew we were the ones who had done it because honestly, we were the only ones smart enough to do that. Without proof though, they could do nothing but glare.

I was watching Doctor Pol perform a caesarean section on a bitch that had problems delivering her puppies when the town's most well—known gossip, Sara, decided to ruin my mood.

"Did you girls hear?" She piped. Edinam and I ignored her because we were the only ones who understood the show enough to focus. The other girls were exclaiming in horror at how 'disgusting' whatever was happening on the television looked.

"Hear what?" One girl asked.

"You know that prostitute?" She asked. 'That prostitute' was her way of referring to me without saying my name. "Yesterday, Asabea, Prince Michael's personal maid said she was pining after the prince."

"I'm not surprised. We all know how desperate she is. It's not like he ever even looks at her," another ignorant idiot said.

It was laughable, truly. Me, pining after a boy? I had to cover my mouth to stop myself from laughing. It infuriated them all the more that not only was I ignoring them when I knew that they were talking about me, but also, I was laughing at them.

"She acts like she knows it all. Do you know that she doesn't even know how to prepare akple? At this age! Her mother beat her mercilessly yesterday because the akple was lumpy, salty and soft enough that you could mistake it for porridge."

The smile slowly slipped off my face, but I still covered my mouth with my hands. I didn't want them to see that they were getting to me.

"Ignore them Ellie. If they're content wallowing in their ignorance — thinking that a parent beating their own child for not being able to do something is right — let them. Don't stoop to their level," Edinam whispered.

I was trying to, but it was hard especially when Sara was sitting right beside me.

"You should've seen the way the prince waved her off. He was so tired of letting her down softly that this time, he yelled at her to leave him alone," she said, laughing.

I clenched my fists.

"She was pretending as if she could speak real English. She was babbling gibberish and the prince let her know that."

There was more laughter from the others.

"She was so embarrassed, but a prostitute feels no shame. She shook it off and was soon trying to lure the prince to her bedroom. The poor man. Guess what happened? He slapped her!"

The girls gasped, then all was quiet. Spontaneously, they burst out laughing. A chorus of voices began speaking all at once.

"She's so stupid."

"I feel sorry for her husband. So many men will have slept with her until he gets his chance."

"That is if she gets married."

"She'll probably be a bastard's mother."

"Her womanhood is going to be destroyed before she gets married. Her poor husband."

I ran out of the store. At that point, I didn't care if that was a sign of weakness. I didn't care that they began laughing harder when they saw me leave with tears in my eyes.

It hurt that they judged me just because I was different. The jealousy that is stemmed from being different — being exceptionally smart, talented or even beautiful — could destroy your life.

"Ellie, wait!" Edinam called.

I stopped so that she could catch up, but I didn't even need to stop.

Her long legs and skinny body in contrast with my medium height and curvaceous body, made her a better runner. Her being skinny would've been a good thing in the city, where beauty was in the eye of the beholder. Over here, there was a beauty standard and nobody liked a skinny, curve-less, tall girl.

Her being six-foot one was not much of a problem because most of the boys were taller than her — the boys here were perfect, really — but the problem was that being that tall was 'ugly'. Girls with bigger butts and breasts — like me — were the preferred ones. She was an outcast because of her skinny figure, poor eyesight and thirst for knowledge.

I threw myself into her arms and she hugged me back. "Don't mind that girl. You know how much of a gossip she can be."

"I hate them. I hate them so much," I sobbed.

"Don't let them get to you. You're much better than them and you should be grateful for that. You could've been one of those girls. Stupid and comfortable with it."

I laughed. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"I'm the best cousin in the world, I know," she said, and I laughed again. "We both know that Michael is the one who is crazy over you."

"I like him a little too," I said. I wiped my face dry now that no more tears were coming out.

She scoffed. "A little."

"Leave me alone," I shoved her playfully.

She laughed, but I helped her steady herself before she could fall over. She needed glasses to help with her eyesight, but I was sure her parents didn't have enough money to get her some. Futhermore, we had no opticians in our village, but the herbs that they gave her to drink helped. She would have been totally blind had it not been for them.

"Elorm!" I looked behind me to see a light-skinned boy coming over. He had brown, curly hair and a generally nice physique.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" I asked him in English.

"You met my uncle yesterday, Jack."

"The wrinkled white man," I said, recalling the encounter.

He smiled, revealing deep dimples. "My uncle told me quite a bit about you yesterday. I see that he was right," he laughed.

"Good things, I hope?"

"So—so," he said, and laughed at my frown.

Edinam tapped me on my left shoulder and I turned back to look at her. She gestured behind her and I followed, just to see the other girls staring at me jealously.

"Oh, pardon me," the boy said to Edinam, "I take it that you're Elorm's friend? I'm—"

"Save your breath. She doesn't speak or understand English."

"Oh, okay. The sun is scorching," he complained.

"Really? I didn't notice," I joked. There were huge clouds in the sky, but the sun was still shining, somehow. Every once in a while, a cloud covers the sun and everything is alright with the world, but when it moves on, I just want to run back into that shop. Almost.

"So, my place?" He asked. I frowned and he quickly amended his request. "Or we can do this at your place. That is fine with me."

I knew it wasn't the best idea to be seen leaving with him by those girls, and my house was out of the picture. "Your place, but I can't right now. Maybe later at night? I have some chores to attend to."

"Okay, when can we start? When are you free?" He asked.

I'm never free, I wanted to say but I held back. I didn't want him to pity me. The only reason why I was out that day was because of the visitor at home. Because of the lack of doors at my house — most of the rooms were separated by curtains — I was allowed to leave, but I had to pick my brothers up from school.

"How about nine o'clock, every weekday?"

"At night?" He asked with a slight frown.

"Yes, that's when I'm free," I lied. That was when I'd be able to sneak out of the house. Maybe, he was sceptical about letting me into his home that late because he had a girlfriend. I was sure no girl would want another girl visiting her boyfriend late at night.

"Okay, see you tonight then," he smiled, baring his deep dimples. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," I smiled back and after a small wave, I headed back to where Edinam was waiting for me.

"Why was the white boy smiling at you like that?" She asked suspiciously, a smirk playing about her lips.

"He's not a white boy, he's mixed," I said, smiling. Him teaching me was not formal education, but at least it was better than teaching myself from television and books — I didn't always understand what I saw or read.

"I'm only half-blind, cousin. I could see that your skin was very different from his, and his smile would've been noticed by even the blindest of bats. I don't know what you say or do that makes boys smile at you so much."

"I'm God's gift to them, of course."

"You're too much," she laughed, shaking her head.

Immediately I finished talking, I regretted it. I knew her well enough to know when she was forcing her laughter. She was stark contrast to me. Boys paid her no mind because her skinny body was 'ugly'.

"One day, you're going to meet a boy who won't care about your lack of hips."

She smiled. "Wow, that makes me feel so much better," we both laughed. "Besides, I don't need a boy to know that I'm beautiful. I love myself just the way I am."

"I'm glad that you don't let what others say get to your head."

"Unlike you, I don't."

"It was a moment of weakness. I won't let it happen again," I promised her and myself.

"Well, what do you expect? You can't expect to be an immoral woman and not get shamed for it. If you want people to stop spreading the truth about you, keep your legs closed."

I knew who was talking before I even turned to face her. "You know nothing about me Sara."

"I know enough. Michael isn't enough for you, but you have to pine after another boy."

I laughed. "Oh, I see. You wish he came to talk to you? Well, you're too ugly both in and out and I, am the exact opposite."

I was a liar. I wasn't a beautiful person on the inside.

"The cheaper the product, the more customers it attracts. Oh, that is a nice blouse you're wearing. Did my brother gift it to you after you slept with him?" She laughed and disappeared before I could slap her.

I was happy I didn't anyway. It was good that I didn't stoop to her level.

"As if you'd ever sleep with her brother. He's just as terrible looking as she is. They seem to have an acne problem in their family."

I decided not to waste time talking about that girl. "Come on Eddie, let's go and pick my brothers up."

* * *

"What took you so long?" Atsu asked, running towards me.

Edinam and I had arrived at their school — Gbevukope Community School — to pick both of them up.

"You should be glad I'm even here. Do you see any of your schoolmates walking with their elder siblings?"

"Shut up," Tsey, the younger of the twins who was supposed to be the sweet and innocent one said. He turned to Edinam, probably just noticing her. "What are you doing here? You have your own house, why can't you stay there?"

"You should show Eddie some respect! She's older than you!" I said, enraged.

"And she should have wider hips, but she doesn't, so do us a favour and just shut up."

After saying that they both began the walk back home, leaving us — stupefied — standing in front of the school's gates.

"Eddie, I'm so sorry. I'll bring him back here to apologise."

"It's okay. This isn't the first time someone has told me that. I'll be fine," she said, avoiding my eyes.

I felt terrible. She was doing me a favour and I'd ruined her day. There was nothing I could've done to my brothers but curse them. I hoped that one day, someone would make them feel that terrible.

The walk home continued in silence. I was lost in my thoughts and Eddie was busy trying not to look sad.

My thoughts of ways to get back at my brothers were so loud that I almost didn't hear the person who was whisper-yelling my name. I started to slow my steps so that the boys were out of sight soon enough. Edinam had noticed and slowed down to match my pace.

"Did you hear it too?" I asked her.

"Yes, but it has stopped now. How do we know where it came from?"

"Let's just go back to where we first heard it."

We back tracked to an area that was thick with bushes.

"You search in the bushes on the left and I'll search on the right. Meet me back here at this clearing if you find something."

"Someone. I have an idea who the person might have been," Eddie said with a wink.

"Okay, just go and do your job smarty—pants," I said with an eye-roll, to which she laughed at.

I really didn't have to look. As soon as I neared the bushes, someone grabbed my right arm and pulled me in. A hand was placed over my mouth so that I wouldn't scream.

"Please don't scream. You'll blow our cover."

"Michael!"

"It is I," he smiled.

I realised that I was sitting on his lap. I jumped.

"I had no idea you found me so revolting," he said, standing up too. He dwarfed me.

"Oh no! I don't. It's just that if people saw us together like that, you know what they'd think."

He crouched again and I did the same. He took my hand. "I don't care what they think."

"But I have to. I'm a woman and you know what this village is like. If I don't, I might never get married."

He smiled slyly. "Really?"

I crossed my arms. "Yes. Really. I mean, I'm not looking forward to that now but I do want to get married some day."

"Are you joking or what?" He asked, chuckling.

"What?" I stared at him innocently.

"Elorm," he began, his tone serious, "you mean you haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?" I asked, as my heart began beating rapidly. I had noticed. Just that, him saying it will make it real.

"How I feel about you."

"And," I looked at him nervously, "how do you feel about me?" I knew what he was going to say, and I wanted to hear it, but I didn't want to hear it.

He chuckled. "I love you Elorm. I always have, even when we were just children."

I smiled, but it was a troubled smile. I didn't know what to say. I thought he just liked me, but he just mentioned the l-word. I wasn't sure I loved him too. Heck, I wasn't sure if he loved me or he was just confused.

"You don't have anything to say?"

"What?"

"You've been staring at me all this while, eyes wide, with something that I can't tell whether is a smile or an 'are-you-crazy' look."

"Oh."

"Ellie, don't you think it's time that the whole village knows how I feel about you? I don't care what they think of you — of us — but if you care so much, let me prove them wrong. Even the maids talk badly of you Ellie. Please let me stop it."

"What about the other rumours? It's not only you they claim I'm sleeping with. It's going to take a lot of work to clear my image."

"No one will dare to say bad things about you when you become my princess."

My mouth hung open in shock. I never realised how deep the whole thing was. If I agreed to begin a relationship with him, I would become the potential princess of the village.

"I want to Michael, I really want to be yours," I pulled my hands away, "but I can't. We don't even know each other really well. I mean, we were close as kids but we've grown and we've changed."

"That's the purpose of dating," he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "You don't realise, do you? My parents will marry us as soon as they catch wind of our affair. Your father will agree because you know he wants you to become chief and you can't do that without a wife."

"So?"

My eyes widened in shock. "Are you mad?"

He laughed. "But we don't have to get married right away. Let's just start a relationship."

"But don't you have to go away again?"

"School is on a break, and I can do it online for a while — when it reopens — so that I can spend time with you."

"You can do that?"

He laughed. "For you? Yes."

"Michael..."

"Fine. Just let me court you, in secret," he added with a frown.

I smiled at him. "You have really nice hair."

He laughed. "Should I take that as a yes?"

"I guess so," I said, making him frown. "Yes. You should take that as a yes."

"Thank you," he pulled me into his arms, sighing with relief. "For a second there, I thought you were going to say no."

I smiled, feeling safe in his arms. We stayed in the embrace for a long while, before a nagging thought was brought to the forefront of my mind.

"Michael?"

"Yes?"

"You've been around the world. You've probably seen women much more beautiful than me. They have surgical procedures to give themselves super-human looks and they wear make-up and glamourous clothes and beautiful wigs and high heels. Why did you choose me?"

He chuckled. "My sweet little Elorm. Looks aren't everything. You're you Elorm. I love you because you're you."

"I'm going to pretend like I understood that."

He laughed. "I know you do. You just don't know how to reply."

I had to admit, he knew me. "I like you too Mike."

He smiled. "Give it time."

I wrapped my arms around his waist. Even in a crouching position, I'd have to reach on tiptoe if I wanted to kiss him and even then, he'd have to incline his head a little lower.

"Are you trying to kiss me?" He mocked, caressing my cheek with his left index finger.

"It'd help if you bowed your head a little."

He laughed and pulled my head to his firm chest.

"If you didn't realise, I'm trying to kiss your lips."

He laughed again. "As much as I want to kiss you, I won't."

"Why not?"

"I can't hear you. You're pressing against my chest too hard," he teased.

"It's your cologne. The scent is ravishing... and I really missed you. I'm glad you'll be staying."

"Anything for you, my love."

I winced. It was scary, how convinced he was that he loved me.

"Why won't you kiss me?" I asked.

"If you haven't noticed, we are in a bush. One, I want our first kiss to be special. Two, our culture doesn't permit doing anything slightly sexual in a bush. It'd be much worse for you if anyone saw us kissing."

"I thought you didn't care what they think."

"I don't, but you do, and I do care about your priorities."

"You're too perfect," I smiled and pulled back, caressing his flawless hair.

"I'm not, but I'm okay with you thinking that."

I laughed. "I'll see you soon."

"Sooner than you think. I want to take you out on a date."

"A date? Where to?"

"The cinema. They're premiering Infinity War."

"Oh. That movie that everyone on television is talking about?"

"Yes. It's on Thursday. I want you to come with me."

I sighed. "You know how these villagers think. My parents aren't going to allow me to go out with you."

"You know, I've been thinking about this for ages. Time will tell."

"How will time solve the problem?"

"Elorm!" It was Edinam. The poor girl, she had been searching for him all the while even with her poor eyesight. That is what true friends do.

"Go. She's waiting for you. All in due time Ellie."

"I hope you know what you're yapping about."

"If all goes well, I'll see you on Thursday."

"Yes. Of course. See you soon," I said, turning to leave when he grabbed my arm.

"Just so we're clear, you're my girlfriend now, right?"

I smiled. "I don't know. Are you my boyfriend?"

"I forgot just how annoying you are."

"Yet you love me."

He smiled. He stepped closer and pressed his lips to my left cheek. "Stay safe, sweetheart."

My heart was bursting with joy. I wanted to kiss him so badly.

"Ellie!" Edinam called again.

"I'll see you," I hugged him quickly and ran into the clearing.

"There you are, I thought you were lost!" Edinam said, immediately pulling me into a hug.

Tsey was standing beside her but Atsu was nowhere to be seen.

"Where have you been? You made me come all the way back, and what were you doing in those bushes? Meeting one of your boyfriends, weren't you?"

The worst part was that he wasn't exactly wrong this time, just that I was meeting my only boyfriend.

"Don't you know that doing it in the bushes is a taboo? Did he give you money? I want it or else I'll tell dada and fofo."

"Don't speak to your sister that way!" Edinam scolded. "She didn't do anything, you stupid boy. She came out the same way she went in."

"And you're here keeping guard. Of course, what else can you do? You can't prostitute around like her. You're too ugly," he retorted.

"He used to be such a sweet little boy," I muttered regretfully, wondering where we'd gone wrong. "You're too young to be this rotten on the inside."

"The only one who is rotten on the inside is you. And I'm serious sis, doing it this much isn't good for your feminine health. Think about your poor future husband. Everyone will know how bad you are in bed before him."

Edinam slapped him.

* * *

"Dada! Dada!" Tsey yelled loudly as soon as we reached home. Atsu threw his school bag on the floor and ran to their bedroom. Luckily, he could avoid the drama that was going to take place here.

"What is it? Why are you shouting? And why are you coming back this late? Don't you close from school at three?" Our mother asked exasperatedly, coming out of the room she shared with our father.

"That stupid flat girl slapped me! And Elorm went to meet a boy so we got delayed!"

"Edinam slapped you? And where did you even meet her?" She completely ignored the report about me seeing a boy because she felt like that was nothing new.

"This stupid girl brought her to pick us up!" He pointed at me.

"Stop talking to me like that! I'm older than you for Christ's sake!"

"Stop shouting!" Dada chastised.

"Did you hear what I said? This stupid girl brought Edinam to pick me!" Tsey repeated, hating that all the attention had been diverted from him.

"I told you to stay away from that girl."

"Why? She's my cousin and the only friend I have. She's not stupid and she's not jealous of my looks. Most importantly, she shares my dreams. Give me one good reason why I should stay away from her."

"Don't talk to me like that!" She bellowed, her eyes widening.

"But my twelve-year-old brother can insult me and call me names?"

"He doesn't insult you. He says the truth. You are very stupid. That girl is cursed. She is blind and skinny, is that how you want to be? I prefer you being a harlot much more to you being blind and skinny. Curses can be shared, you know."

"Dada, Eddie is not blind, and she is beautiful. Every body is beautiful."

"You see why I say he's right to call you stupid? With those bony hips, how is she going to support children? Do you think a woman like that can be fertile?"

"Everyone contributes to society in their own way. Her hips probably can support children and even if they can't, she doesn't need to have children."

"Stop this nonsense! You will not see that girl again and that is final! Now go to the kitchen and start cooking!"

My blood was boiling. I wanted to throw things, to strangle someone, I wanted to decapitate another person, but as unhealthy as it was, I placed a lid on my bubbling pot of emotions. I headed to the back of my house to prepare our dinner with murder on my mind.

* * *
Michael

He looks less boyish and more mature than this in the story.

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