"Open your eyes" I heard a voice spoke to me, the tone very soft and alluring unlike the commanding tone am used to. Life in remand has been from one questioning to another, it has been my daily routine for weeks now.

I opened my eyes slowly and I was faced with a handsome face, he wore a calm smile and doesn't look intimidating like the others, he seems friendly. I looked around the room and it was pitched dark apart from the circular beaming light around the table I sat facing the young detective, my instincts called him one. I can't see any other thing lurking in the dark.

I could feel his eyes were on me and I faced him realizing he has been observing me all this while, his eyes were not judging me like the others neither was it indicating sympathy, we were silent for a minute or so neither of us said a thing and the room was awfully quiet.

"Who are you?" he spoke calmly relaxing on the chair.

The question subdued my defense walls, am always used to "Bridget, you killed Authur didn't you?".

I didn't know what to say and I watched on as he calmly explained what he meant smiling throughout, " tell me about your childhood, B" he called me "B" just the way my dad used to when he was alive.

I smiled ruefully as conflicting thoughts welled up in my mind, I told him that I was the only child of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cornell.

I was still on the bed on May 12, 2004, when dad came to my room and woke me up as he usually does "wake! wake!!" kissing my little face.

"Good morning, daddy" I mumbled.

"are you not participating in the poem competition, I received a call from Mrs. White your teacher, she is worried that you are not in school yet," Dad spoke slowly the way he likes talking to me.

I got up from bed and jumped down from it running out of the room "careful, B." he called out to me, I ran to the kitchen and find mom in there preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, mommy" she bent down and kissed my forehead and caressed my cheek "morning, my baby. food will soon be ready, where is your dad?"

"right here ma'am" Dad chirped in.

Dad took over from mom the preparation of breakfast so that mom could dress me up, we both headed to my room, mom and I. she helped me take my bath and combed my hair, she neatly arranged my hair in a ribbon and helped me wear my neatly ironed uniform.

"Are you ready, B?" I nodded.

"where is your poem? let me look at it" I shook my head, "why?" she looked surprised.

"The poem is about our parents and we are going to present it today, I want it to be special when being presented to you and dad, and the audience, mommy" she cupped my cheek and asked me to give her my best smile, which I did.

Before we got to the dining table dad has already set the table, we all sat down and had our breakfast as one lovely family. Dad raised the issue of my poem but Mom whispered something that I didn't know to him and he didn't ask anymore.

Dad drove us down to school and parked his car at the parking lot, we came down and we were welcomed by Mrs. White my teacher who took me away from my parents to join the other four children participating in the poetry competition.

I was called last amongst the competitors, mom and dad were relent in supporting me as they cheered me on in the crowd as I made my way to the podium. I was given the stage to read my poem.

"The title of my poem is my parents"

My Dear Parents

they are like love and comfort,

wedded together as one,

a union that begot a child,

in love and peace.

my dear parents.

trouble and misery,

far away from me,

because I have peace and love.

am not alone,

even in light and dark.

no one can surpass

my dear parents.

The food and shelter I have,

sweet and honey,

are like my mom and dad.

the desire of every kid,

prayer of every kid,

my dear mother.

"That is my girl" Dad screamed in the crowd, I was very happy because my parents were proud of me, I won the poetry competition that year and I aspired to be a great poet.

I couldn't but cry when I remembered sweet memories of my family, the young detective didn't say a word neither did he move from the way he sat earlier.

I remembered how it all started, it was after the summer holiday at California beach where Dad and Mom met a man called Stan, things began to fall apart at home.

Dad and Mom started arguing a lot, Mom was always crying while Dad was always out. I was in my room studying for my High School examination when I heard Dad screaming in the dining room, I left my books and came down.

Dad looked very angry as he went about kicking the chairs and throwing the plates on the table away "Cornell stop it! stop!!" Mom screamed that was the first time I heard her call my Dad's name.

"You f*** Stan, you cheat!" Dad shouted at my Mom, Mom only stood there shaking her head repeating the word "no" severally but Dad was too blinded by rage and went for her.

"Mommy!" I cried.

"our daughter Cornell" Mom spoke softly her both eyes shut.

Dad didn't hit Mommy anymore rather he backed away ignoring my presence, he slammed the door and didn't return till late in the Night.

I peeped from the window and watched him parked his car, He came out from his car acting drunk. I could not hold back my tears as they rolled down from my cheeks, the front door was opened by Mom, she came out and helped my dad in.

A few days later I was ill so I couldn't go to school, Mom stayed home to take good care of me. I was tasty so I came out of my room, feeling feverish and weak.

I could hear voices in the kitchen from the staircase, I made my way down to the open kitchen door and saw mom facing a man while backing the kitchen door, it was Stan the man who was behind the fight going on between my Dad and Mom.

"I still love you, Isabel, come back to me" he was so close to Mom saying this, Mom didn't move away.

"My daughter Stan and my husband could be here any moment" Mom tried to persuade him to leave.

"damn! I love you, Isabel, give me a chance, and I won't allow you to suffer or ever get hurt" He grabbed mom and kissed her, Mom and Stan kissed in the kitchen.

Dad didn't return for days, Mom was always out with Stan having fun. Dad came back home after a few days away drunk and abusive, he was no longer the father I used to know.

He no longer called me "B" neither did he try to reconcile with Mom, he went inside the room ignoring everybody and slept off.

Stan dropped by not knowing that Dad was at home, Mom did not let him in the house. I was in the sitting room when Mom was convincing Stan to leave at the front door.

"Stan, he is back," Mom said in a hushed tone.

"where is he?"

"in the room, Stan, you have to leave" Mom tried to shut the door, but Stan refused.

"not without a kiss" Stan insisted.

"who is that Isabel"

Mom was startled by my Dad's voice and she stuttered shutting the door, Dad didn't bother asking her further.

He pulled her away from the door and went out "You fool!" I heard Dad screamed outside.

Mom called their names crying and joined them outside, Dad and Stan fought. after Stan drove off the police came because they were called by one of our neighbors. they asked few questions and left, Dad was treating himself because he was badly injured, Mom wanted to help but he refused.

At dusk, Dad left home and never came back till midnight when I heard the homeline ringing. I came out of my room and eavesdropped on my Mom talking on the phone.

"oh! my God, is he fine?" I didn't hear the caller's response.

but Mom was very worried, she dropped the phone and took the staircase. I went back inside and pretended to be sleeping, Mom came to check me in my room and saw me on my bed.

I went to my window when I heard her car horned, Mom drove down the street and came back with Dad and some people who helped Dad into the house.

The next morning, I went to my parent's room only to see my mom.

"Mom, where is Dad?" my Mom was weeping, she quickly wiped her tears.

"your Dad left for work" she lied.

Dad's sack letter was delivered some days ago by a delivery boy, but still, I want to believe Mom but I could not.

"I don't know what I did to your dad" she cried helplessly.

at school, I was out with Stacie on break when the school bullies Kelly and his friends came to where Stacie and I are. "here is the daughter of the drunk" Kelly taunted, his friends mocked me.

"Leave her alone, Kelly, you are nothing but trouble" Stacie warned "get off from here" he pushed Stacie away, I ran off crying and weeping.

At home, nothing changed, and at school, Kelly made it a living hell for me that led to a fight between us.

we were taken to the principal's office, he was furious at both of us.

"both of you are suspended"

"But sir" I tried to protest.

"No but young lady, am disappointed at you Miss Cornell, I will call your parents later both of you can go" He dismissed the both of us.

Kelly promised to deal with me, I was worried that I brought more trouble home. when I got home, Mom and Dad were not at home, I went inside my room and wrote a poem.

Home Again

no more laughter

not even of chair,

anguish abound

as much as agony

not a home again

comfort departed

a journey of no return,

peace so close but far,

fight now a norm.

normalcy is no where to be find

no longer a home

when will she return,

is it as a bride?

or a visitor?

summer is here but still feels like winter,

the often joy now sorrow

no more home

"B, are you home?" I heard mom calling my name, I quickly folded the paper and tucked inside my schoolbag.

she opened the door and stepped in looking sorry and tired, she stood beside me on my reading desk.

"I got a call from your principal, you won't be going to school for a while" she said dryly, she sounded disappointed.

"Am sorry, Mom" I cried hugging her, she kissed my hair and comforted me.

"Everything is going to be alright," I nodded even if I know it is a lie.

later Dad came home in the evening, Mom told him about what happened to me in school.

"he touched you, B?" Dad voice had changed, it no longer have the touch of happiness and melody that soothes me whenever he talks, I nodded.

"I will show that boy not to mess around with my daughter next time" He left his food and went inside, Mom tried stopping him but Dad refused to listen.

He left the house and some minutes later we had a call that he had an accident....