Chapter 30 I'm Your Mother
My eyes open slowly… very slowly, as if my eyelids themselves do not want to fight this darkness. My head feels heavy, my breathing uneven and fast. The moment I regain consciousness, I realize that deep darkness surrounds me, a room where there is not even a trace of light.
Suddenly, I feel the pressure of cloth tied tightly over my mouth. Panic grips me as I try to move, and that is when the horrifying truth hits me, my hands and feet are bound tightly behind my back with ropes. My eyes widen in shock and fear. My heart starts pounding violently, as if it might burst out of my chest.
Then my gaze falls on little Ira lying right beside me.
Her tiny body lies motionless on the floor. Her mouth is also covered with cloth, and her small hands and feet are tied with ropes.
She is unconscious… completely still, unaware of the cruelty inflicted upon her. My soul trembles at the sight. Tears begin to stream down my face without control.
Only one question echoes in my mind, “How can a mother be so cruel… how can she put her own child through this?”
My heart screams, but my voice remains trapped beneath the cloth Suddenly, I hear approaching footsteps.
My body stiffens. Terrified, I immediately close my eyes and slow my breathing. The door creaks open… someone enters the room.
Then I hear Diana’s familiar voice, “She’s still unconscious… but remember, the moment she regains consciousness… kill them both.”
Her words slice through my ears and stab straight into my heart. Fear crashes over me, but not for myself this fear is only for little Ira.
I don’t know when, but within these few moments, I have grown deeply attached to this tiny soul. Maybe because she is so innocent… so beautiful… and completely helpless.
Diana’s footsteps retreat. The door slams shut, and once again the room sinks into darkness and silence.
The moment she leaves, I struggle with all my strength against the ropes. My wrists burn with pain, my skin scrapes raw, but I refuse to stop. After a desperate struggle, I finally manage to free myself.
By then, Ira slowly begins to regain consciousness. She moves her hands restlessly, and I notice a bruise on her tiny hand. My heart breaks all over again.
I quickly untie her ropes and pull her into my arms, hugging her tightly, as if I want to give her all my strength, all my courage, all my love.
Ira looks at me, frightened, her voice trembling as she whispers, “Aunty… you should go… mummy will get angry with you.”
Her words make my tears flow uncontrollably. I hold her even tighter and say through sobs, “No, my child… I will never leave you alone.”
She keeps looking at me, a soft, innocent hope shining in her eyes. I gently cup her face in my hands and ask, “Don’t you like staying with me?”
She answers instantly, “I like it very much, aunty… I wish you were my mummy.”
Her words touch my soul. Without hesitation, without fear, I say, “Then from today… I am your mother.”
Ira’s face lights up with pure happiness. With surprise and hope, she asks, “Really, mummy? You’ll stay with me now?”
Smiling through my tears, I nod my head yes.
Then I gently press a kiss on her cheek, The darkness still surrounds us but with Ira in my arms, it feels like the darkness no longer has the power to defeat me.
Suddenly, a loud bang slices through the entire room. I flinch violently, my body going stiff for a split second. My heart starts pounding so fast it feels like it will burst out of my chest. Instinctively, I pull little Ira closer and wrap her tightly in my arms.
It’s as if Ira senses my fear, her tiny fingers clutch my shirt tightly, and she buries her round little face deep into my neck. Her slight trembling shakes me to my very soul.
Slowly, I lift my gaze and look ahead.
And then… Diana is standing there.
A poisonous smile spreads across her face—
a smile that holds no happiness, only hatred, jealousy, and madness. Her eyes burn into me, as if she could tear me apart in a single moment.
She walks toward me slowly, deliberately, and with every step, my heartbeat grows louder and faster. Then she sneers, “Wow… so you’re finally conscious. I thought you’d still be lying unconscious.”
Her voice drips with venom. Then her gaze falls on Ira, curled up in my arms. She scans her from head to toe.
With fake sweetness, Diana says, “Come here, baby… come to me.”
I hold my breath. My heart screams.. no…
Little Ira clings to me even tighter. She shakes her round little head firmly in refusal and presses her face deeper into my chest.
Seeing this, Diana’s face turns red with rage.
She screams, “Come to me!”
My soul trembles. In a broken, trembling voice, I plead, “Diana, look… your enmity is with me, not her. Please… don’t hurt her. She’s just a child.”
Tears fill my eyes, my voice shakes, but she doesn’t soften not even for a second.
Instead… she bursts into harsh laughter a laugh sharp enough to cut straight through the heart.
The very next moment… she suddenly grabs my hair tightly.
“Ahhhh…!!”
My scream shakes the room.
The pain is so intense that darkness clouds my vision. She drags me outside by my hair. I try to resist, to steady myself, but all my strength has already drained away.
Within moments, I’m thrown into an open ground.
And then… she violently slams me onto the ground.
My body crashes against the earth like stone. My breath gets stuck in my chest.
One of my arms is still tightly wrapped around Ira, while my other hand instinctively moves to my stomach.
“Ahhhhh…!!”
I scream in agony, my voice growing weaker with every second.
The ground feels cold beneath me, my body slowly turning numb and lifeless.
I collapse there on the ground, still holding Ira close to me.
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!