There was a loud silence in the room, Sophia and Jumoke, both sat on the bed watching Ifeoma, and her mother, as they both glared at each other.
The tension in the room was so thick, you could slice it with a knife.
"Ifeoma do you realize that I'm your mother?" Her mother asked with so much hurt in her voice.
Ifeoma gave a humorless laugh, folding her arms.
"Oh really, you do know that? Because sometimes I always ask myself same question; does this woman realize she is our mother?"
Sophia knew she needed to interfere before they both said something they were going to regret much later, especially Ifeoma.
"Ifeoma please let's not do this, I think you should be on your way" she stood up from the bed, and tried to wedge herself between Ifeoma and their mother.
Ifeoma stopped her with her hands.
"No hold on Sophia, I think someone needs to talk to our mother, at least tell her the bitter truth"
"Ifeoma?" Sophia warned.
She went ahead anyway. "You know, sometimes I stop to ask myself if you actually realize that you are our mother, or you adopted us, because I don't know a mother who would behave the same way you do"
"Ifeoma please" Sophia pleaded with her sister to stop.
"No allow her Sophia, I want to hear what she has to say" their mother said without taking her eyes off Ifeoma.
It was obvious she was hurt by her daughter's actions, but she wasn't ready to back down, until she has heard what Ifeoma had to say.
"You know what? It's no use" Ifeoma tried to leave but her mother blocked her way again.
"You have something to say, and I think you should say it" She challenged.
"Mother please allow her to go" Sophia cried out, she already knows how this was going to end, and they all definitely weren't going to like it.
Ever since their mother forced Ifeoma into getting married, they have both been at loggerheads, both never agreeing on anything.
"No Sophia I want to hear what she has to say, you say I'm a troublemaker, I might as well just show you how troublemakers behave if you don't say what's on your mind"
Their mother placed herself at the door, making sure Ifeoma would have to go through her, if she wanted to leave.
"You are indeed a troublemaker, you go about spending beyond your means, trying to measure shoulders with the high and mighty in the society, not stopping to think about your children. Then you end up getting the family into financial trouble, and who do you use to clean it up?"
Ifeoma gave her humorless laugh again.
"Your daughters, you give them out to the highest bidder, you did it with me, and now you are doing it with Sophia. I just have one question for you though; after Sophia who are you going to use to clean up your next financial mess?"
Ifeoma placed her index finger on her chin like she was deep in thought. "Oh... yeah... Maybe you will just have to use yourself, I think one those wealthy men you mingle....."
Their mother gave her a very hard slap on her left cheek.
"How dare you? Everything I have done is for the betterment of this family"
Ifeoma raised her head with a sarcastic smile on her face.
"No mummy, everything you did, and would still do, is for your own selfish gain"
Their mother raised her hand to hit her again, but Sophia was quick enough to hold her hand.
"Mother please stop"
"No Sophie, allow her to hit me, that's the only thing she seems to be really good at, aside squandering the family's money of course"
"You ungrateful child, I have never.."
"Mummy please let's not start with the emotional blackmail, not today, I think I have heard enough from you, to last me a lifetime"
Their mother started crying, and Sophia led her to sit on the bed.
Ifeoma who wasn't even perturbed by her tears, angrily walked out of the room.
Jumoke who has been sitting speechless, watching the drama unfold, finally came to her senses when Sophia asked her to help get her mother, some water to drink.
"Mother drink some water" Sophia took the glass of water from Jumoke, and placed it close to her mother's lips.She took a few sips.
"Please you need to calm ma" Jumoke said.
"Mother we don't want your blood pressure going up again, please calm down"
"What have I done to deserve such insult from your sister?" She asked amidst tears.
"Mother I'm sure Ifeoma didn't mean any of what she said, don't take her words to heart, please just calm down"
As their mother continued to cry, she began to hyperventilate.
"Mother are you okay?" Sophia asked.
She tried to speak to speak but seem to be having difficulty in doing so, she just kept stretching her hands.
"Mother what is wrong?" Sophia panicked.
She quickly took her phone, to dial their family doctor, she was still searching for his number when; her mother slumped on the bed.