Squatting on the ground, Jane let out a heart piercing cry. The passers by could have mistaken her for mourning the death of her loved one.
_' Why did he have to come and torment me like this? Isn't it enough with what he had done to me and my kids?'_
Dinah who had just come back from campus found her mother's dejected appearance. Hurrying towards her mother, she helped her up as she turned off the running tap.
" What happened mom? Did something happen?" Her mother's swollen and red eyes told her that something bad had just occurred.
Jane who was tired from crying just looked at her daughter and said nothing before she went inside the house. Dinah saw her mother walking away and immediately chased after her with her heavy backpack full of books on her back.
" Mom, say something please." Dinah begged as she trailed after her mother.
She didn't want to call her sister cause she was sure that Phoenix was surely busy with work at this hour. Placing her backpack on the couch, Dinah went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water.
" Here mom, drink something." She stretched her hand towards her mother who was sitting on the black small couch in the room.
Taking the half filled glass, Jane took a few sips from it and placed it back on the coffee table. She stood up and eyed her daughter who had a sad expression on her face. She tried to assure her that she was fine by smiling a little but too bad as her smile was so stiff. Seeing that it was not working, Jane sighed as she opened her lips for the first time since Dinah arrived.
" It's nothing to worry about. Painful past memories came haunting me just now and I will be fine after resting so don't worry. Just help me prepare lunch."
" Were you reminded of Dad?"
Dinah saw her mother nod and she said, " Don't keep on thinking about things that keep on hurting you mom. It's not good for your health. You go rest, I will go prepare lunch and I will inform you once am done."
" Just leave mine in the microwave. I will eat later after I have had enough rest."
Walking towards her bedroom, Dinah glanced at her retiring mother's back and felt sad for her. Her mother never liked to say much. Jane would keep things to herself most of the time and she had no idea that this pained her children.
Sighing, Dinah took her phone out from her pants pocket and found her sister's contact number. She debated on whether to call her or send a text message. In the end, she decided to send a text.
' Buy vanilla cake along the way after work. Seems like mom had been crying before I arrived home.'
Their mother, Jane loved vanilla flavored products and each time she was feeling down, she would eat something with vanilla.