Lily drove home as she thought about the past days. Lectures was over and she was glad that there had not been any incidents. Yet she couldn't bring herself to tell her mum about her findings. Eucharia wasn't herself, though, she pretended to be. Philip had come later that day and he looked unkempt. He had collided with another vehicle on his way to get some food for her and Eucharia. There was really no need for him to have done that as they had lots of food. Well …he didn't know that, just his usual caring nature. Despite that, they were sorry he had the accident as he wanted to tend to their needs.
Philip had looked so tired and dusty that she and her mum had invited him into the house to take a shower. Lily smiled when she recalled his expression. He had looked like a scolded kid when Eucharia showed him the stock of food in the house, letting him know that it was always in abundance. Philip would always be Philip. He really cared about them and decided to get food, knowing they would be hungry when they got back from the hospital. Then …
Suddenly, Lily's smile vanished. Her nemesis occupied her thoughts. One thing she was sure of: she was never a masochist. Yes … why then would she think of a man that was destined to destroy her? Was it a result of Jane's dream? No … it wasn't. Lily already noticed the feelings before Jane told her about the dream.
Dragging her thoughts from the man, the day's school came to mind. Sarah hadn't been in school. Lily hoped that there was no problem. Not as if she cared … but you do care, the little voice told her. The young lady shook her head. Thoughts about the intern, Todd came. I will see him tomorrow, she thought. Lily wanted to be close to the young man to have ideas of what he knew, if that was even possible.
**************
Lily sat listening to Eucharia as she told a story. The story was about Pocahontas, a heroin who saved her people. It was comforting to see her mum that cheerful. But then as Lily closely watched her mum, her demeanor felt like she were a teenager. Maybe she had missed her teenage age, Lily smiled despite herself.
"My story is amusing right?" Eucharia asked. "You have been grinning from ear to ear."
"I love the story mum." Lily didn't correct her assumption. It wouldn't be nice for her mum to know that the reason for her laughter was the way she told the story rather than the story itself.
As they talked and laughed, the sound of the doorbell interrupted the moment.
"Are you expecting anyone Lily?" The young lady shook her head.
"Well well. Let me see to whosoever it is at the door." Eucharia said. Lily wriggled her brows in surprise. Her mum never liked doing that. The young lady just shrugged and looked after her mum as she opened the door. Their visitor was unexpected, Sarah. How did her teacher know where she lived? Lily stood as the woman came forward.
"Good afternoon Sarah."
"Good afternoon Lily." Lily saw her mum looking sort of lost.
"Oh … mum meet Sarah my teacher and Sarah meet my sweet mum Eucharia."
The women exchanged pleasantries as Lily went to get drinks. Where she got back with the drinks, the women were discussing and it was a little uncomfortable to be the object of their discussion. Sarah was talking about Lily's attention in class. She smiled and served the drinks. Both women nodded their thanks.
"Though I'm new to Lily's school, I can tell she's well mannered. I'm not saying this because you're here but sincerely. To my observation, she's also a bit of a loner though I've always seen her with one other girl."
"That's Jane, her bestie, they are always together."
"Oh … they look more like twins. It's wise to have someone you can trust. Someone who you can share your secrets with. Lily that's the right thing to do." Lily beamed at her teacher's words.
"Thanks ma'am." Sarah gave her a look and Lily realised her mistake, before she could make the correction, the woman drawled:
"What did I say about "ma'am"?"
"Oh … thanks Sarah."
"You're highly welcome Lily."
Eucharia and Sarah talked about their interests and jobs. They further talked about their childhood. It was emotional to listen to Sarah's story. Sarah's mum had not always been there for her. She was always alone and had learnt to strive on her own. According to Sarah, her mother was busy pleasing the man that left them hence, didn't care about her. It was obvious that she only lived for the man. Lily just sat, silently listening to the story and found Eucharia doing same. It was really nice having Sarah around. Lily was glad she hadn't said "no" to her teacher when she asked to be friends.
It was surprising to hear that as beautiful as Sarah was, she had no man in her life. A loner always a loner. Eucharia had always told Lily that her father had died when she was a year old. Since then, she had been single. She dearly loved her husband and couldn't let anyone else take his place. It was nice to hear the women share their relationship status. Sarah was the perfect visitor they needed at that very time, someone to hear them out despite the gloomy and strange incidents.
When it was time for Sarah to leave, she pulled Lily pulled to a hug. Thereafter, the two women embraced. But after the hug between the two women, Lily noticed that something wasn't right with Sarah. Immediately the teacher hugged her mum, she blanked out for a short time and came to. It was barely noticeable. If not that Lily now watched people closely, she would have missed it all. Before Sarah finally stepped out, she gave Lily a look which said a lot. The young lady couldn't help but wonder what all that was about.
**************
Sarah could only hope that Lily would go after her with the pretense of seeing her off. She wanted to convey the message just received. But the young lady remained behind with Eucharia. There was nothing else she could do but to wait for school the next day so as to make known the situation to Lily. Tomorrow isn't late, Sarah thought. She was sure the young lady had seen the look on her, Sarah had made sure. Now all was left hanging as Lily didn't read meaning into the look that Sarah had given her. Sarah was sure that the young lady was very smart, smart enough to understand that the look meant "she was to be followed". Now what? Well … nothing but to wait for school the next day to relay the message.
The slight body touch between her and Eucharia explained everything. When Eucharia had opened the door earlier on, Sarah's first thought was that she wasn't Lily's real mum. Yes … they didn't look alike (though not a criterion) and … no other reason. Sarah just had the feeling. So she further observed Eucharia while they discussed.
Eucharia talked like a teenager and this wasn't normal. Okay … some women talked like teenagers but not as much as Eucharia. She talked and gesticulated wildly. Sometimes as Sarah watched, she forgot somethings said and most of her words were not in place, so off the record. For emphasis, the talk on Eucharia's husband. She had said he died when Lily was a year old but as they talked some more, she said there was never a love interest, had been single all her life. Did this mean she got Lily out of wedlock? And yet her husband had died when their daughter, Lily was only a year old. The sentences really clashed, not really making much sense.
Eucharia said lots more, that had Sarah watch her more deeply as they conversed. At some point during their discussion, the teacher had thought the other woman had taken something or was on to something. Who knew? But the thoughts erased from her mind when she saw the "PrE" sign meaning the "Earth Protectors" on Eucharia's wrist. Sarah already knew what that meant but wasn't going into that for the moment. Her utmost concern was Lily. How would the young lady feel when she discovered that Eucharia was not her biological mum? Well … that was the lesser of the issues. The major issue was, how would Lily feel when Sarah finally tells her that Eucharia was being possessed by unseen forces?