CHAPTER 1
"We are seven months gone, Daddy. Mr Favour isn't a man to have a deal with". I cried as I looked at the calendar.
My blind father, Mr Watson, sat on a rocking chair and clasped his hands. His blind eyes stayed wide open, which caused people always to think he saw, but the eye bulbs were white, too white for a sane person not to predict. His tall, regal posture was almost replaced with a hunchback as a result of old age. He swung back and forth in grief.
"I know, Hannah," his calm voice responded.
I flipped through the pages of the calendar, hoping I could buy more time. "What do you intend to do?" I asked, and my shaking voice became louder.
"I have yet to receive my pension; you know that's the only place I can get money from," my father responded anxiously.
I steadied my gaze at him, even with my teary eyes, I could see the tension in his face. "And what if they don't pay until the 10 months are completed?"
My Father turned his head, tracing the sound of my voice, his white eyes widely opened, as though he could see me or even my shadow. "You would have to marry him, I can't let you die".
"Then I have to. I can't marry him," I shouted, throwing the calendar and kicking anything I spotted. "I can't do this, Father," I added, as I fell on the completely worn-out sofa, its brown color already faded.
"I know I suggested all of this, but it's already too much. I didn't plan for things to go this way".
"Don't blame yourself. You saved me because you love me, and I can't lose you, Hannah. You are all I've got. Please do not give up on me," My father pleaded.
I let the words linger for only a split second, then I walked up to him. "Mr Favour doesn't care how much we suffer. All he wants is his money," I said.
My Father drew me near and let my head fall on his weak legs. "I still have time."
"Two months, father, two months," I interrupted as I cried profusely.
"Stop crying, Hannah. You know how my heart feels when I hear your sobs," my blind father said as he patted my back.
I paid deaf ears to his calming words. "I've asked this question before, but what do we do?" I muttered under my breath.
"It's almost my pay day, once the money drops. We'd combine all we've worked and give it to Mr Favour," My weak father responded.
I raised my face, taking a glance at his pale face, knowing fully well that my father's company has been withholding his pension because of his current medical condition. "There has to be a plan B. What if I go to Auntie Sarky and explain to her?"
My father's expression hardened. Auntie Sarky was that wealthy auntie who offered to help but never truly did. "Let her be," he responded sternly, and I said nothing.
"Keep your ears to my colleagues and the news as well. Inform me immediately when they've started paying the pension."
"I will, Daddy," I responded, sighing deeply, knowing full well that my freedom wouldn't be based on my Dad's pension.
Daddy steadied his head to the gardens. "If only I had not borrowed. I tell you, my daughter, being in debt was never a ticket to being free," he said, almost choking with tears.
Seeing my blind and weak father sobbing, I too couldn't hold it. My head was still placed on his feeble legs, with his hands parted on my back. I joined in.
Hello everyone. My name is HANNAH WATSON. I am light-skinned with a pointed nose, tiny ears, properly shaped lips, and long, silky hair. Quite beautiful facial features I've got.
But I'm not a curvy girl, I've got a pot belly and a little bit of buttocks. I am a young adult constantly worrying about how my life will turn out. And honestly, I don't know how I got here, but I did, and the months are running fast, too fast.
This is my story, and to help you understand, let me take you back in time to before this present day. Shall we?