Should I Stay or Leave? novel Chapter 9

She cried until her eyes are painful and swollen. She felt exhausted that she has to drag herself to the bedroom so she can put her son in the crib and she can lie down to sleep.

Acwell arrives home and went to the kitchen to drink some water. He was washing his hands when he saw the sponge on top of an unwashed plate. He touched and felt how the sponge is still wet with soap.

He was about to head to the bedroom but he saw a mop near the dirty floor and on the sofa, there is a mix of folded and unfolded clothes. Kamiah had tried to do all of this but was unable to finish. He imagines her running to Kai almost all the time. But earlier when he arrived, he did not see that she had tried to do all of this. All he saw was how messy the house was. And not how much effort his wife puts in doing these.

He did not mean to hurt her. Catrina has sent her messages earlier that made his mood shift. And got him thinking a lot about his daughter. He picks up his phone and reads her messages again.

"Acwell, I need your help. Amara is sick. I need to send some money for her again. But I have nothing here. I have sent almost all my salary, and it is almost about to be finished."

"But I just sent some money just a week ago."

"I know. I am sorry my mother got sick before Amara. They have used the money I sent for her treatment. Now, Amara got sick and they have little money left."

"Catrina, the money I sent wasn't enough for Amara's needs?"

"Are you counting how much you are sending to her? If that is the case, it is so ridiculous! How could you do that? She is growing up without a father and I am alone providing most of what she needs."

She started with making the bed and planned to do the laundry next. Once outside, she noticed the unfolded clothes were no longer there; the floor mopped, the dishes washed, and only a little laundry left.

"Did Acwell do this?" she asked herself.

She was holding her phone, and it rang because she received a message. It's from Acwell.

"I know sometimes when I am in a foul mood I am the worst and say things I should not say. Last night, is one example of it. I am sorry about it. Those words I said I know I can't take back, and it hurts a lot. I realized this when you yelled at me for the very first time. When I came back home last night, that was the time I could look closely at the apartment. You tried doing each chore, but because of Kai, you cannot finish at least one. I heard Kai cry at 10:00 PM and 12:00 midnight. Each time, you wake up and tend to him no matter how sleepy you are. I did not go inside I tried to finish what you could not. Indeed, it was tiring and requires a lot of time. I wasn't even able to finish the laundry as I have fallen asleep on the sofa. But it made me ask how you do it on the days I would come home with a home-cooked meal, clean apartment, and laundry done with Kai crying almost every time. Because I tried last night and I cannot, even if I was not tending to Kai. I realized that there are days when it is impossible to do all of it. And it's not because you are lazy, it's just it is impossible. I know I compared you to Amara's mother but believed me you are better in all senses. I am sorry. You have heard it several times and you will continue to do so. I have realized that for me to learn is to make a lot of mistakes. I know it can be tiring so I request your patience. It might look like that I am not learning but believe me I am. I have cooked breakfast for you. I left it at the table. I wanted to tell you this in person and have breakfast with you, but I want you to get enough sleep. See you later. I love you!"