I got out of bed, restless once again.
Standing next to the window in the middle of the night, staring into pitch darkness, a lot of thoughts went through my mind. I tapped my fingers on the window pane lightly, my right foot following suit in rhythmic thuds.
As had become a habit, I chewed lightly on my lips, leaning against the window frame and sighed heavily.
"Nana?" Came a hushed whisper. I turned around in surprise. But it had only been little Ako standing there with a lamp.
"Why are you still up?" We asked almost at once. She giggled. I couldn't help but smile at her innocence amidst my worries.
"Come here" I beckoned, walking back to my bed. She happily obliged.
"What's up with you little one." I said tapping my index finger on her little nose making her giggle even more. "Keep it down Ako, you don't want to wake anyone."
She nodded.
Bringing her laughter to a halt, she dropped the lamp gently and turned back to me.
"I can't sleep sister Nana, Kwame snors so much!" She complained with her usual demonstrative gestures, swaying her hands in the air.
"It can't be that bad! I said holding back my laughter.
"It is!" She shot back, bulging her eyes to emphasize her seriousness.
"Okay... Okay. You can always sleep right here with me if you want to."
Her face broke into a triumphant grin. I knew it wasn't the snoring. Kwame was only two years older than herself and didn't make such sounds while sleeping. He was a very conscious child.
The space. It was the lack of space. Five children sharing a bed wasn't a very comfortable circumstance.
Ako jumped into my bed, making herself comfortable. Snapping me out of my thoughts, I turned to face her. She had curled herself up, it was a cold January night.
"There you go." I smiled, covering her with a spare blanket.
"I have a question sister Nana."
I raised a brow inquisitively. What was it this time around?
"Does God really love us? why does he allow all these bad things happen to us?"
I turned around staring at her, confused. She sat up on the bed and shrugged.
"Well I do think God loves us." I managed to reply.
"Then why do bad things happen to good people?”
I froze, unsure of a response. “I don’t know.”I whispered inaudibly.
“I don’t know Ako”
We stared at each other for what felt like eternity.
She nodded at me, as if getting answers from my silence. And maybe as a compensation, I pulled her close into a hug.
The minutes dragged by sluggishly as deep silence enveloped the room, I held her close in my arms stroking her hair gently as she drifted to sleep before tucking her in bed.
The room remained still, devoid of any sounds.
After endless moments of turning and tossing in bed, I went on to shut the windows, blew out the lamp and got back into bed next to Ako. Staring at the board ceilings, I breathed heavily, uneasy as ever.
My leather watched that laid on my side stool told me it was one past midnight but my eyes were still agape and sleep no where close.
My mind was in chaos. My thoughts distraught. I began bitting on my lower lip, but of course it had gotten sore and painful so I stopped.
I took a deep breathe before sitting up in bed again, trying my possible best to calm my nerves. I closed my eyes a short while before laying back oblivious of the loud rumbling my movements had caused.
"Sister Nana” she began. It was Ako again. “Do you think bad people get to pay for their bad deeds?"
This time I was calmer. I fought back a smile tugging at the edge of my lips in the darkness, certain of my response.
"Yes Ako, they get to. They definitely get to pay for their bad deeds, someday."
"Some day soon." I added.
Within myself.
Congratulations @steph.okoh! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
Your next target is to reach 100 upvotes.
Your next target is to reach 50 comments.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
Support the HiveBuzz project. Vote for our proposal!
Welcome to Hive and to The Ink Well, @steph.okoh! You write beautifully.
Now that you're here, please have a look around and get to know how our community works. We are all about quality short fiction and engagement.
You can find our community rules at the top of The Ink Well home page. We ask everyone who posts in The Ink Well to read and comment on at least two other writers' work in the community for every story published.
You can also find some introductory information in our recent newsletter. And be sure to visit the resources available in our catalog of fiction writing tips.
We look forward to reading more of your work!
Thank you @theinkwell
I've actually read a lot on the community before posting and I've definitely enjoyed engaging with my fellow writers
Will make sure to adhere to all the rules and drop meaningful contents
Thank you for sharing your story in The Ink Well, @steph.okoh. It is very poignant and bittersweet. We see that this family is struggling under the weight of poverty. You have done a brilliant job of sharing their plight through scene description, action and dialog — which are the best techniques for involving the reader in your story. Well done!
I was wishing for a bit more information on what brought the family to this place and time. Even just a hint from our narrator about the person who may have committed the "bad deeds" that caused their plight, to give a better picture of the reason for their situation.
You are a talented writer. Please bring us more of your work!
Thank you! @jayna for the compliments, they'll definitely go a long way.
I'm a newbie and still trying to figure this whole thing out, might have made a few mistakes.
I will definitely drop more of this series on here for more clarity.
Fingers crossed.
You are doing fine, @steph.okoh. We are all a work in progress. Do be sure to read the community rules and guidelines. We welcome short stories, but we don't accept series stories. Each post in our community must be complete on its own, with a beginning, middle and end.
Again — welcome! Check our our weekly prompt posts and our other resources. There is plenty of inspiration for emerging writers.
Thanks for the info
I’ll be sure to put those in mind in my next. My apologies for the error
Some guidance will really be appreciated
There are so many children of nowadays who are inquisitive. They love knowing everything.
Ako was just like this. Despite the fact that it was midnight, she still felt like asking more questions.
I love this your story.
Thanks a lot @cool08
I was very inquisitive as a child wanting to understand everything going on around me. The why’s and when’s
So funny! I’m happy you like my story and thanks for the feedback
Wow! This is really nice.
Please I want to learn how to write this good 😫😫
Welcome to Hive by the way!
Best Regards.
Omg, thank you @wildthougts
I’ve actually been following your posts since I got on Hive
Im happy you like my work!
More to come, fingers crossed
@khoola here is the story I was telling you about :) ... I think you will agree that it deserves a spotlight ❤️
thank you for tagging me
My pleasure 🙌
I hope Ako gets both a happy ending and the answers which she seeks. Sometimes children have the best questions!
I was very inquisitive as I child so I’m positive she’ll have a happy ending (answers) like I did.
Thanks for reading!
Hi, Steph,
I like your writing style. it's fluid and gets me from this scene to the next easily... it creates a picture and an idea in my head as I read.
I also like your way with words.
How close, the kids are is really touching.
The story is well written, it is just... how to say this. It doesn't give me an idea of what it is "really" about... as a short story, really unsure what I want to say. Feels like there is something missing.
Oh thanks for the feedback
I will make sure to improve on that in the next
It was actually a part from one of my novels.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Great story this was a cool read and was shared on #PYPT today
!PIZZA
Thank you for your feedback and I’m happy you liked it
PIZZA Holders sent $PIZZA tips in this post's comments:
@drabs587(7/10) tipped @steph.okoh (x1)
Learn more at https://hive.pizza.
WOW! Great writing.
I Found this post from someone presenting on #PYPT on @dreemport today
Thank you!
I have to admit, I did cry reading this. Recently, I stopped praying. I questioned which God I was praying to. Things did not get any better but rather even more confusing and more dark. It was not until I started praying again that I was reminded about the silver thread lining that is there for us to grasp onto with faith. There is a bigger plan at play and it is easy to forget when we are in the thick of it. There is never easy answers but I will say prayer and faith goes a long way...
I’m rooting for you sis and I see your overcoming whatever had drowned your faith. It’s okay to feel lost sometimes and question your situation but we have to remember that there is always a purpose and hold on tight to HIM. He always comes to the rescue and it could be sooner than you imagine!
Nice you gave her a space to sleep. But why those questions that night when she should be sleeping? Good to know you assured her that God really loves us. For Sure he has set a day to repay the bad ones who do not repent. However, we can help them come to repentance so they don't perish. Now tell me, did Ako snore? 😂. I find out that those who accuse people of snoring also snore if not more. 😂. I found this amazing post from PYPT. Greetings from @dreemport
She snores! 😂
And to answer your question, she probably felt uncomfortable with the other kids and couldn’t slept hence coming to her big sis to be rescued
Ako is just like myself, very inquisitive!
@silentbot star 4
Thanks a lot for your feedback and I’m happy you enjoyed it