My Dearest Daughters

“MMMCHT.” Sucking her teeth in disgust, Adolisa was furious. “I shouldn’t have come here,” she rambled as she sat in the car. Her sister, Chioma, had chased after her and was now banging on the door, pleading for her to come out. “Addy, wait a second,” she yelled. Adolisa, with watery eyes, shakes her head and pulls off.

Adolisa could’ve made a bet early this morning on how things would play out. As she drove through the city, she was becoming a bit uneasy. Her destination was home, a place she hadn’t been in months. The thought of returning was turning her stomach. As her stomach pains persist, she stops at a stoplight and contemplates not going. However, she is aware this day needs to happen. As the light flashes green, she picks up speed and arrives at the house. As she parks and is amazed by how it’s well kept and falling apart at the same time.

“Here goes,” Adolisa whispers to herself as she walks up the steps. She knocks on the door and waits. The door swings open and Chioma stands still. The two are almost the same height and bare the kind resemblance that often gets them mistaken for twins. Both remain silent wondering who is going to talk first.

“You’re late,” Chioma breaks the ice and heads down the hallway. Adolisa remains at the door. She stares at her sister as she walks. Chioma stops and turns back.

“Will you come on?” It’s bad enough you’re already late. We need to get this done. I have other things to do than to be in this house,” Chioma hollers through the hallway. Adolisa remains unbothered. Chioma approaches the door.

“Please,” Chioma pleads once more.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Adolisa replies.

“You think I like being here? The sooner we get started, the better. Besides, I couldn’t get the door open anyway,”Chioma retorts.

Adolisa finally steps in and Chioma shuts the door behind them. As they make their way through the hallways, everything is the same from Adolisa’s childhood - the furniture, the paint, the smell, and the basement door. The basement door is old, wooden, and grotesque. Even when the house was considered “new” the door wasn’t. The craftsmanship of the door was makeshift at best. Throughout the years, it was purposely kept closed and only opened if needed.

“I hate this door,” Adolisa shakes her head as she stares at it.

“Me too. That’s why I waited for you,” Chioma replies.

The two sisters grab opposite ends and begin to pull. The door makes a creaking sound as it opens. The sisters walk down the steps as light illuminates the room. They stare at mountains of boxes and bags.

“Why did she wait until death for this?,” Adolisa angrily looks around.

“You know mom was a hoarder,” Chioma replies.

The two walk over and notice the things - old trophies, clothes, and picture books. Adolisa takes one out and scrolls through it. She sees a picture of her mom, Chioma, and herself. All three smiling.

“Did mom ever say anything before she passed?,” Adolisa asks.

“All the time. Always wondering would you come and see her,” Chioma drops the bags she was holding and takes the picture from Adolisa.

‘Why didn’t you visit her in the hospital?,” Chioma asks.

“I couldn’t see mom like that. I figured that if I didn’t see her die she would always live on,” Adolisa slouches over in the corner.

“It would’ve meant a lot to her if you did,” Chioma drops the picture and walks back over to the other side of the basement.

Adolisa glances over at the picture once more. Behind the picture book, Adolisa notices a black book with gold lettering. She picks it up.

“Hey look what I found,” Adolisa raises the book as she screams. Chioma walks over.

An envelope is attached to the front cover. Adolisa opens it and reads,

“My dearest daughters, if you’re reading this then it means I’ve transitioned. In this book, you’ll find all the things I’ve learned in life. The good, bad, and ugly. P.S Take this key and open the chest in my room.”

Adolisa is confused as she holds the key. Chioma grabs the book and flips through the pages. Both of the sisters head upstairs and make their way to their mom’s room. As they enter the room, they search for chest.

“Over here,” Chioma alerts her sister as she spots it in the corner.

The two pull it out and open it with the key. Adolisa uses the key. As they lift open the chest, they see stacks of money with a small note.

“My daughters this is all the money I had saved up. You know I never trusted banks so I had it all taken out a while back. Do with this what you like. ”

“So she actually did leave it?,” Chioma breaks the silence. Adolisa looks at her puzzled.

“Before she passed, Mommy said she left us some money but wouldn’t tell me where. I thought she was lying so I never pressed her on it,” Chioma gets up and sits down on the nearby bed.

“What should we do with it?,” Adolisa turns to Chioma.

“Well like the note says, whatever we like,” Chioma gets up and makes her way out. Adolisa, still holding the black book, follows and leaves the money behind.

The sisters make their way down the stairs and back to the basement.

“We could use it to fix up the house?,” Adolisa asks.

“No need for that, I’m selling it,” Chioma replies. Adolisa stops at the end of the staircase.

“What, why?,” Adolisa drops the black book. Her smile from before is gone.

“Don’t act surprised. You never liked it here. Besides, the cost of trying to keep it would be insane. We might as well get rid of it now,” Chioma turns to her sister and walks back to her.

“But this is our home,” Adolisa replies as Chioma steps closer.

“Home? You got some nerve. Was this home when you left?,” Chioma fires back.

“That’s…. not…. fair,” Adolisa stammers.

“You know what’s not fair me having to take care of mom by myself while you ran off like a scared child. Do you know how much it cost for mom to be in that hospital?,” Chioma continues. Adolisa shakes her head and her eyes begin to water.

"I didn’t think so. I’ve had to make the tough decisions so you can keep your ideas to yourself because they aren’t needed!,” Chioma finishes as she holds back tears of her own.

Adolisa starts crying and storms out. She gets in her car. She kisses her teeth and screams, “I shouldn’t have come here.” Chioma comes out and bangs on Adolisa’s door. Adolisa pulls off. As she sees her sister in the rearview, she stops and reverses. She parks and gets out.

“Look I should’ve told you earlier but was the best decision. I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” Chioma begins to cry. “I was the one who stayed with mom while you went off doing your own thing. It was in the best interest of all of us,” Chioma cries even more.

“I’m sorry it's just being back here made me realize how foolish it was of me to not come back. I should’ve been here and helped take care of her. I was too busy thinking of myself I didn’t realized what both of you had to go through,” Adolisa now cries herself.

Both of the sisters hug each other as they take a minute to cry. Chioma pulls away after a while.

“Look, can we just finish this so we can drop the boxes off at the Salvation Army. Ever since mom passed, I can’t really stand this place anymore,” Chioma wipes her tears as she checks the time on her phone.

“Ok,” Adolisa wipes her tears as well.

The two sisters head back inside and finish packing up boxes. Once completed, they begin to load them into their respective cars.

“That’s it?”Chioma checks around for anything that might be remaining.

“Yup.” Adolisa confirms but then adds, “What about the money?”

“Come on. We’re not going to be one of those families that fight over money. How much was in there?,” Chioma asks as she sits down on a nearby seat.

“20,000,” Adolisa fires back.

“Well if my math is still good, I’d say we each are about 10,000 richer,” Chioma closes her eyes and relaxes in the chair.

“I’m going to miss this place,”Adolisa looks around at the house.

“So am I,” Chioma opens her eyes.

Adolisa walks over to Chioma and picks her up. They hold hands and begin to walk out of the house. They turn back one final time, turn off the lights, and lock the door.