June to April by Ike Ojukwu

Author:Ike Ojukwu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kreative 1s Studio

Chapter 5

Struggling to Maintain

The sun had barely risen on Tyreek’s first birthday when the shouting started again. I stood in the kitchen, trying to keep my composure as April stormed in, her face flushed with anger.

“Why is this place always such a mess, June?” she snapped, her voice cutting through the early morning quiet. “I can’t stand living like this!”

I took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the counter. “Because you never clean it, April. We both work, and I’m trying to finish this script so I can get us out of this rut.”

“you’re still wasting your time with that nonsense!” she yelled, slamming her hand on the table. Tyreek, who was playing with his new toys in the living room, looked up, his big eyes filled with confusion. “You’re always talking about your dreams, but what about our reality?”

Her words stung, and I struggled to keep my voice calm. “Our reality is why I’m working so hard. I want a better life for us, for Tyreek. Can’t you see that?”

April scoffed, crossing her arms. “All I see is you using your ‘dreams’ as an excuse to avoid your responsibilities. You think you’re the only one who’s tired? The only one who wants more?”

I could feel my patience wearing thin, but I didn’t want to escalate things. “I know you’re tired too. We both are. But fighting like this isn’t helping.”

April’s eyes blazed with fury. “You don’t get it, do you? I feel like I’m drowning here, and all you do is talk about the future. What about now, June? What about us?”

Before I could respond, she picked up her empty liquor bottle from the table and hurled it at the window, where it shattered the window into a hundred pieces. Tyreek started crying, and I rushed over to scoop him up, his tiny body shaking with fear.

“Girl, are you out of your fucking mine?” I said, my voice breaking. “You’re scaring him, April. This is the shit that messes children up seeing their parents snap and unable to control themselves.”

April’s face crumpled, and for a moment, I saw the woman I fell in love with, hidden beneath layers of anger and frustration. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She took another bottle out of the cabinet and poured another glass of fireball.

She paused, taking a deep breath. “I know people are making money online, becoming influencers. I could do that. Share our story, our struggles. It could bring in some extra cash, maybe even turn things around for us. But it’s a dark world out there, and it scares me. The things people do for fame, the way they exploit their lives…” Her voice trailed off, the flicker of hope in her eyes shadowed by a deeper fear. “I don’t want to lose myself, but we need this, don’t we?” Her words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the desperation that had seeped into their lives.

I held Tyreek close, hoping the sound of my heartbeat would comfort him.

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