Writers 
Things were slowly descending into chaos, and I was beginning to adapt to it. Our home no longer felt the way it used to. The laughter had disappeared, the warmth had faded, and every day seemed to carry a strange silence that none of us knew how to break. Mama was trying her best. She had started doing a little business, selling whatever she could afford to buy and resell, just so she could put food on the table. It wasn't much, but she never complained in front of me. At the same time, she was still struggling with the sadness that had settled inside her since Daddy disappeared. There was one question that remained in my mind.
Where was my father?
I had stopped asking.
Not because I didn't care anymore, but because nobody ever had an answer. Then, one early morning, something unexpected happened. I woke up and went to the bathroom. As I walked past the living room, I suddenly heard Mama singing. I stopped. I couldn't tell whether she was genuinely happy or simply singing to herself, but hearing her voice filled with a song brought a strange feeling to my heartIt was the same sweet voice I hadn't heard singing like that in almost two years since Daddy disappeared. For a moment, I felt happy. Maybe things were finally changing. Maybe, even though one person's disappearance had turned our once-happy home into chaos, life was slowly finding its way back to us. I got ready for school, and Mama packed some food for me. It was only a little, but she always made sure I had something to eat. Even when there was barely enough for the two of us, she would still find a way to give me something.
"Take this," she said, handing me the food.
I smiled and hugged her before leaving. On my way to school, I passed a group of women standing by the roadside. I wasn't paying attention to them at first, but then I heard my father's name. I slowed down. They were gossiping about how Daddy had abandoned Mama and disappeared. Their words followed me all the way to school. I tried to ignore them. I told myself they were only gossiping and knew nothing about what had really happened. Still, their voices kept replaying in my head throughout the day. When I finally returned home that afternoon, I was shocked by what I saw. Mama was packing our belongings. Bags were scattered around the room, and some of our clothes had already been folded and packed. The moment she saw me, she smiled. That little smile immediately made my day.
"Amara," she said, "we are relocating."
I stared at her.
"Relocating? Where?"
She laughed softly. "I knew you'd start with your questions. You love asking questions." I smiled, but I was still confused.
"My elder sister has secured a job for me at her workplace," Mama explained. "She has even helped us get a new apartment. We're going to start a new life."
My heart jumped. Mama had a job. We were getting a new home. Maybe this really was the beginning of something better. But as I watched her pack, questions filled my mind. Where exactly were we going?
What kind of job had Auntie found for Mama?
And why had I never heard from this aunt before?
I didn't know the answers. I only knew one thing. We were leaving our old life behind. And I desperately hoped Mama was right when she said we were moving into a new life.
