The Other Side of Truth

Auntie Gracie tries to get Sade to eat, but she does not eat much. Auntie Gracie tells her that her mom would have wanted her to eat. Sade wants to sleep to block away all thoughts. She starts to write a card to Mariam’s family wishing them a Merry Christmas and apologizing, but she feels uncomfortable because the family is Muslim, so she does not know if Christmas wishes are appropriate. Suddenly, Sade is overcome with rage. She is angry at Papa for causing such chaos by speaking out. She is also mad at the bullies at school. Femi comes in, but Sade screams at him, and he is afraid and leaves. Sade believes it is her fault that her mother died. Sade was running late to school; she thinks if she had been on time, Mama would not have been there when the shooters came.

Sade remains quiet in her bedroom, believing that she should be punished. She does not believe she deserves anyone in her life. Femi, sounding a bit more like his old self, calls to her, telling her that they are on TV. She believes that Femi acted bravely by coming to get her after she was so rude to him.