I regret ever meeting you, I regret ever calling you ‘Father’. Living with a stepfather is hard, but what do you expect, you’re not his blood, Mbali, I say to myself. Remember blood is thicker than water. I still can’t believe that you chased me out of your house because I was defending my mother from your evildoings; was I supposed to see my mom being beaten by you every time you came back home drunk? Never, I would die for my mama.

You said words that no older person should ever say to a child. You said I’m useless, I go around sleeping with boys, that I will fail at school because I’m stupid. I cried myself to sleep every time because of you. I hate you, the fact that you’re not my father makes it worse. I regret ever knowing you. Everything about you annoys me; your presence, your appearance, everything about you disgusts me. You said I’m not fit to be called your daughter, yes, you said that I’m not fit to be a part of your family. I regret ever knowing you.

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