"I needed some space, I could say." Ciara stated simply, with no readable expression on her face, giving Dwayne no chance to pinpoint whatever thought she was having on her mind.
"-and to be away for as long as I can."
Dwayne stared at his sister, with an obfuscated look on his face and his brows deeply creased as well. "You needed some space?" He mouthed herwords in repeat, like he was trying to memorize it, and disbelief was laced in his voice. "That's one of the weirdest things I'll ever hear from you, Ciara -and horribly funny as well."
"I won't be here if this was supposed to be a joke or something, do I have to lie to you on this as well?" She enunciated, not finding his choice of words pleasing. Why would he think she was in for a joke?
"When will you cease needing some space and from uncle Kent, of all people?" He asked, obviously demanding an answer from her -anything for a reply, but as expected, he got nothing. "Are you planning on eloping this time as well, for eternity, maybe?" "Well, maybe... If I can possibly disappear from this unending escapades I keep finding myself, I'll gladly leave for eternity." Ciara was tempted to give that as a reply to her brother, but she knew it would make no sense at all.
"Did you think I find pleasure in doing this?" She asked instead, her voice far from calm, but wasn't cold either. "Do you think I'll want to do this if I have choice to it? Well, my arms are tied and this is the best option I could think of as of now, please, why can't you try to understand like you used to, Dwayne."
"I would try, but how can I when I'm not even certain this is the best for you?" He was impatient, his voice says it all. Ciara was left in a tight spot, she did not want him to grow suspicious about the whole situation. "Do you know how much distress I was when you first disappear into the thin air? No words and no explanation to paint the whole situation, either."
"Must there be an explanation for everything, Dwayne? Can you just let this slide, for once?" She sighed as she faced palmed herself. "I'm no more a kid, dear brother, I should know what's the best option for me -and I'm certain this is it."
"Ah -I see..." He mouthed, countering, mockery laced in his tone. "That was how certain you were the first time and got yourself caught in the web of that deceiver and sly woman, are you still heading towards the same mistake as well? All for your baseless certainty, Ciara?"
She knew she made a mistake at first, and it'll be a foolish move on her part to make another, this time, jeopardizing the life of not only herself but of her child and that of Dwayne's as well if she is not careful -which she needed to be.
She felt it's her problem and she should be able to deal with it without involving her brother in it -she did not want him to get hurt if involved in it. At that point, she could tell how desperate her uncles were, and she needed not to make a mistake if she had to turn the whole table against them.
-involving Dwayne might sound like the best thing to do, but it also sounded as dangerous as it was the best. She only needed a perfect excuse to lay down for her brother to believe whatever thing she said to him.
"In as much as I hate to say this, but I have too..." She replied in a hushed tone. "I saw Ryan earlier today and in no time he will find me and want to take the child away -he is that kind of person, I'm certain of it because I lived with him for months. I told you and made a vow to myself as well, I'll never allow him to do that."
"So...?" Dwayne countered with his brows still creased. "Is that enough reason to leave in the middle of the night? Why can't you be considerate for once, Ciara."
Who says she is not being considerate? "Of course, I am trying my best to be considerate -I'm only here due to my consideration, Dwayne." She blurted out in a sharp yet blunt tone.
"I can see you are! What if something had happened to you on your way back, did you even think of how I will feel? Did you...？" He doped out, his question was no difference from that of rhetorical. "If you can't bring yourself to think about how I will feel, do you have to put the life of your baby on the line as well?"
She sighed. That was her point, if she had stayed longer at her uncle's house, she couldn't guarantee herself her safety and Dwayne will never be able to forgive himself and her baby would never be safe as well.
"Fine, I accept it was a foolish move on my part to journey in the middle of the night, and I'm sorry for it." She muttered in remorse. "I'll put your type of definition of considerate into action some other time. Uncle Kent would not have allowed me to leave if I were to do that in his presence, I was leftwith no option than for him to fall asleep."
"You are right, he wouldn't allow such from you." Dwayne nodded in affirmation. "Because staying with him is the only where I could guarantee you of your safety. Who knows what's out there for my naive sister?"
"There is no point dragging this out with you, Dwayne." She uttered airily after several moments of silence. "I already made my mind up to leave, I promise I'll be safe wherever I am and promised to be back as well."
"Fine, ifyou insisted." Dwayne was forced to give in after several thoughts about it, he realized he was left with no option to it. "I'll let you make this decision for yourself, and I hope it's the best for you as you believed."
"Thanks, Dwayne, this means so much to me." She appreciated in delight. Dwayne only nodded in reply and drawn her close to himself, almost trapping her in his warm embrace, patting her head slowly and in motion.
Ciara could not help but smiled at her brother's reaction, she already expected this from him as a reply but still, she couldn't tell how glad she was at the moment.
She can only hope she finds herself, becomes a woman enough for her to be able to protect her child and as well her brother, Dwayne...