Bella

"Are you blind"? Mum called me back to my reality because I accidentally stepped on her foot.

"Sorry, mum," I apologise. Did I just say, mum? Mrs. wisdom has been the only mother figure I have known all my life. She is not my mother, and she always reminds me of that fact with her harsh words.

"Has the thought of going to college made you Lose the sense of your sight?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," I repeat afaird that she might hit me if I said nothing.

"Sorry for yourself," she answered.

"She thinks going to Mount Wings College automatically makes her a celebrity," Daniella mocked. They both laugh at me with Mockery looks. I stood there helpless as usual.

"Let the girl be," my dad's voice, Mr Wisdom, came to save me. I can't tell how long they would be ready to continue with the insult.

"Are you set to go?" He turns to me. "Yes, Dad," I answered. I quickly picked up my bag from the chair beside mum. He was taking me to Mount Wings college. I was so pleased he was around because I was going for my final entrance examination that day. I knew mum would have done more than using hash words on me that morning if Dad was not home.

I took a deep breath as I sat in the front seat. The drive will be for another hour and thirty minutes. All I thought about was getting accepted at the college. I could not afford to miss this chance and return home to mum and Daniella's Mockery.

It was not always this bad; it just seemed the older I got, the more she hated me. A year ago, when I was done with high school was when it got to this height. I thought life had just started for me, and I had my dreams ahead of me, especially the one of getting into the university and moving out of the house. It's true I am not an exceptionally intelligent student, but I was good and performed very well in my examination. Mrs Wisdom had seized my phone in the pretends that she wanted me to concentrate on my entrance examination at the university. I was all set to achieve my dreams and become a lawyer.

I wonder why she cared so much about me passing because, for all I know, she would not mind if I failed the entrance examination. I never got the chance to write that examination because she gave me the fees for the registration a day after it expired. She then lies to Dad that she has forgotten that he sent the money for it already.

Dad was away for work as usual when all this happened. I knew then that she did not forget because she claimed I did not remind her. that was also a lie because I tried to, but she told me not to worry about it, as she had already informed Dad. It was after I missed the registration that I understood why she took away my phone and acted all caring. Maybe my foolishness led me to trust her and not contact Dad myself.

I did not bother myself by telling Dad the truth. He was rarely at home, and I was trying my possible best not to get on her wrong side. It was not like anything I did ever pleased her.

This year she tried a different approach; it was not like she could stop me from the registration as I had turned 18. And Dad gave me full access to my bank account. I don't know why she hates me so much.

After staying home for one year, I developed a new habit of reading novels. Romance, adventures, history, any good story. That is not surprising, as literature was my favourite subject in high school. After registration for my entrance examination this year, I took my time to study as hard as I could. Little did I know that mum had a special plan for me. Unfortunately, Dad was not around as usual.

Three days before my Examination, mum became unnecessarily demanding. She gave me meaningless tasks that took hours to complete and sent me on numerous errands. I did not have good sleep for three days, and my eyes were literally closing on the day of the examination.

I needed sleep, but I went into the bathroom to have a cold bath to help me feel a bit awake. Coffee could no longer keep me awake. Mum offered to drop me off at the university. Which I would have really loved to reject, but I knew better than anyone else that I could not.

I stepped into the car at 7:45 am. The drive to the school was thirty minutes from the house, and it was one hour and thirty minutes to my examinations when we left the house. That drive was the most extended road trip I have had in my entire life. She made numerous stops on our way like we left the house for site seeing. I felt frustrated, and I also had my sleepy eyes to battle with. I wonder if this was how she made numerous stops when she dropped Daniel and Daniella off the previous day for their examination. I had hoped and prayed that we wrote our examination the same day, but that prayer was not answered. So there I was, running late for an exam I prepared early to attend.

When we finally got to the school, I was fifteen minutes late for the exam. Which was a miracle because I thought she wanted me to miss the examination. Thank goodness there was thirty-minute grace for students who arrived late. I found my seat in the hall, and the supervisor informed me that I would not be given extra time. I tried my best to keep my eyes open to concentrate. But I was tensed and tired and may have fallen asleep during the examination, which lasted for an hour and thirty minute for me since I was late.

When the result came out, I scored - 70 over 100. Which would have been a good score, but I needed at least 75 to get admitted. Mrs Wisdom called Dad and announced the news of my failure. She informed him with so much joy and happiness that one would have thought she was announcing good news.

My heart was further broken because Daniel and Daniella, her twin children, got their admission. Don't get me wrong, I was happy for them. I was just sad that I would have to stay back home for another year. Dad was not angry at me; he just told me to try harder next year.

I try not to blame Mrs Wisdom, I should have been more prepared. "I hope you are prepared?" Dad distracted my thought.

"Yes, Dad," I replied with a smile. Fortunately, he was around this time, and there was no accident.

"Don't worry yourself too much. Even if you don't get admitted, it does not make you a failure or mean you don't have a brain or talent," he encouraged.

"Okay, Dad," I nodded my head. Not getting admitted is the last thing I would want to think about.