Chiamaka is the only survival of Mr. Edoche's family. Her parents and siblings died in a fatal car accident, on their way to visit Chiamaka in her boarding school. The car got hit by a lorry and the entire family died!
The death of Chiamaka's family came like a great shock to her! Sometimes, she blame herself for their death. Due to the death of her family, she was asked to leave with her only living relative, who happens to be her father's brother.
Some months passed after the death, and Mr. Uchenna, who is her father's only brother, took over her father's wealth and stopped Chiamak from attending school. Soon after wards, Chiamaka was turned to a house maid and things turned bad as well..
Mrs. Chioma the wife of her uncle, is a heartless woman and always took it as a hobby to maltreat Chiamaka. Sometimes, she denys Chiamaka food for hours.
One Saturday, after doing all the house chores, she entered the kitchen, only to find out that there was no food left for her.
"Ma, no food in the kitchen for me to eat!" Chiamaka stomach grumbles while she talks.
"And so, what can I do about that? Get out of my side you little witch, am trying to watch a movie!" Mrs. Chioma responded.
Chiamaka had to stay without food until it was evening. The gateman who loved her late parents, saw her very weak at the backyard and rushed to her aid. Her felt sorry for her and gave her some of his snacks, he do keep in he's room.
Since Chiamaka was stopped from going to school, she started to read newspapers and any text books she set her eyes on.
The day her kinsmen from her father's village, came for a visit to check up on Chiamaka. Her uncle's wife instructed Chiamaka to put on her church wears, so as to look good in everyone's eyes.
When the elders came and saw Chiamaka, they were not happy because of how lean she looked. And when they commented on it, the wicked woman, chioma lied that it was as a result of the death of Chiamaka's family.
"Sometimes, Chiamaka rejects food, calming to mourn her family. Please my elders, help me talk to her o!" She forged a perfect lie and winked her daughter, Oluchi, who was amazed to how good, her mother was with lies.
"My beautiful daughter, the past is in the past! You have to move on, I know you miss them but now you have a new family that loves you... We all lost one or two persons dear to us, once in a while but we still try to move on and live life to the fullest.. Try focus more on your studies, so your late parents can be so proud of you. Don't forget they are dead but still watching us from heaven." One of the aged elder adviced Chiamaka, based on what Mr. Chioma said earlier.
Chiamaka was surprised to the bone marrow, of how her uncle and his wife was pampering her in front of the kingsmen. The one that gave a scare was when, Mrs. Chioma called her, 'My sweetheart!'. They had behaved so clean and innocent, that the kinsmen could not suspect a thing or find fault.
Chiamaka prayed in her mind for the kindness never to end but it did, immediately the kinsmen left the house and passed the gate. She was order to go change and resume her duties.
Her uncle and his wife, was not satisfied with the wealth they had gained. They wanted more and started to search every room, including that of her parents; collecting all the precious things her late parents left behind.
Her cousins, were enrolled into big school and her aunt bought a big store for supermarket. When Chiamaka begged to be enrolled in school too, her uncle slapped her!
"Stupid child! Did your late father, enroll any of my children in school? So next time you come to me for that, I will give you the beating of your life, nonsense!" Her uncle, used he's right leg to push Chiamaka and she fell hard on the tiles.
On Sundays, Chiamaka would trek to church while her uncle and his family, would drive to church, with her late father's new jeep. Sometimes, before Chiamaka would reach the church, service would not last up to an hour, then closing prayers would commence. And no transport money would be given too! Mrs. Chioma, her aunt, would call her all sort of names, because she gets to church late.
One Sunday, Chiamaka was trekking to church when a range rover stopped and a dark looking man, with a squeeze face, asked her to get in for a ride to her destination. She refused he's offer and continued her way to church. Just then, two men came down from the car and started following her. She sensed danger and ran so fast. They catches after her because no one would see them, it was a lonely path, she takes as a short cut to church!
She ran into a bush by her right and prayed in her mind for God's protection. She saw an old house and ran into it, and when the men saw her, they turned back. For the reason, they thought it was her house.
Chiamaka could not leave the house immediately because, she feared they were outside waiting for her. She stayed back for some minutes... The house belonged to an old hurter and his wife! She helped them a little before she left.
Chiamaka went back home, only to receive beating from her wicked uncle and his evil wif, saying she had gone to visit her boyfriend. Chiamaka tried so many times to explain herself to them but they did not want to listen. They left her, only when they they noticed wounds.
Chiamaka cried through out that afternoon, because her entire body ached but she still manage it to do her chores and didn't get food to eat till it was night.