"Ohh," I said, looking at him.
Okay, like I said there's nothing much about me.
He gave me cold looks, and I understood immediately which means I should start talking
"My name is Ava Baker, I am 20 years, an orphan," I said dropping my fork on the plate.
"Okay, Your parents, your education, and the rest," he said looking at me as if I am being interrogated for a crime.
"I am an orphan like I said earlier, I graduated from high school three years ago, I lived with my father's wife before I escaped and landed here"
"Sorry about your loss, you must have been through a lot," he said with his fingers intertwined together.
"Mmh, yea that's why I escaped". I told him with a flat voice.
He continued "At what age did you lose your parents?"
"Uhmm, I lost my mom at age 12, then my dad introduced his wife to me a few weeks after the burial of my mother, then the last time I saw my dad, I was 13. I don't know if he is dead or alive as I have not heard from him since then". I told him with a hint of sadness in my voice.
"Wow, wow," he said folding his hand.
"How did you further your education since you were just 13 when he left or was it your stepmother?" He asked.
"No, I was coming back from school crying because I was sent home for fees, I got home to meet a woman waiting outside our gate, I thought she was my stepmother's friend, but immediately she saw me she ran to me, I was confused at first." I looked at him
I continued, "She introduced herself as my mother's friend and colleague at work, she said my mother does put some money in her hand saying for the future purpose like she knows she won't last, she told me the money is in the bank, she kept it there"
"She said she hasn't been in town for a while, and immediately she heard my mom is gone, she found a means for her to come here, she said has been in town for a while and wanted to give my stepmother the money to further my education, but due to the rumors she heard about how nonchalant she is, she decided to keep till I am I'm high school"
"I told her I am in high school already and I was sent home from school, I was 13 at that time. She followed me back to school that day and introduced herself as my mother's friend, and I was asked if I know her after some confirmation of being a legal person and if she truly worked with my mother as her colleague, I nodded my head.
She explained how my mum kept money with her before she died, and she believes the money will be enough for me to sponsor me throughout my high school, I was happy and grateful to my mother, and I also thanked her for being real.
That was the last time I saw her, my high school life was beautiful and quiet if I could use that word, as my stepmother didn't even care how my fees are being taken care of. She thought it was my dad that pays for the school fees, and she always searches my bag for money if she found none I will end up being flogged.
I work before I can eat, anytime am back from school, I will have to stay in her shop to at least draw one or two customers, She sells beer, and if there are none I will sleep on an empty stomach.
I did not have any friends in school as I am always distanced, one of my teachers called me one day and asked me if I would like to go to foster care, I told her No immediately and begged to not to contact the agencies, and I give my reasons, I am scared of being maltreated by another person I don't know anything about. I don't know my stepmother also, but I saw her as my family, and I also don't want to leave as I believed my father might come back home one day.
She said she always observes me every time I come to school, I explained everything to her with tears. She was my guardian angel as she always makes sure I eat in school before going home and gives me little money anytime she has more than enough. It was the money I used to take of myself.
I always eat in school, and sometimes I do not worry if I am going to eat at home or not as I am being fed fully by a guardian angel. She thought me about morals and things I need to know as a female as I was growing up.
When I was 17, writing my final paper I got to know she had an accident on our way to school, and I knew my life was over.
We finished our exam successfully, but I was not able to hear from her how she is fairing or if she is dead.
I left for the house crying. I tried asking things from my other classmates the next day, but no one answers me as I did not always mingle with them
Our graduation came, but I still didn't hear from her, as I concluded if she is dead or not I pray for her every night, and with the little money she do give me then I saved up I got myself clothes and made sure I have a high school certificate. I took only a picture with my graduation gown and that was how my education crumbled.
I couldn't furthermore, as I ended up staying at my stepmother's shop. I applied for different scholarships exam at the tertiary institution but I don't use to meet the cutoff mark for the school as I did not have time to read.
I gave up on education and vowed to leave her when I am 20, to look for a good life.
I did all sorts of work and was flogged, and my meals are based on how many customers visited my stepmother's shop.
That's how I struggled, with no father, no mother, no guardian angel. The only thing I am grateful for is that I had room to sleep when it's night, in my comfort I always feel happy whenever it's night, I will have my beauty rest and a little sound sleep, with the dreams of being successful in life.
I ended my story with tears falling profusely and a bitter smile.
***
YOU ARE READING
(ON HOLD) BEFORE I MET HIM
RomansaAva Aarani Baker never knew what life had in store for her was not what she imagined. She ran away from home, all because of her stepmother, and ran into a captive net that changed her life forever. But was her life changed for good or bad? *** Alex...
