Finding Solace

CINDERELLA??

~Victoria~

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, the coolness a brief respite from the morning's chaos. My scrub brush attacked the toilet with a ferocity that matched my growing panic. This was the last one in the house, and if I didn't conquer this porcelain throne, I'd be late for school. The consequences of tardiness loomed, and I scrubbed with renewed vigor, my grunts echoing off the tile walls.

The memories of grandmother's passing still felt like a fresh wound. It had only been a month since I started at my new school in Abuja. Everything was still so overwhelming - the sprawling environment, the unfamiliar faces, the stern teachers. But I had no choice. After Grandma's burial, Uncle Steve had swooped in, his wealth and influence a whirlwind that had swept me up and deposited me in this grand mansion. I was still getting used to the marble floors, the crystal chandeliers, and the army of staff who seemed to materialize out of thin air. But amidst all the opulence, I felt lost and alone.

As I scrubbed the toilet, my mind wandered to my new "family" members. Uncle Steve's kids, to be exact. There was Benjamin, the absent sibling who was living it up abroad. I barely knew him, but from the occasional video calls, he seemed nice enough.

But then, there were the two tiny terrors who had taken it upon themselves to make my life in this house a living nightmare: Destiny and Ella. Those two little bundles of energy were the human equivalent of a tornado, leaving a trail of chaos and destruction in their wake. I swear, they had a personal vendetta against me, taking great pleasure in pushing my buttons and testing my patience.

And if I thought Destiny and Ella were a handful, their mother, Rita, was the queen of chaos. Aunt Rita was a force to be reckoned with, and I was starting to think she had a personal vendetta against me. Every morning, without fail, she'd appear in the kitchen, a stern expression etched on her face, and issue her daily decree: "Sweep and mop the entire house before you eat or leave for school."

It didn't matter if I had a test, a project, or a plain old-fashioned desire to eat breakfast before noon. Aunt Rita's rules were non-negotiable. I swear, she took pleasure in watching me scramble to finish my chores before rushing out the door. And if I didn't meet her impossibly high standards? Well, let's just say I didn't want to find out.

But the pièce de résistance, the cherry on top of this chaotic sundae, was my living arrangements. I didn't get to stay in the grand mansion with its soaring ceilings and sparkling chandeliers. No, I was relegated to the small building beside the main house – a tiny, cozy cottage that felt like a dollhouse in comparison to the mansion. It was as if I was a poor relation, a mere afterthought in the grand scheme of things.

I couldn't help but feel like Cinderella, banished to the servant's quarters while the rest of the family lived it up in the main house. The only thing missing was a fairy godmother to wave her wand and make all my troubles disappear.

I flushed the toilet, the sound echoing through the small cottage. I quickly returned the brush to its holder, my movements economical and swift. Finally, I was done. The last chore on my list was complete, and I could finally take a deep breath and relax. I hurried out of the bathroom, feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief wash over me. Now, I could grab a quick breakfast and head out the door to school.

I sprang into action, my feet pounding the stairs as I sprinted down to the kitchen. My daily routine was a well-oiled machine, and I took pride in getting everything done before 7 am. I burst through the kitchen door, my eyes scanning the room for the cook, Saheed. He was already there, a warm smile on his face as he handed me a steaming plate of food.

"Thanks, Saheed!" I chirped, flashing him a quick smile as I grabbed my breakfast and headed out the back door. Saheed's warm laughter followed me out into the crisp morning air, a small bright spot in my otherwise chaotic day.