A Prince's Love

Chapter 1.

I groan in pain as I am pushed to the ground. I wince and grab my side in pain, slowly looking up to see my annoyed aunt hovering over me.

"Didn't I tell you to wash the plates? Why are they not clean?" she yells at me, and I flinch at her tone.

"M-ma, I'm sorry. I was scrubbing the bathtub like you asked me to." I tell her weakly.

"How long does it take to scrub a bathtub, eh? What are we going to use to eat now?" she yells at me, kicking me on the ground.

I cry out in pain and put my hands up to stop her.

"I will go wash them right now." I tell her, with my voice shaky from fear.

"No! Don't touch them. Since you cannot wash the plates, you will not eat tonight. Lazy girl." she spits at me, as she bends down to hit me again.

I use my hands to block her hits but it's useless. I feel all the pain from each hit that touches me. Tears roll down my face as I lay there , taking all the hits.

"Herrh! Nana, stop!" a voice calls out from behind us.

I recognize it to be my uncle's voice and I immediately feel better knowing that he's here now. My uncle is my aunt's older brother and unlike her, he is kind and actually likes me.

My uncle pulls my aunt off of me and she glares at him. He glares right back at her before he helps me to get up. He holds me as he looks at me.

"Maadwoa, what is going on?" he asks me as I wipe the tears off my face.

"I didn't wash the plates because I was cleaning the bathtub, and Ma is angry at me." I tell him, sniffling.

My uncle glares at her and she glares at me.

"Don't call me Ma. Am I your mother? I would never give birth to a lazy child like you." she spits at me and I flinch at her vicious words.

My real mother died while giving birth to me and my father abandoned me shortly after that. I know this information from my uncle because he was the one that took care of me but after he got older and things got harder, he couldn't care for me anymore. So, I had to stay with my aunt, who is my mom's younger sister and she has resented me since I was a kid.

"Nana, stop talking to her like that. What is wrong if she calls you Ma? She is our sister's daughter and we are her only family. You need to treat her better." Uncle Kwame says and she scoffs.

"She is the reason I talk to her like that. She always does something to provoke me, so I have to discipline her. In fact, she's not eating tonight." she tells my uncle before crossing her arms.

Uncle Kwame walks towards her and glares at her.

"Are you crazy? How can you starve a child?"

"Is she mine?" she asks with sass and I feel tears roll down my face. I don't understand what I did to her to deserve this. I always do everything she tells me to yet she never appreciates it.

"Maadwoa, have you eaten today?" my uncle asks me, ignoring my aunt.

I frown.

"Uncle, I only had bread and tea for breakfast."

He touches my shoulder.

"Don't worry, I won't leave until you eat something." he tells me and my aunt breaks out into bitter laughter.

"Then I guess you should move in because she's not eating tonight. Maybe if she does her chores tomorrow, she can get something to eat."

I frown and Uncle Kwame glares at her.

"Nana, don't be wicked. Don't provoke me." he warns and she scoffs before walking inside.

I cry as my uncle pats my shoulder.

"Don't cry, you will eat today, okay?"

I nod as he leads me inside.