A Prince's Love

Chapter 3.

Two weeks later

I nervously approach my aunt as she sits on the verandah, reading the newspaper. Uncle Kwame visited last week and gave me some pocket money to hold. I put it in my room under my mattress but now I can't find it. I wanted it to go buy some ice cream on a hot day like this. The only other person in this house is her.

I quietly step closer to her and put my hands behind my back.

"Good afternoon auntie."

She looks up from the newspaper and gives me a dirty look, before going back to the paper. That was her way of saying good afternoon.

"What do you want?" she asks me, still looking at the paper.

I scratch my hair.

"Um, last week, Uncle Kwame gave me some pocket money. I put it in my room but I can't find it anymore. I was wondering if you have seen it."

She looks up at me and looks me up and down.

"Why are you asking me? Don't you know how to watch over your money?"

"I do. But it's missing and I thought you would know where it is."

She puts the paper down and glares at me.

"So you think I stole it, herh?" she asks.

Yes.

"No, ma. I can't find it. You're the only other person here so I thought you might have a clue where it is. I need it for something."

She quickly slaps me and I hold onto my face in shock and pain. I gasp and look at her.

"Disrespectful child. Accusing me of stealing your money. Whether I have it or not, you have no right to stand here and question me. Are you the police?"

My eyes start to water and I tremble.

"M-ma, I didn't say you stole it. I'm only asking for it."

"Go and ask your mother where it is. The mother that you killed, go and ask her for money." she spits at me and I gasp in shock.

I never knew someone could be so heartless. Using my late mother to insult me, her own sister. She's even accusing me of killing my own mother.

I feel tears roll down my face like a fountain.

"Get out of my face with your crocodile tears." she yells before throwing the newspaper at me. I dodge it and quickly run away, with tears running down my face.

I run without knowing where I'm going. I never knew how much she hated me. She hates me so much that she had the guts to say something like that.

I find a bench under a large tree and I quickly run to it and sit. I sniffle and sob into my hands when I sit down. I've never done anything to deserve this. I've always respected her through all the hate she throws at me. My chest heaves up and down as I cry. I cry loudly, without caring that I am probably disturbing the village.

I hear leaves crack behind me but I ignore it. The pain I feel is too much.

I feel a light tap on my shoulder and I jump in fear of someone grabbing me and taking me away.

I turn around quickly and freeze when I see the person. Prince Danny Forson. The actual prince in the flesh, standing behind me. My eyes widen in fear, shock, surprise, happiness and I almost forget how to blink.

He looks down at me and I see his two bodyguards behind him. I quickly stand up from the bench and bow down to greet him. He quickly grabs my wrist and stops me.

"It's okay." he says and I almost melt at his voice. He even sounds like royalty.

I ignore him and quickly bow anyway to greet him.

"Good afternoon, Prince Danny, Your Highness." I say, wiping the tears from my face.

"Good afternoon. Please, sit." he says again and I quickly sit back down. He sits next to me and looks at me.

"Is everything okay? Why are you sitting here alone crying?" he asks me calmly and I can hear genuine care in his voice. It was almost foreign to me.

His tone and expression made me feel like I could tell him anything.

I start to tear up again at the thought of what my aunt said.

"I couldn't find my money and I asked my aunt about it. She said I was accusing her of stealing it, so she slapped me and told me to go ask my mother for it. My mother passed away giving birth to me." I say, crying more as I tell him.

I hear silence after this and I fill the silence with my cries and sniffles. Of course he wouldn't know what to say. It's not everyday that you stumble across someone with my problems.

I feel a gentle touch on my shoulder and I look to see Prince Danny rubbing my shoulder in a soothing motion. He has a look of pity on his face and his mouth is parted in surprise.

"I don't even know what to say. I'm sorry your aunt did that to you. Does she do stuff like that often?" he asks softly.

I shake my head and sniffle. I don't want people to find out that she normally does stuff like this to me. It's embarrassing and I don't need everyone to feel bad for me.

"She's never said something like that. I-I think she's in a bad mood today." I lie and I can see his eyebrows raise slightly.

"That's not an excuse to say something that inconsiderate to someone." he says and I feel another tear fall down my face.

The more I think about it, the more I cry. I think I should take a walk and clear my head because that always helps me. I nervously look at the prince and he sighs in sadness. He reaches for something in his pocket as I continue to sniffle. He pulls out a tissue and hands it to me with a sad smile. I slowly take it.

"Prince Danny, thank you but please, I beg of my leave." I tell him quietly.

"Oh okay. But what's your name?"

"My name is Maadwoa." I say quietly.

"Oh, Maadwoa. Pretty name." he says with a small smile.

"Thank you." I say, nervously playing with my fingers.

"Before you leave, you live around here right?" he asks.

"Yes, Prince. I live down the hill by the water well."

He nods and gives me a small smile.

"Cheer up, alright?"

I nod and stand up.

"Thank you Prince. I'll be leaving now." I say before bowing at him again.

I quickly turn around and walk back down the hill. I finally met the prince and all the stuff people said was true. He's so kind, not to mention, he is even more handsome in person. Gifty will be so happy I got to meet him.