AMARACHI
A voice in my head kept on telling me to turn back and go home but I didn't want to disappoint aunty Lydia especially now when she had started liking me.
To be honest I didn't trust her fully but I did trust her to a limit.Maybe she is truthfully sorry.Who knows?I shook the gloomy feeling and walked onwards determined to please aunty Lydia.
It didn't take long for me to arrive at Chief Clement's house as I took a bike.
On staring at his house, i was submerged in the feeling of dread and gloom.It just didn't seem right.I shook off the feeling one more time and knocked on his gate."Who be that?"shouted a voice from the other side.
I didnt know what to say."Madam Lydia sent me"i replied after some thought.The gate opened and the gateman,a shabby looking fel
AMARACHI I heard Aunty Lydia shout my name in anger.The surprise made me jerk and abruptly stopped my washing."What could be the problem now?"I asked myself as i cleaned my hands on the wrapper I tied on my waist.While I was yet to fathom what I did,I heard footsteps approaching me angrily. I immediately stood up to meet the menacing gaze of Aunty Lydia. Anger was burning in her eyes for me.I felt my legs shake beneath me. My heart already started thumping."Aunty...."I began but she immediately slapped me.I held on to my cheek, my eyes were already wettery. I hated whenever I broke down crying before her.She delighted in seeing cry."I won't cry this time"I won't give her the chance to watch me cry.I immediately cleaned my tears. I could feel her burning gaze on me.
AMARACHI "These clothes are too much o"i murmured to myself as i ran my fingers through my thick afro hair."Amara dont worry I'll help you sew that one"Eberechi, one of the part time workers who worked under aunty Lydia offered to help me.I shook my head at her proposal. If aunty Lydia knew she was the one who sew the cloth, i would get into trouble and I didn't want her to make any mistakes on the dress pattern.It will be better i did the cloth myself. "No Eberechi. Thank you still. Just focus on yours ok. I'll do it myself"i said. She stared at me for some seconds and shrugged her shoulders, before turning to face her work.Every body minded their work as we worked in absolute silence.I loved the serene atmosphere."If only it would last like this" i thought to myself. I glanced at the wall clock, it was 1pm and aunty lydia wasn't still
AMARACHI "I'll never marry that old man!"i cried out. They all stared at me with shocked expressions . A wave of panic coursed through me but i kept calm and spoke my mind."Why should i be the one to marry?why can't ogechi marry him?""Amara!"ogechi shouted."Oh please!stop!"i shouted back at her. I was even surprised by my own courage. Ogechi stared at me,anger burning in her eyes for me but i didn't let it scare me."I am never marrying that old man. It's my life and i have the right to choose who i want to marry. Never will i marry that old man besides I'm just nineteen for christ sakes!" Everybody was dumbfounded as i talked. Aunty lydia smirked at me before hissing."So are you going against my words?"Uncle Francis asked calmly which surprised me.I kept quiet for some seconds before nodding my head."Yes i am"i r
AMARACHI What is going on in my life?I wept without restraint as i buried my face in my hands.I shook uncontrollably.I felt Nonso's hand on my back,trying to calm me down."Amara..."he began but i cut him short immediately."Amara what?why are all these happening to me? Am i that bad of a person?"I lamented trying to control my tears.He stood silent for some seconds before pulling me into a deep embrace."You aren't a bad person Amara. You just have bad people around you"he whispered in my ear.I pulled out and cleaned my tears.He raised my face just enough for me to face his."I am with you Amara"I nodded my head and picked up my polythene bag."Let me take you to your shop"Nonso offered genuinely.I shook my head at his offer,"no Nonso. It's fine. I'll go myself". My legs felt wobbly beneath me. Everything that just happened fel
AMARACHI "You made these dress?"chikaima asked for the umpteenth time as he stared at the dress i sewed with a wide smile plastered on his face."Yesssssss"i replied laughing.I liked the fact that he admired my work. It made me feel good of myself."You are a very good seamstress Amara"chikaima complimented me.My cheeks turned red and i couldn't hide my blushing.Chikaima raised an eyebrow at me and raised my chin just enough for me to look at his face. He stared intently in my eyes.Oh lord! I felt really uncomfortable.I tried putting down my face but he shook his head."No don't put your face down"he said in a whisper."You are very beautiful Amarachi"he breathed out to me.I felt something stirred in me. Suddenly chief clement barged into the shop which made Chikaima let go of my chin."Where is Madam Lyd
AMARACHI It was 6pm. Some shops were closing from the days work as i walked back home to go make dinner. My mind was in turmoil. I couldn't stop thinking.What if they actually chase me out of the house?I was so engrossed in my thoughts that my heart started thumping so fast. I stopped for a moment and rested under a nearby tree.I had to calm myself down.Suddenly i thought of Nonso and Rebecca. Memories of how Becca humilated me came flooding into my mind."Who would ever think Becca that i knew from little will turn against me like this?"So now she practically hates me for what i didn't even do?It felt like i was cursed. Good things weren't destined to stay with me for long. I shook my head in anguish and a deep sigh espaced my lips. I kept on walking but then i spotted Becca coming towards me.I wore a smile on my face,thinking she will be back to h
FlashbackMany years Earlier Lydia walked towards the the village square, in her bid to search for Francis. She knew that was where he would be. Immediately she spotted him, she checked her appearance,making sure she was beautiful. She wore a smile and walked over to meet Francis.Immediately Francis spotted her coming over to him, he sighed heavily and furrowed his brows in confusion,wondering what she wanted from him this time."Francis dim oma(Francis my good husband)"Lydia said grinning from ear to ear."Onye bu di gi?(who is your husband?)"Francis asked already visibly annoyed by her presence.Lydia pouted her lips and folded her arms at Francis."Francis what is it now? Why are you behaving like this
Nne watched as Francis fumed with anger. He had dagger eyes as he stared at Nne."Francis please calm down. Don't let Amara hear you"Nne pleaded.Francis waved his hand at her and turned his face away, hissing. "But it's high time we tell that girl the truth. Let her know that she is not our blood"Francis said."Tell her what exactly? That the person she sees as her dad isn't her biological father? That her biological father is a rapist? That the only thing connecting her to this family is because Emeka decided to take care of her and her late mother?"Nne asked rheotorically. She was really distressed."Yes!"Francis replied almost immediately."Tell her everything! Let Amarachi go find her real family. We are not her family!"Nne couldn't believe her ears. Francis was purely insensitive to human feelings.Her weakened eyes became tear filled as she gazed upon francis."Francis how