Chapter 2

The young girl of about 5 years sat still on the wooden chair as the woman's finger walked around her thick afro hair. Cutting some hair apart, she braided them downwards and let the dark braids fall on the girl's neck. She was making a popular hairstyle"All Back".

She cut out another part of the young girl's hair and swiftly but carefully braided the hair downwards. Her fingers were strong yet soft on the young girl's scalp which made her very comfortable with having her mother make her hair.

The young girl kept on smiling to herself as her mother braided her hair.

"Amara!"

She suddenly heard her name but it sounded like it was coming from a faraway place because her mother was still busy braiding her hair and she was sure her mother didn't hear it.

"Amarachi!" The voice shouted again, this time very harsh. It immediately jolted her out of her dream and back to reality.

Amarachi was a girl of 19years, she had her mother's ebony skin and thick afro hair. Infact she was her mother's replica.

"Ok you are still sleeping abi(is that so)!?"

She recognised that voice in her sleepy demeanor. It immediately made her jerk and open her eyes. It was her uncle's wife voice, Lydia. The woman never liked Amara nor Amara's mother, Chinenye. Growing up, Amara always witnessed Lydia insulting her mother. She was always envious of her mother and she didn't mind taking out her hatred on little Amara.

Even now, after the death of Chinenye and Emeka, her hatred for Amara only grew more.

It made Amara wonder if her late mother and father ever hurt Aunty Lydia.

AMARACHI

"Amarachi look at the time!? You this lazy girl! Just look! Instead of you to wake up and start doing the house chores, you are busy sleeping stupidly! Is this your father's house!? Eehn? Zam oku(answer me). If you really love sleeping this much I suggest you die so you can sleep forever with your useless mother!"Lydia spat at me.

Tears welled up in my eyes at the mention of my parents.

"Useless mother? Really? My mother isn't useless"

Somehow Aunty Lydia always reminds me that I'm an orphan and she uses that to taunt me every single day. I just couldn't help but stare at this woman who was my family.

What did I ever do to her?

"Oh you are still staring at me eehn?" She said and pulled me out of the chair before landing the back of her right palm on my cheeks.

I held my cheek in pain as I casted my gaze downwards not wanting to meet her eyes.

"I'm..so---sorry" I apologized quickly as I still held on to the cheek she slapped.

"Good morning Aunty" I quickly added as more tears dropped down from my eyes as I fought to control my tears.

"Oh I thought you had lost your manners. Shameless witch! Before I open and close my eyes, carry a bucket right now go to the community tap and fetch water osisor(fast fast)!" Aunty Lydia shouted the more as she held one of my ears and twisted it.

I let out a scream as my tears started rolling down my cheeks without restraint.

"Ogini Lydia?(what is it Lydia)

Ogini? Won't we rest for you in this house!?" My grandma shouted from one of the inner rooms as she emerged into the parlour with her walking stick supporting her steps.

"Lydia ogini!? Ogini bu nsogbu gi?(what is your problem) ibu amosu(are you a witch?)" My grandma said in her shaky voice.

"Nne(mother) good morning"I immediately greeted as I quickly cleaned my tears. I was so relieved to see my grandma. She was the only one I could really call my family. Everybody else in this house treated me like a slave.

"Nne don't interfere o! I just woke this lazy girl up to go and fetch water. Have you forgotten that our pumping machine has spoilt? She needs to go fetch water from the community tap now"Aunty Lydia defended herself as she released her hold on my ear and folded her arms.

"Look at the time. This is just six. The community tap starts running by seven. Do you want her to go and stay outside waiting for tap to be opened? Do you want her to get raped by some of this street urchins!?"Nne queried aunty Lydia.

Aunty Lydia shrugged her shoulders and eyed me.

"So!? Is she the first girl to get raped eehn Nne? After all..." Aunty Lydia's voice trailed off as Nne suddenly interrupted her.

"Metchi onu osisor(shut up immediately). Lydia if you are so eager to get water then tell Ogechi to go fetch the water after all she is a girl too"

Somehow, I felt Nne knew what aunty Lydia was about to say before cutting her off.

Ogechi was my cousin. She took her mother's character; rude, proud, lazy and wayward.

Her mother never reprimanded her maybe because she was the first and only daughter, I don't know, but it was sickening.

I did all the house chores but Ogechi never lifted a muscle instead she was always gallivanting with men.

Seeing Nne and Aunty Lydia argue made knots tire in my stomach. I didn't like it. Aunty Lydia would only add to my house hold work seeing Nne defending me like that.

"Nne don't worry ok. I'll do it. I'll go fetch water Nne"I immediately chirped in not wanting the argument to escalate.

"This girl. Nnwam(my child) you work to much. They want to kill you for me. This witch my stupid son married wants to kill you for me" Nne cried out.

I quickly rushed to her side helping her sit on the chair.

"Mama I'm not a witch!"Aunty Lydia retorted as she shot me a death glare.

"Metchi onu osisor(Shut up your mouth immediately)!" Nne shouted at her.

"Nne don't worry. Biko(please) rest. I'll go fetch water ok" I immediately said as I caressed Nne's cheek and cleaned the little tears rolling on her cheeks.

Nne stared at me with so much love visible in her eyes. I could tell she really loves me, she is the only one who shows me love. Not even my own uncle shows me love. I know if my parents were alive, I won't be suffering the way I am right now.

I put on a weak smile on my face and stood up to wash my face and teeth before heading out to fetch water.