AS USUAL JOY WAS back home to find the house empty apart from Ruth the house keeper,she sighed throwing her shoe across the room while wiggling her toes and sighing in comfort,she slumped on her bed looking at her ceiling as the fan blades moves slowly

A slow knock emitted from her door and the door creaked open revealing Ruth standing on the door way

"You should freshen up and come and eat"she said and Joy sat up

"When did mom and dad plan on coming back?"she asked while Ruth only shrug more like she's avoiding the question,Joy took a notice of this and lay down back on the bed

"I will be downstairs soon"she said and Ruth gave her a satisfied smile before closing the door back, immediately the door closes Joy eyes started to get watery and tears flowed freely

She can't deny it how much she missed her parents,how much she craved to be in their midst but it seems they didn't care about her like the way she did,she stood up and took one of the photos laying freely on her cupboard place at the side of the room,she look at the picture which contains Joy of ten years old and her parents with another girl who is seven years old that's Joy sister

She hugs the picture and cried trying to muffle the sound,she doesn't want to get Ruth worried

"Wish you were here with me"she murmured and drop the picture

Joy went to her bathroom and had a fast shower changing her uniform to a jogger and a white jersey shirt,she looked at the picture again and shook her head,she wasn't ready to indulge on how useless she feels,she feels so unlucky in every aspect that most times she prefers dying but those thought flick out of her mind as soon as she thinks about Jonah

She opened the door to her room and went down to the kitchen,she met Ruth washing plate and humming a song of worship,she stood there and watch her and wish Ruth was her mother,the calm and well collected woman played a mother figure to her more than her mother could ever do

"Thank you"she whispered hugging Ruth unexpectedly and the poor woman almost stumbled but got composed immediately smiling at her

"What's wrong with you?"she asked with a motherly worried tone

"I'm fine,just hungry"Joy said flashing her white teeth and the lady smiled in understanding

"My baby and food"Ruth said while Joy chuckled leaving the kitchen,Ruth joined her immediately serving her her late lunch while she devoured it hastily forgetting about the fact she decided to diet

Ruth sat with her throughout watching her eat and was happy seeing Joy eat happily,to her Joy is everything and she internally calls her daughter,she failed to be a mother but to her God was wonderful enough giving her Joy and she loved her name so much because that's what she feels whenever she's with Joy

"How was school?"Ruth asked her after she successfully finished her food using the napkin to wipe away her mouth

"Same as old"she say shrugging and her eyes landed on one of the family picture hanging on the wall

"If Happy would have been here will there be any difference?"She asked Ruth who went rigid immediately,she breath deeply before standing up holding Joy's left hand

"Rejoice look at me"Ruth asked her calling her full name while she only bends her head tears falling freely "Rejoice!"Ruth called one more time and she raise up her head,the woman wipe away the tears from her eyes feeling sad

"Maybe there would have been changes if Happiness was here or maybe everything would have remain the same but please one thing I beg of you is that you should stop hanging in the past,it's been five years Joy and nothing you can do about it because it was destined to happen"Ruth said stroking her cheek slowly

"No I could have stop it and you know it Nana"Joy said,Joy preferred calling Ruth Nana which she was okay with

"It was destined Joy and if you don't stop all this I'm going to
Remove every single pictures of hers from this house"Ruth threatened trying to give Joy a hard stare

"You can't do that!"Joy protested

"Try me!"Ruth said standing up to her level packing Joy plates leaving the dining room

Joy sat down quietly having a throbbing headache,she stood up and went to the kitchen,she met Ruth washing those plates and also crying

"Oh no! Nana why are you crying?!"she asked and wrapped her hands around her

"I don't like seeing you sad,I want you to be happy I want you to act towards your name,your parents didn't give you Rejoice for nothing"she said and Joy felt guilty

"I'm so sorry Nana,I promise to be a good girl"Joy said and Ruth turn around to look at her

"Promise?"Ruth asked revealing all her teeth while smiling

"Cross my heart"Joy replied and Ruth hug her giving her a hard squeeze while Joy laughed

"I should probably go and get my assignment done"Ruth nodded shooing her away while Joy laughed shaking her head

She went back into her room and closed the door, leaning on the door frame as she breath hard before a lone tear fell from her face

Joy isn't happy and she knows it,it's like she can't help it and being sad is her second nature

She climbed her bed pulling out her phone and switched on her data,she went through her Facebook going to Jonah's account and viewing all his pictures,she laughed and felt genuinely happy

"If only you know you're my happiness"She muttered and decided to check her WhatsApp

She had different messages from different people but one caught her eyes

+2349044.....

Fatty?
Farty?
You ain't replying my message or you're getting orgasm from eating way too much presently?
Stop eating and look at your self you look like an elephant 😂😂
Don't mind me but elephant are naturally ugly😉

Joy chest constricted and she started heaving heavily as tears fell from her eyes,this is not the first time she's getting messages like this and this will not be the last,Joy knew that but she never get to know her bully that person making her self conscious of her body

She dropped her phone immediately and rushed to the bathroom digging her hands into her mouth trying to vomit all she had ate,she vomited and vomited till she got weak and fell down on the bathroom floor,she started crying thinking about the life she had,a life of no acceptance except from Nana and her friends

Anna sat at her reading table looking at her literature note like it had a life of its self,she groan rubbing her temples thinking about how grumpy her life is

"What do Dami expect me to do?"she said shrugging and stood up from her seat,she went to her standing mirror and look at her reflection

"Ain't I beautiful?"she said smiling and shakes her head laughing as she headed out of her room,she went straight to the fridge in the kitchen taking an ice-cream before heading back to her room

"Woah woah woah! Slow down"Jonah said and Anna glared at him

"You should really stop all the hating Anna"Jonah said in a boring tone and Anna shot him a 'really' look

"I can actually help you Anna,I know you're having a difficult time"Jonah said placing his hand on the side pocket of his joggers

"No girls online?"Anna asked looking at her brother warily but he gave her a short laugh

"Of course there are girls online"he said stressing the girls online while Anna rolled her eyes "I just want to help my twinnie,it's not bad"Jonah said shrugging and also smirking revealing his set of dimples

"What's your deal?"Anna asked because she's sure Jonah is not here to help her for free

"You got me"Jonah said laughing while Anna only snickered having an image of patting herself because she got to know her brother more than he can ever know

"I want us to go out and jogged across the street to the next"Jonah answers

"Why do you wanna jog with me,you usually do that alone,Mr physically fit"Anna said and her eyes landed on her ice-cream that's melting and she groan

"We need the bond Anna,we have been fighting a lot recently and I don't like it,you know how much I hate us having problems"Jonah said while Anna look into his eyes seeing how hurt he is,truth been told Anna knows how much Jonah hates having problems with her

"Okay then but you will help me with my books and no cocky comments"Anna said glaring at him

"Definitely"Jonah said smiling widely while James run towards them shouting

"You can't go out without me!"he yelled and Anna placed her hand on her ears

"James for the love of God stop shouting!"Anna glared at him but James huff

"Big bro hope I'm going with you guys?"he asked Jonah ignoring Anna and her side comments

"Yes you can follow us but no tyrant behaviours"Jonah said and James did cross my heart with his hand "Good go and get dress and you too Anna"

Less than fifteen minutes they were ready and left the house after informing Tara of there whereabouts

They Jogged for awhile and Jonah brought out his iPhone taking pictures of his siblings and his,they laughed and had fun jogging through the street,they finally reached Joy street and Anna decided to call Joy to join them since she knows she will love to be in the presence of Jonah

"I was thinking I should call Joy to join us since she's few house away"Anna suggested

"Joy?"Jonah asked and Anna nodded

"Rejoice my friend"

"Oh she can join"Jonah said smiling and Anna pull out her phone calling Joy

Joy was laying on her bed feeling weak after forcing herself to vomit,her phone rings and she carelessly took the phone placing it on her ear

"Hello?"she said with her dull voice

"Can you come out of your house let's go and jog?,I'm few house away"Anna voice rings out of the phone and Joy have to take the phone away to check the caller's ID before placing it back on her ear

"It's already 6 Anna"Joy whined and Anna got an idea to get Joy out of the house,she smirked before replying

"Jonah invited you himself,he is standing here"Anna said and Joy jumped out of her bed

"I will be ready in a few"Joy said ending the call while Anna laughed at the other side of the line,she knew what to do to get Joy from the house

Joy rummage through her wardrobe and pull out a new pair of a black jogger and a white and black jersey top,she brought out her white sneakers wearing it before running out of the house

"Where are you going to?"Ruth rush after her

"Out on a jog!"Joy yelled back

"With who?"

"Jonathan!"Joy said and slide out of the house while Ruth laughed,she was aware of Joy crushing on Jonathan and prayed they got paired up soon and stop Joy from being sad