Exactly three months later...

Sophia's morning routine was a solitary affair, filled with thoughts that weighed heavily on her heart. As she sat before the dresser, pulling her dark curly hair into a neat bun, she couldn't help but reflect on the features she inherited from her birth mother, Cecilia. Cecilia's beautiful curls and fair skin contrasted with Sophia's caramel complexion—a blend of Bernard's darker hue and Cecilia's lighter tones.

As Sophia finished styling her hair, she noticed the change in her complexion—once luscious and radiant, now ashen and dry. The loss of her father had taken a toll on her, causing her to neglect her well-being, studies, and even her diet.

In the kitchen, Sophia adhered to the routine of preparing breakfast for everyone before heading to her early lecture. It was an unspoken expectation, part of the household responsibilities she took on.

Deciding on sandwiches, Sophia quickly ate a slice of bread with water for herself, then set about making breakfast for the rest of the household.

Once breakfast was ready, Sophia gathered her school bag and books, ready to leave for the bus station. Despite the challenges she faced at home and in her studies, she remained determined to push forward, navigating her days with quiet strength and resolve.

*^~~~~~^*

Sophia returned home after a hectic lecture and met her stepmom and Aunt in the living room cackling over some silly reality show.

"Finally you're back!" Maureen fired at her and perched up to sneer at a bleary-looking Sophia.

"What took you so long? Eh?" She queried but Sophia as usual stood tongue-tied, staring interestingly at her worn-out sandals which by the way were her only remnant.

She feared for her life these days. After her father's death, her stepmom became a wolf and she became the prey.

And she never found the guts to stand up to her. It wasn't so much out of fear, but more from how she was raised. To be respectful, and not talk back at her elders—even when they were in the wrong. Silly right?
She found it was a helpful method at keeping Maureen's impulsive acts of rendering quick, tingly slaps on her back at bay. If the woman wasn't rustled enough to anger, she tended to keep her filthy hands to herself.

Sophia dared to stare right into her eyes, the betrayal stung so hard. That someone she had once thought to be not necessarily nice, a bit strict but reasonable, turned out to be filled with worms, very ugly worms.
Perhaps she never thought people like Maureen existed, people who changed day and night, people who weren't what they seemed at first. Chameleons. It scared her to the bones especially how dark and scary Maureen's eyes turned whenever she was angry over something.

"W—we had extramural practicals, it wasn't in our timetable so I didn't know we'd stay this long." Sophia struggled to explain, her fleeting gaze found another interesting object to focus on.

"Mmh?" Maureen hummed,  "So you expect me to believe that?" Maureen asked with an eye roll.

"Maureen dear, I think you're spoiling this girl a lot, I mean she comes home anytime she feels like it and makes up a sweet story then you ignore her. One day She'll become a thorn in your flesh, Oh I've told you my mind." Monica gushed, her face contorted into an ugly frown as she skipped from channel to channel in search of yet another IQ retarding program she'd digest. The woman never got off the TV.

Maureen thought for a second before responding. "Because her late parents spoiled her, that's why she can't even do anything right," she flailed her arms for emphasis. "Look at my white clothes in the hamper. I instructed her to wash them with her hands, not the machine. The stains are still evident like they became worse after she washed them." she complained but Monica seemed engrossed in the TV to respond.

"Anyways I left them for you on your bed, go upstairs and see to it quickly." She waved Sophia off like if she stood another minute in her presence, she'd contract a disease from her.

Yet in luck, Sophia took the stairs two at a time until she was safe in her room.
She sighed in frustration when she saw the white cloths alongside other thick materials that needed an expert hand, not hers.

She'd thought of running away but she had no one, and nowhere. The days were dangerous.

Her mother's people were very far away, they had no idea how she lived because that was the impression Maureen gave her the last time her mother's only surviving sibling Aunt Cara visited Nigeria.

Had her late parents not secured her academics through insurance, Sophia was certain she'd have quickly joined the band of young girls hawking tirelessly on the streets. There wasn't much that was left to her name in their passing but fulfilling her academic purpose was more than enough opportunity for Sophia. It set the foundation for greater heights and she would see it to the end.

***

One fateful weekend, the clouds were brooding and letting out rumbles of thunder at unknown intervals while threatening the peace of the evening. Sophia had a huge fallout with Maureen.

She was finally pushed to her wits so she snapped.  Sophia could no longer stand subtle remarks at her late parents and venomous words thrown at her daily by Maureen. It was enough to call her a burden, a curse for having both parents dead with nothing to show for it. A girl could take that all in but not when the good memories of her loved ones were being picked at, spewing all manner of lies, disrespecting even the man to whom she'd once claimed to love and cherish.

Sophia couldn't bear the rage that surged through her veins and she chose to speak up, just this once, for her people and her damned dignity!

Before she stood, Sophia already saw the red in her eyes, but what she didn't anticipate was Maureen's next move. It was too late when she did, her head whipped to the side with a force that pulled her body backward. She staggered but grabbed the edges of the island for support.

Her cheeks stung like an ant bite, worse. A cunning smile crept up the face of Monica who sat inches away carefully picking at the bowl of fruit salad. She didn't want to show it but Sophia knew she was a sadist. She derived ethereal joy in seeing people suffer, it was like an adrenaline boost, a surge of sugar high but in a disgustingly pretentious manner.

"Repeat what you just said!!" Maureen's voice rang in her ear, reminding her of whom exactly she was up against. A finger jabbed Sophia repeatedly in the chest. Urging her to dare speak those words again.

"I-I was only trying to say that my parents were the kindest of people one could ever meet and they never had any intentions of harming anyone," she whispered with a little crack in her voice.

"Oh really? Are they?" Monica teased with a devilish smirk on her face.

"And they left you all alone here to be a burden to others, huh?" Her lips parted like she was saying the letter 'o' "You foolish girl, there's nothing left in your father's name other than this huge empty house. The creditors, they've all come for their money and this is what's left! Your father left nothing for me, just you. Huh? Answer me, Sophia!!!" Maureen barked. Jarring her canines at the shattered girl before her.

Sophia could no longer control the tears that fell down her cheeks. She hated crying in front of them, especially Monica who drank from the river of pain, it satiated her emptiness.

"Am I a burden to you?"

With her back poised and head jutting behind, Maureen gave her the most incredulous look ever. "Ha!! Heavens, ever since I married your Godforsaken father I acquired you as an everlasting burden. I never knew my life would become this cursed, Ever!!" She yelled.

"Then why did you agree to marry my dad? Mmh? Was it for the money?" A sudden boldness swelled through her. "I bet you were all in for the money! And now it's gone, you are uncomfortable and unhappy!!!" Sophia yelled back, her throat scratchy and hoarse from exhaustion.

Sophia felt a surge of fear as she saw the ominous look in Maureen's eyes, a look that always sent shivers down her spine. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, she was forcefully pushed against the sharp edge of the kitchen island. The impact caused her to stumble and fall, landing painfully on the ground amidst the shattered pieces of a flower vase.

As she lay there, she realized she had been cut on her upper elbow, the pain setting in as she saw the pieces of glass embedded in her skin. The scene escalated as Monica, no longer content to be a mere bystander, rushed towards Sophia, adding to the chaos and distress. "Look idiot, do you think you can go free because of a simple cut on your arm? You must be deluded then. Listen, your time's up, all your pity party charade, your pretentious acts are over and you're gonna leave this house this minute." Silence fell between them, Sophia in shock waited for the joke to be on Monica, Maureen stared after her sister like she'd grown horns, and most importantly, Monica stared brazenly at Sophia, waiting for her command to sink in. And when she saw it didn't, she repeated in a gut-wrenching voice. "Get.out.of.this.house now!!!" She snaked a hand around Sophia's elbow and hauled her up on her feet.

"What—what's happening?" Sophia wondered aloud, a pleading glance at Maureen told her she too was unprepared for Monica's outburst.

"Do you need me to repeat myself? If you want me to spell it out to your empty brains, I'm throwing you out of my house! Did you think we'd let you stay here after insulting my sister the way you did?"

"I never did that!"

"Oh yeah?" Monica dared her with a fierce look. "You suddenly felt like being an adult by speaking up huh? Next would be to call the police on us or rather sue us for speaking about your parents?" A sadistic glare marked the sides of her lips. "I don't ever want to see you here. Get out of my sight!" She pushed Sophia out. Shoving her towards the door and into the drizzling space.

Panic hit her, vibrating through her body like a war zone. How was she going to survive on the streets? She should have kept her mouth shut then. Now look she's in a bigger mess.

"Wait—please listen, I don't know anywhere else to go and it's drizzling out here already. I'm sorry!" she pleaded in a low shaky voice. It was past midnight the last she checked, there was no way they would leave her out in the cold, they wouldn't.

"GET. OUT. OF. My House Now!!!!" Maureen from behind charged at Sophia, scratching and shoving at her not minding that the drizzly weather had turned heavy and soon would become a complete downpour. Right then, Sophia understood how serious and determined they were. A pang of fear rushed through her as they teamed up against her.

She resisted their shoves, their hurtful words thrown at her in anger, yes, they were angry and were acting off of it. It was irrational of them but Sophia was scared. No matter how bad things had gotten between them in the past Maureen had never threatened to throw her out nor even gone about attempting to execute such plans.
This was different, and it scared the hell out of her.

Sophia shook her head vehemently, willing the words to leave her mouth.
"Please don't throw me out in the dark, I don't know anyone else, please I'll catch a cold, it's dangerous by this time. Please, please, please Aunt Monica, I'm begging you." She cried, rambling off in hysteria while struggling between two determined arms to stay back in the compound but they were adamant.

"You should have thought of that before opening your guttermouth at my sister!" Monica fired back before dealing her a fast shove propelling inches away from the heavy black gates. Monica made certain that the gates were locked up before helping her sister back into the house.

"You did the right thing, Maureen, that girl is only a burden to you, at least with her gone you can plan to settle down again."

Sophia yelled, cried, and banged repeatedly on the iron gates but the rain muffled most of the sound. When exhaustion picked in, she collapsed by the gates and cried under the splattering rain. Her jaw clenched, hands congealed from impending hypothermia but all Sophia could think of was how lonely and scared she was. There was nothing for her outside those gates and she couldn't stay under the rain much longer, it was also too risky.

After what felt like hours of crying, Sophia picked herself up and left in search of any nearby church. At least if they truly practiced what they preached they'd have pity on a poor soul like hers and let her stay the night on their premises. She recalled one, ten minutes away from her home. She'd accepted their graphic fliers several times on her way home. When most people were rude and unaccepting of their invitation, Sophia had been welcoming, offering a chirpy smile and promising to attend but never did.

Drenched from head to toe, Sophia hurried through the empty streets shivering and shaking. She aimed to make it to wherever it was before the streets were empty. 

Her hopes were crushed when she made it to the gates of the church and the gatekeeper apologized for his inability to help.

"I don't have anywhere else, please, just anywhere that has a roof. I'll stay." she rubbed her palms together.

"Sorry, I can't risk my job. The assistant pastor has CCTV everywhere and if he sees I let you in by this time of the night he'll terminate my contract. This is all I've got ma." the sincerity in his eyes was glaring.

"What will I do?"

"Check for the other church a few streets away, they don't have CCTV. Maybe the man will be of help. He lives there with his family," Sophia gave him a pleading look and he shrugged with a sorry face.

"Here," he returned with a raincoat. "At least wear this, it's a bit far from here. But along the main road," he flashed another sorry look her way before shutting the gates in her face.

Sophia tugged at the zipper of the rubber coat, desperate for its protection. She trudged down a clear road, normally it was busy, and congested at times when the highway was compromised but tonight it was void of any machine.

She marched down the road in a pseudo-fearless manner, anyone who saw her would without doubt think she was the predator out for the hunt but in earnest, she was running for her dear life, seeking refuge in the weirdest of places. Everything happening was like fiction, never in her wildest dreams would she ever imagine being homeless.

If only she'd understood the feelings of those beggars she saw on the untidy market roads looking homeless and impoverished, She would have shown more love and care.

There, her eyes glittered yet with another surge of hope as her next destination appeared from across the road. Hopefully, this man of God and his wife won't disappoint like the previous one. She sent a silent prayer as she marched across the road reaching to the other side, only that she didn't get there.

Sophia first heard the screeching of tires against tar before a treacherous bang that traveled through her ears, stretching her ossicles into deafness before she saw the sleek red car speeding towards her.

Everything felt light, feathery, cloudy but most especially numb but she was more fixated on finding the source of the loud bang she just heard. Twirling her neck to her side Sophia saw she was immersed in a pool of blood.

Her blood, the smell of gasoline and tire. Her thoughts became hazy and darkness took precedence.