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        They say Money makes the     world go round,
       Is that true?
       They say no man is an island
       Prove it?
      They say happiness can be found in one's family,
     Are you sure?

    I had unanswered questions. Life threw me back and forth. Look beyond, I did. To the sky, I sought. However, I must survive. What will mama say? What will papa say?

    I lost my train of thought when Rita groaned. She tried to pull her leather skirt up her thighs but it didn't budge. Another groan rolled out of her mouth before she forcefully pulled the skirt off. She stomped to her full length mirror and eyed her reflection in it.

"Have I added weight?" she asked and made a tsk sound.

"Yes," I replied, still wearing that faint smile that keeps me going.

"Omo! My money is talking!" she burst into one of her iconic dance move. A dance where her butt did most of the movement. She threw one of her leg in the air and it hit the mirror. Another crack was added to the previous design. She always hurt her mirror like that. But I know it never did anything to her.

She turned to me. "Remind me to buy another mirror," she said.

I nodded in reply. I knew she won't buy it. She never spent her money in the cube she called her room and house. I knew I shouldn't speak of our shelter like this. Most especially since she was generous to house me in it. Though the room was not spacious, it would have been more conducive if only Rita was the neat type. She had dirty clothes that are pleading for the touch and the caress of a soaping water.

"I don't think I'll come home tonight," she announced.

"I understand. A true businesswoman you are," I exclaimed.

Rita chuckled and shrugged. She stroked her skin and she stared at her naked figure. "Time to go to work!" she declared and rushed to the black polythene bag on the floor. She clad herself in a black gown. No underwear, I noted. As always!

That's when I remember my current problem – my lack of money! Luckily, I had a shop to do my tailoring business. However, the rent was due and my landlord was ever so willing to have me in his bed. I reject it for myself and my enemy. I rather live in the streets.

But....But....But where could I get a wad of cash at that time? This, the burden of my thought.

I had a clue on what Rita's business might be but I chose to ask, "So what's your business like?"

"My business is promising. That's what I'll say," she responded and with a tap on its can, filled the air with her perfume.

"Like what do you do?"

"Satisfy my customer. It's like every other business. It's just that it's more promising," she said with a smug look on her face. Next, she slid her feet into her heels and rose to her new length. "How do I look?"

In one word, 'indecent'.

"Good" I beamed.

This is when money speaks. Who am I to annoy my shelterer?

"Thanks" she giggled. Though she was on a lowcut, she had a way of surprising me with her long silky wig.

"I need money!" I confessed. "Baba Lolade is asking for his money".

"Is it that yeye man? That fat goat that likes looking at me?"

"Yes" I sighed.

"He wants his money? But the house rent is not due na?"

"Not for the house. I mean the shop he had rented to me"

"Oh!" She hissed. "Eh...Shebi you no wan do my business na? Continue with your tailor one. No money dey am".

"I want to know more about your business"

"I know that you know what business I do. Or are you a fool ni?"

"I'm not. It's prostitution!"

Every emotion on her face shut down and her expression forced me to retract my words.

"I....I...I...I mean, a promising business. Um...to statisfy customers"

"You are a fool!" she snapped. "No vex me abeg"

"I am so sorry. It was an unfortunate slip of the tongue"

I, at last, stood up from the small stool I've been sitting on and moved to her. I stepped on the remains of her previous cigarette and cringed. The nasty smell of her awful cigarette still hovered in the air. How sweet!

"I'm sorry" I repeated with a voice of fake concern.

"Apology accepted. Do you want to come with me?"

"Hmm..."

"Ah ahan! Just to see how things goes na," she smiled and nipped on her bottom lip. "You'll love it".

"Hmm..."

"You might make a little cash without having to do anything," she winked and whirled her waist.

"Okay! Let's go"

"With who?" she snapped all of a sudden.

"With you," my voice echoed in the room and I pointed to the door. "I want to go with you".

"In what dress? Are we going to church ni?" she snarled.

I cocked a brow and examined my outfit, a long sleeve and blue jeans. Quite decent! I just pray for a man to just see me and dash me like ten thousand naira for free. I repeat, Free!

"You must change that cloth?" she ordered and went to her close-to-death ancient wardrobe. This cube we call our home has definitely been a shelter for our ancestors in Nigeria. She knew the condition of my body. What's the opposite of flawless? Yes! That's me. She pulled a red short gown with long sleeves and tossed it to me. "Wear it now!"

"No!"

"It covers you na!"

"My legs," I pointed out.

"They are beautiful so flaunt them," she replied and smiled.

"But...but...but?????"

"If you change your mind now, just pack your bag and leave my house," she hissed. "I have been waiting for you to join my business. Do you think rent is free? Join now or leave?"

"Ah!" I exclaimed.

"Yes"

"Butttttt????"

"Decide now"

I sighed. "Give me the dress"

Wetin man go do? I need money and money I shall get.

An hour later, I found myself in a place crowded with people doing unimaginable things. My new goal was to escape and this would have been successful if Rita hadn't introduced me to her manager. Now, he had assigned me to a pervert who believed his money could buy all.

I blamed myself for being in this situation. In a twinkling of an eye, I was sprinting out of the club. Unfortunately, the hungry pervert wasn't willing to give up and ran after me. I got to the parking lot and hid among cars. He spotted me and ran to my direction. That's when I noticed an individual step out of his car. He looked decent and like a person whom I could ask for help.

I rushed to his side and hid behind him.

"Come here, my darling!" The pervert called as he staggered to us. He hiccupped and beat his chest. "It's me and you tonight".

The suit man glared at me and pushed me to the pervert. "Don't touch me," he said in disgust.

"Please save me" I whined.

"Why? It's your job!"

"No! I'm a woman of intregrity. I am not like that. This man wants to rape me"

"Am I the one that said you should dress like that?"

I looked at my outfit. A short gown that revealed my body or should I say it revealed the good side left of me! My life was clearly upside down.

The pervert gripped my hand and pulled me towards the club. I remembered the smile on my parents' face and seeing it slowly fade away forced me to grip the shirt of the suit man. As the pervert pulled, so did my grip tightened. His shirt ripped and his buttons flew around the place. He was rendered speechless. A security man ran to us and grasped the arm of the drunk man. He bowed and frigtenedly, apologized to the suit man as if he were a god.

When they both left, I was still holding on to his shirt.

"I'm so sorry," I whimpered. "I know how to sew. Give me the dress. I'll sew the buttons back". I bent and picked the buttons I could find.

"I don't need that," he took off his suit and then, his shirt. He stood with only his vest on. "You can sell the shirt after you've sewn it. I know your type. Always after money! Shameless".

"I'm not shameless"

"Shameless! Gold-digger! I'm so unfortunate to have your filthy hand on me,"

"I'm not shameless!" I yelled.

He eyed me, swung his suit on his shoulder and took steps away from me.

"Wait! Take your shirt. Since you don't want me to repair it and you are calling me shameless, take your shirt. I don't care," I bellowed.

He paused, pulled some naira notes from his pocket and extended them to me. "Take and be silent"

I saw a total of five thousand naira and gulped.

"Take it! I know your type! I know you want it"

I bit my bottom lip. My heart bled as I took the money from him.

I needed to eat. I needed to survive. I never wanted this to happen. How did my life turn like this? Why was I betrayed by the ones I love and how can I still make my parents proud in this tough world?

A/N : What's your opinion on this prologue? Your Author needs some encouragement. Thanks for reading. 🥺