"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are."—Bernice Johnson

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Only God knows who invented school, I would love to thank him for giving me eight hours away from my wicked aunt.

I don't have to be reminded that I was going to school because it was my mother's last wish to uncle philip.

Although my aunt had tried her best to deny me of my privilege, but it seems my mom spirit have not left me after all.

Coming back from school is like returning to hell.

"Get the snack from miss b.j and hit the road" my Aunt shouted while concentrating on the telemundo movie she was watching since that is the only job that she has been assigned to her apart from making my life a living hell.

I wonder why I have to hawk goods when we clearly don't need the money coz my father's clothing business is enough to feed the whole community.

But as fate would have it, I have to hawk plantain chips on the highway after school Probably to punish me more, well am kind of used to it.

I ran upstairs and fumbled as I dropped my bag and changed my clothes.

"urggg..... no time to even take my bath" I grumbled.

"Let me meet you there you lazy pig" she shouted on top of her voice from downstairs.

I struggled to get my tray and ran as fast as my thin legs can carry to miss b.j's house, I collected the chips and went to meet my co-hawkers on the highway.

As usual, we ran after moving bus or cars to sell our goods, though risky but we seemed to have mastered the craft to avoid accident.

Looked what stopped in front of me, a black Lamborghini, exactly like the one my parent took before the accident. The car parked beside the road and I ran to it side before another hawker could steal it away from me.

"Can I have two chips" the lady sitted in the driver spoke to me. Without placing my travel down, I picked two chips and handed it over to her waiting hands. She seemed so polite, very beautiful, probably in her early twenties, her attached golden hair matched perfectly with her perfect skin.

"LB do you care for one" she asked the guy beside her, probably her brother or cousin, he turned and damn he is so cute, maybe eighteen or nineteen in his school suit, his tie was still hanging round his neck like it was just tied.

"Do I look like someone who is ready to eat some stupid chips from dirty highway chicks?" he said arrogantly contradictory to his handsome face and model-like body.

"The chips are made with quality ingredients, you can taste it" I defended innocently as I stretched one to him.

"Just take this rotten stuff away from me or give it to your parents at home"

That stuck me 'i don't have one' i wanted to add.

I returned my hand and placed try chip back on my tray before collecting the five hundred naira note she stretched at me.

"You shouldn't be so rude to her" she scolded the guy and zoomed off to the other junction where there was no traffic without collecting her balance, I tried to chase the car but it was of no use so I continued hawking to other cars that were still stucked to the traffic.
"Hey... Chips" I heard someone call so i ran to the danfo bus (public bus).
"How many ma, it is only fifty naira per one" I asked the woman beside the open window.
"Give me one" she requested and i stretched one to her while she gave me a very dirty and torn note that I could barely realise that it one had value.
The traffic was becoming clear and I knew that the bus would move soon so I rejected the money.

"Ma I can't collect this" I said and gave her back the money. The bus moved and I ran to follow the money.

"Ma please help me change it" I said admist my pacing but sh shrugged

"You are hawking and you still have the guts to reject money, you are a fool. See I don't have any money for you" sh shouted and threw the money back to face as the car moved further.

I bent down to take the money of the floor well this is just a preamble of the kind of harsh treatment we get from our customers, sometimes you have to run and run to collect your money, sometimes they throw the money away on the floor for you to pick and few times they zoom away without paying.
To them hawkers have no right, no dignity, no pride. People in cars sees us as shit to be stepped on, shit that deserve no love and respect but it has never been their fault.

The sun has gone down signifying that I have to go home to complete my home chores but the thought of the previous rude boy kept flashing into my tired brain.

Damn he looked like my brother Gabriel but different personalities
My brother Gabriel.

My only brother.

My only hope that was squashed away from my grasp.

My only pride that was taken away from me.

________________________

Three years ago

"Ti.....wa" I heard a faint masculine voice as I opened the sitting room door, it can't be uncle philip, he is not yet back from his Abuja trip, It should be...no......

I ran inside to see my brother sprawling on the floor with blood foaming out from his mouth, I flinged my bag away and ran to him to hold his head up.

"Gabriel what happened, hold still for me let me call aunt" I panicked trying to go and look for helpn then he held me.

"Ti...wa....the ..fo..od....poi.son" the words fumbled out of his mouth as blood was foaming out of his mouth

"What" I said with a confused look, the tears were forming. I carried him again my shoulder.

"I...(coughs) I...I... can't make it"

"You will, just hold still and save your breath for the hospital" I cried.

"Aunt.... did....this" the blood was foaming again and staining my uniform.

"What" I knew this because she is the only one at home and she did not even care to take him to the hospital.

"Promise me you will live to fight for me"

"Stop saying that, you are going nowhere Gabriel" the tears were now uncontrollable.

"Promise me" he was breathing very fast, he touched my face with his trembling hand.

"If that is what you want I will but don't leave me, Gabriel you can't leave me..please dont" I said in between tears.

"Avenge us, don't you dare forget, aveng........" I felt his hand slip away from my face. His breathing stopped and I knew what happened.

He was gone and I was left alone 'again'.

I screamed louder till aunt came out upset.

She was not even feeling remorseful, she brought out her phone and called her husband.

My thirteen years old brother was dead, I was only fourteen, i sat up and held his face into mine, I could not take it to my heart, my heart was too heavy. He was gone, dead in my own arms, in my presence and I would never see his face again.

No one to share my sorrow with.

No one to laugh with me during pains.

No one to hold my hands when I am crying.

No one to defend me from my wicked aunt

No one to make me forget my parent.

No one....no one.......I am ALONE

"I will live to fight for you, I will avenge you all" I muttered under my breath and let the tears flow itself.
_________________________________________

Damn, I am still crying.
I picked up my empty tray and started my journey home.

'of course i would never forget my promise to you, that is why am still living bro, to avenge your death even if that is the last thing I'll ever do

And this is the main intro of the whole story an I hope you all now understand.😉😉😉

I already introduced the main casts in this novel or do I have to re-introduce them??

Speak your mind fellas and stop being silent. Coz I would love to hear what you're thinking

I love you all.

Am sorry about any typos.

I still need your encouragement.

CONFUSED??? Then ask.

One love 💖💖💖💖