Thank God, we've arrived.

Slowly, the car cornered around the open gate and came to a stop in the mansion's driveway.

I don't know why Mrs Johnson, the woman who offered me accommodation had insisted on picking me up from Mama B's shop, it doubled my debt to her and it tripled when I couldn't even hold a conversation with her successfully. She commented at everything just to try to keep a conversation with me, but I couldn't bring myself to say something. I wasn't comfortable talking to adults. Heck, I wasn't comfortable talking to anyone. I wouldn't know the right words to use.

She had been looking at me as if I was crazy, I think that was because a smile was my reply to her every question and statement.
Even if I was going to start making relaxed conversation, I don't think it would be with an adult stranger.

I stole another quick glance at her again. Almost everything on her spelt  fake, especially her long lashes. Her light skin tone was just too awry that I was certain that creams would take all the credit for it. Her wrinkled face was over-caked with foundation, then a bright red lipstick highlighted her small lips.

I couldn't help but compare her to Maami. I imagined Maami dressed like this and I laughed internally. She  would look stupid and odd.

With the make-up, Mrs Johnson looked childish to me, she didn't look like a mother, just a mummy.

To me, the former meant a woman who is ready for motherhood, someone who had a sound training both from parents or guardians and experience, and wants to pass it down to an offspring, while the latter just meant a woman who has someone that calls her 'Mummy'. Their role was just to be the vessel that brought a child, they saw nothing wrong with most things as long as it suited them and their thinking faculty can be likened to that of their offspring.

I jumped to that conclusion about Mrs Johnson because the only thing that made me know she old was the wrinkles on her skin and the lines that etched on her face due to worries just like Maami's, but hers didn't vanish when she laughed.

Anyways, she was beautiful.

She was also flashy, but still beautiful.

She dropped from the car and I followed suit. She struggled with one of my bags that had a ripped out handle, and in that moment, I became conscious and ashamed of the bags.

Ghana must go bags.

She finally got a grip around it and hauled it out, I carried the remaining two and followed her in.

When I got inside, she was already sitting on a sofa, her fashion slippers flung a mile away from her feet.

I looked around the house and my jaw dropped open internally.

The house decorations, ranging from the large curtains down to the king sized chairs, flower vases, funitures, fashion rugs were all attention seekers.

What got the most of my attention was the house's walls, or should I say its painting. They were a spotless white. I don't think it was painted in white, it was as if the bricks were built as white because there there was no blunder, as tiny as it could be. Just smooth white walls.

My heart fluttered at the thought of me living here.

"Welcome to my abode." She said, pride glinting in her eyes.

Of course, it's something to be proud of.

She looked around the house and I pretended to do the same until my eyes got stuck to a large painting on the wall.

Sharon! Was that Sharon?

Without thinking, I dropped my luggages and darted to the painting frame.

Since it was a painting, the features weren't sharp and that made it hard to decide. I ogled at the painting, trying to figure out if what I was seeing was a work of my imagination seeing that I have been obsessed with Sharon's person of late.

"Is everything alright?" Mrs Johnson half yelled. I turned to look at her and I realized that my action scared her.

"Yes Ma, I am so sorry to startle you that way. It's just this painting, the girl in it looks like my friend in school, Sharon." I explained.

She let out a deep sigh as she held her hands over her chest. "I was scared when you flew to the wall. It was scary coming from a girl wouldn't even talk back."

I smiled.

"Yes, that's Sharon, my only child. She is also a student at your school. Are you course mates?" She asked with a smile.

"Yes."

"That's good. You two will get along well then."

I nodded.

"So, your room is the first one after that door," she pointed to a door, "next to Sharon's own and opposite to mine. I don't have to give you a tour, the items in each place will define it."

I nodded again.

"As you may have known, I am a widow, and I'm not based here. I only came home with Sharon because the saucy girl insisted on schooling here. I will be back and forth, going and coming from time to time to check up on you guys. I won't be scared of leaving because there will be two of you at home. Thank God you are of the same gender, the only opposite gender would be the gate man."

I now feared that my head might roll of from too much nodding. I didn't have a better reply, so I kept on nodding.

"He will be here to protect you. He is someone I trust so much, he has worked here for years before we moved out. I just got him back because he is very good at what he does." She kept on talking.

"Okay, ma." I responded. I wanted her to keep shut or save the rest for another time.

"I think that's all for now, I forgot the remaining topics I had wanted to talk about."

"Okay, ma".

"Take your bags in," she pointed to my luggage that was beside her, "and feel at home." She picked up her phone.

I nodded again.

My nodding was getting out of hands. I should look for a better way of replying.

I dragged the two bags I could carry into the prescribed room. When I entered the room, my body stopped working for about a minute, along with my brain too. I couldn't comprehend what was going on with and around me.

The room was simple. It was spacious and it had the same flawless white coat. A wardrobe, a normal size bed, a nightstand, a reading table and a mirror shelf were its furniture.

I wasn't in awe because of the room decors or setting, I was dumbstruck as the realization of me owning a room slowly settled in me.

My room!

When I finally got my body and senses to function again, I dropped the bags with me and sat on the bed. I sprawled on the bed, and I let different scenarios of me being a royalty or any rich kid play in my head as I acted out some parts of it.

I was just so happy. I wished all these things were mine or my parents, so I would know my happiness would be forever, and not in the hands of Mrs Johnson.

I didn't want the moment to be short-lived, so I let go of the sadness that I sensed lurking around the corner and dwelled in my source of happiness again.

I was in between checking out the reading table and its chair when I suddenly remembered that Mrs Johnson would be expecting me to come carry my remaining bag.

I jumped out of the chair and rushed towards the palour as I tried to think of a good reason as to why I didn't come out on time in case I was asked.

My legs slowed down on its own when I heard voices coming from the palour. I didn't want to eavesdrop so I wondered why my legs stopped.

Maybe she was on a call. A great opportunity to just pick the bag and leave without being questioned.

I picked up my pace again, only to slow it down when I heard another voice definitely. I was already at the door linking the palour to the rooms, so I just peep.

It's Sharon!

She was having a heated discussion with Mrs Johnson, her mother, or it looked like it it because they both had a serious look on their faces.

I don't know why I was this excited, but I was.

Without thinking twice, I slid into the palour before I realized it was a stupid thing to do as they were both staring at me.

Awkward.

Sharon shifted her gaze away from me and gave her mom a questioning look, then her mother gave one too. She was probably expecting us to hug it out or something.

"Look at her!" Mrs Johnson exclaimed, apparently waiting for Sharon to show any form of excitement at seeing her friend. I was also waiting for it, even though I knew we weren't that much of friends, I was still a friend.

She turned her head in my direction and stared at me, awkwardly.

Maybe, I should say something first.

Words refused to form in my head, so I just head for my bag instead since I was still standing awkwardly.

All these while, Mrs Johnson was sending the most puzzled look ever to us.

"Aren't you going to say anything to this?" Mrs Johnson directed to Sharon.

Maybe, she doesn't remember me again. She's just too jovial to discard me this way.

"Since you are persistent on having your way, good luck with it then." Sharon shrugged, but I could see anger in her eyes.

"Can't you just forget that and be thankful that you'll be having a friend as your partner. It's a great opportunity." Mrs Johnson shot back, anger lightly noticeable in her words.

"I still stand on my words. You are doing all these to help yourself, so there's nothing to be thankful for." Sharon answered. She was really angry. "You brought me someone to babysit while you do God-knows-what around, and you want me to be thankful?"

Babysit? Me? What was this about?

"Babysit? Sharon, she is your friend."Mrs Johnson rolled her eyes, then turned to me, "Isn't it?"

I don't think so. Not anymore.

My throat went dry, so I just stood still.

"And what does that have to do with you? Why can't you just stay with me yourself?"

"Because I'll be busy." Mrs Johnson whined.

"Busy bitching around." Sharon smirked.

Mean. Sharon was mean afterall.

With a flash-like movement, Mrs Johnson palm ran across Sharon's face. I wasn't expecting that, and neither was Sharon obviously, seeing as she lost balance and fell on the chair.

So it was true, the rich also cry.

Mrs Johnson stormed away muttering some words.

Sharon wipe the shocked look on her face when she faced me and replaced it with anger.

"Some guts you have telling my mother that I was your friend," she walked towards me dangerously, "the lazy ones also want for good things." She scoffed.

If my throat was dry before, then my whole system would be dry right now. She was now so close to me, her breath fanning my face. I was more embarrassed than scared though.

Very mean Sharon.

After she had cooled my body with the generous amount of air coming from her nose, she stepped back from me a little bit.

"Listen very carefully, your life depends on this."

I nodded.

"Firstly, you are not my friend. Secondly, I don't and won't have anything to do with a lowlife. The last and the most important, stay away from me in all aspects. That's the best advice you are going to get in your lifetime." She spat with all seriousness.

I felt anger seeping into me slowly. I was scared but anger took over.

Why would she want to treat me this way? I am a human being irrespective of my state of wealth.

"Do you understand?" She raised her brows.

Anger sealed my lips and I didn't answer, I wanted her to get angry.

But, I remembered she could make me a laughing stock in school, my worst fears. And I also want her out of my face, so I nodded.

Sharon picked her purse that was lying on the chair and also stormed out.

I gathered myself, carried my bag and walked into my new room, my new refuge.

I lay on the bed gently, depressed at how happy I was minutes ago on this same bed and how I would soon turn it into my cry buddy.

I realized I was more angry at Sharon for not wanting to associate with me than calling me a lowlife. I had come to accept that I was a lowlife, so it didn't even move me, but I was so bitter to accept the fact that I was not worth associating to.

You are loved and wanted.

Mama B's quote and my mantra of late brought itself to my thinking. I wished she had witnessed what happened to me so she would change her words and belief. I wished I could slap her for ever saying those words to me, for ever giving me hope.

Tears were already streaming down my eyes.

After minutes of silent tears, I came to a conclusion to console myself; I should stay low as usual and not try to associate myself with conspicuous people. It comes with peace and less drama, less heartbreak and less expectations.

Out of nothing to do and wanting to talk, I called my mother to tell her I had settled in my new home. Her simple words, laughter and prayers lifted the heaviness in me a little bit. I decided to sleep off the remaining sorrow.

As I lay on the bed, I played different scenarios me being on higher grounds than Sharon. She was always sorry for what she said today in each scenarios and wanted me on her side.

Very sweet!!!

Those thoughts were so consoling. With them, I slowly drifted off to Dreamland.

************

Hello everyone..... It's your humble author out here.

Firstly, and importantly, I want to thank you all for giving this book a trial. I feel like personally coming to give you all a hug. Seeing the number of reads move from zero has really given me the strength to move on, please just know that you giving this book a trial makes you my favorite person. Thanks so much. 😍😍😍

Secondly, this is my first book here, and I don't know how I'm faring so far. I just want to be a better writer, so please, help me lovingly point out my errors so I can work on them. Constructive criticism. Thank you once again.

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