Four years later...

That was the hundredth time Amy had let out an exasperated sigh but Olivia could barely care less how frustrated watching her wrap that tiny sweater into that purple bag must have made her feel. It was like wrapping that sweater meant everything to her. Amy could see the pain she felt right through her eyes even without her starring right back. Amy could see all the scars and needle pricks on her fingers too.

Six years in jail had done the most to her, it had taken all the smiles she had left. Her hands shook while she tried to place the pink sweater into the tiny bag, sniffing every second that passed by, pretending to tuck her scattered hair behind her ears. Not like they didn't allow them use combs in prison, or braid their hair, Olivia just didn't care less, ever since what happened to her six years ago, she didn't care about anything else, she had let go of everything but if there was one thing Amy knew that Olivia had not let go of yet was hope. That was the only thing she had left, the only thing she was holding on to. Hope that she was going to be free again, free to be reunited with her daughter someday.

"Olivia that's enough." Amarachi was getting really tired of watching. "You really don't have to do this every year."

"Do what?" Olivia kept her eyes focused on the ribbons as she tried to wrap them neatly into a perfect bow. "Send my daughter gifts on her birthdays?"

Amy exhaled

"Not just that. You know the drill but you do it anyway, you know Victoria never lets her see them talk more of keep them. She's going to send it back in shreds just like the last time when you made her that straw bag."

Olivia just acted like she wasn't listening. Amy was right and she knew it. She knew the chances of her daughter getting that gift were close to nothing. It was how it had always been all the years that had passed. Every gift she had sent to the mansion, was returned right back either in shreds or in ashes or just as she had sent them. Of course Victoria was doing all she could to make sure she had no direct contact with her child and she knew just how extreme Victoria could be.

"It's her birthday. It's only right as a mother for me to want to send her gifts. It's the least I could do."

"Yes I know that but-" Olivia raised her eyes a little so she could have a quick glimpse at Amy "She probably doesn't know you exist, that you're still alive. I'm sure Victoria must have told her you died long ago. That's what she's capable of."
Olivia turned back to the table and paused for a while. She continued to wrap the gift.

"You don't have to deliver it this year if you don't want to. Just get me someone that can."
Amy sighed. Now she was guilt tripping her into doing what she wanted.

"Of course I would deliver it. You know I'd do anything to see her too, I'd take every chance I get. Sad thing is Victoria never lets anyone that close to her or the house. She doesn't even let her go to school like other kids her age can you imagine? That poor child is so young to be homeschooled. I'm very sure she must feel so terrible and so alone in that big house with no friends or social life whatsoever. My Poor niece. I feel so sad for her."

She slowly turned to Olivia who had paused all she was doing just so she could listen, not even bothering to take an eye off the bag. She knew, she knew the kind of life her daughter lived at the mansion and it hurt her to know that there was nothing she could do about it.

"But you know who I feel sad for the most, it's that old evil witch Victoria. I still can't believe how much she's ready to sacrifice just to destroy you and make you suffer for a crime you did not commit. So much so that she even has to use her own granddaughter as bait, her own blood." She scoffed "I tell you cousin, she's going to get what's coming for her soon.  She's going to be really sorry for what she has done, for putting you in here and taking your freedom and daughter away from you. Karma is going to catch up with her real fast. Such a terrible person. How could she do this to you? She won't even let you see her or send her gifts."

If it was one thing Amy was good at, it was forgetting herself in a conversation. She could talk for a whole day and not care about anything else and she would have if Olivia had not cleared her throat loudly. She stopped for a while then turned to look at Olivia, noticing the frown on her face harden.

Olivia was trying so hard not to shed a single tear. She didn't want to. She quickly pulled out the marker from the table and stretched it to the bag. Now she had to write a name. She always hesitated when she got to that part.

"I still don't know her name." She whispered.

Amy watched her carefully. She was holding a lot in.
She sniffed loudly and then scribbled on the bag.

"To my dearest daughter, from Mummy"

"Here." She pushed the bag to Amy.

"Please hold on to it and deliver it to the mansion."
Amy slowly reached for the bag.

"You don't have to come here anymore after this." She got up slowly.

"What?" Amy got up too. "Why?"

"It's what's best for everyone."

"Says who?" Amy glared at her "Wait, is this about something I said?"

Olivia scoffed

"Olivia é bu nwannem, you're my sister. I'm not going to leave you here to go through this on your own-"

"You still don't get it do you?!" Olivia snapped at her. Amy just stood there staring at her, surprise written all over her face. "This isn't about what I am to you or anyone anymore, this is about what I'm being accused of and the family I'm up against. I have nothing. They have taken everything." Even if she didn't mean to, Olivia was unintentionally raising her voice.

"And you being here all the time, you trying to help me, makes you just as much as their target, you and my daughter, and I'd rather die before I let anything happen to any of you." Her voice broke. "My daughter, I'm almost sure no harm would come to her because she's still one of them but you, Victoria blames me for killing her son, she wouldn't blink at the opportunity to make us slightly even so yes, you don't have to come here anymore or send gifts on my behalf anymore."

"Chibuzor-" Amy called her native name almost in a whisper.

"You have so much in store for you right now. You're about to get married and get that job you've always wanted." Olivia forced a smile on her cracked, pale lips. "You've given me all the strength I've ever needed these past few years and I can't thank you enough or repay you yet but it's enough."
She stretched her hands so she could hold Amy's.

"It's time to focus on yourself now, on your life especially since I'm probably going to be here for a long time."

"What is happening to you?"

Olivia slowly let her go.

"I won't give up on you." Amy continued "You're the only family I have besides my mother, my only sister. I'm going to look for a lawyer, a good one this time that cannot be bribed or controlled by the Silvers, and I'm going to get them to re-open your case and get you free."

"I'm done!" Olivia yelled just so the policemen outside the door could hear her. She was done. She was tired of having that conversation.

"I won't let you rot in here Olivia,"

"I said I'm done!" She yelled again just as a man in a uniform walked in, holding on tight to his baton.

"Don't give up hope yet. Just stay strong and believe in me. I'd get you out of here."

The policeman grabbed Olivia's hands and pulled her out, not bothering to be gentle about it.

Olivia turned to Amy

"Good luck with that." She told her and looked away just as the policeman dragged her out of the room.

"I swear it!" Amy yelled.

"Move." The policeman ordered her as he walked her down the empty hallway towards the large silver door, his finger nails , piercing through her skin while she limped her way towards the door. She sighed when she noticed the female police walk towards her, officer Kemi. The lady that was responsible for most of her pain and most of her comfort in prison. She walked towards them, with a frown on her face, opening the large door as fast as she could.

"I'd take it from here officer." She told the man, slowly pulling Olivia's arm from his hold. Olivia looked away as fast as she could. Ever since she let Victoria take her baby away from her, Olivia wasn't sure she wanted to even have any form of eye contact with her anymore.

The officer nodded and then walked away after closing the gate behind them.

"I slid a paper and a phone under your pillow." She whispered to her with gritted teeth as she led her towards her room. "It's the number of someone, he's going to get you a new lawyer."
Olivia listened to her carefully while pretending not to. "He's friends with the best in the country and he's agreed to help get you out of here."

Olivia scoffed as she watched her open the gate to her room so Olivia could walk in. She closed the door back. Olivia didn't blink for a second. She wanted to listen to it, to all of it.

"I-I don't understand."

"What part?"

"All of it. Why are you so concerned about my life?"

"I'm not."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Look, I've been where you are now before." The lady leaned closer to the gate "I've had people look down on me and hurt me just because I didn't have the kind of power they had, just because I wasn't strong enough. I'm not saying I believe you're innocent, but I believe everyone should be given a chance to fair trial, a chance to prove their innocence."

The lady took a deep breath

"I promised to keep you and your daughter safe on that bed and I broke that promise when I let them take her. Now I'm trying to make up for it. Call that number and you might actually have a chance to be with your daughter again. It's up to you."

Olivia didn't understand. She was having a hard time comprehending everything that she didn't even realize the lady had already walked away.

Did she just hear her correctly?
Did she just say there was a possibility she could be free again? That was a lot of hope and faith finding it's way into her head now. For a minute, the lady's words were all she could think about. It's what she hoped for in her head.  She slowly turned, trying to avoid any sort of eye contact with her roommates who were almost convinced that something was up with the way they looked at her.
Olivia walked slowly to her bed.

God, she just wanted to take that pillow out and reach for whatever the lady said was under it but she knew better. She knew she couldn't risk anyone finding out. She knew she had to be extremely careful and wait until dinner at least.

She swallowed hard and tucked her long hair beneath her ears

"What's she doing?" She could hear one of her room mates whisper to the rest while she slowly laid her head on her pillow and then pulled her legs up to the bed.

"She's so weird."

Olivia let out a tiny smile on her face just as she shut her eyes.
That was it.

That was all she had hoped and prayed for for the past six years. That was all she wanted, all she really needed, hope.