Lizzy was my source of strength all through that period. I became like a walking dead, a living corpse. She kept telling me everything was gonna be okay.

        Herself and Mike were always with me to give me comfort but I couldn't comfort myself. I didn't know how anything from now on was gonna be okay with dad away and all his hard work come to nought. All the wealth and affluence we were known for, where were they now? And to think that dad was even in debt before his death, it was absolutely unbelievable...

        After the funeral, his will had to be read(like there was much left anyway).

He had written on his will that at the event of his death, his company(which was the only remaining source of income) was to be bequeathed to me, but only when I've come of age and have gotten my degree. If not, his only brother, Uncle Jimmy, was to see to the affairs of the company until I was ready. It didn't sound too bad.

        Well, I had to return to school. Four more years and I would be out to take over the company, I hoped. But things began to get messed up when I had to pay my fees. I called mum but she told me she had not enough money. I then called Uncle Jimmy as he had automatically become the last resort in the absence of dad. The kind of reply I got from him I would never forget. He told me that I was not his son, that I should go and cry to my dead father's grave, maybe he would wake up and give me the money. It broke my heart to shreds. I wish dad knew the demon he had for a brother.

        I told mum about it and all she said was that's exactly how the man has been acting eversince he took over management of the company. The best he had done since Dad's death was send the sum of twenty thousand Naira and that was barely even enough to take care of a month's feeding, not to mention paying Katie's school fees amongst other things.

       The worst thing was I couldnt win a case against uncle Jimmy if ever I filed one, as his running of the company was legally stated in father's will.

I had to sell my car at a cheap second hand value to pay my fees that year. Liz never left my side during that period, she was always there comforting me and telling me everything was going to turn out fine in the end. "there is light at the end of every tunnel," she used to say.

It was hard to believe her but she was my fortress. In her I found solace and a reason to strive on.

        The next session things went from bad to worse. Feeding became even a problem and it was a whole new life entirely. Everybody deserted us and it was like they were happy about our condition. My dad was never unkind to anyone, I wondered how they could treat us this way.

     I picked up my phone. I needed to know how Mum and Katie were doing.

     "Hi, Mum."

     "Raymond, my son, how is school?"

     "It's not been easy Mum, you know the story. How are you and Katie?"

     Mum sighed. "She's even here right now. She was driven from school today."

     "School fees issues?"

     "Exactly."

     "My God. However did we get from there to here? How did it happen, Mum, I still don't get it."

     "I really do not know, my son. Everybody has deserted us including your wicked Uncle Jimmy. Even God himself has deserted us." She was crying now.

     "You mustn't talk like that now, Mum, I'm sure the heavens will come to our aid soon. Please don't cry anymore."

     "I pray he does," she said, calming down.

     "You should sell something in the house to raise Katie 's school fees, okay?"

     "My son, I've sold virtually everything there is to sell. Should I as well sell the house so we could go to live under the bridge like refugees? I have even started petty trading but its not doing so well and it's not yielding enough to go on at all."

     I couldn't bear to see mum like this. I almost started sobbing myself so I ended the call.

      It seemed life had turned against us overnight. One minute everything was perfect and the next it was horrific and devastating. How could this much calamity befall a man within a single day? It made me think about the man in the Bible, Job. Was God only putting us on trial? It was driving me half-mad to think of it.

      I couldn't bear to watch my mum and sister suffer. I loved them too much. They were my everything. As far as I was concerned, I was the man of the house now and I had to do something. Katie must go to school.

       My grades dropped considerably that semester. I lost focus altogether. There were alot of courses and practicals I couldn't register and exams I couldn't sit because I couldn't pay me fees. The burden became too much to bear and at last, to the disappointment of my coursemates and close friends, I dropped out.

       I got a job as a computer operator at a cyber cafe. All the cash I got from the work was used to cater for Mum and Katie. Plus I also had boyfriend duties to Lizzy. Things were also quickly becoming real difficult for her in school financially as I had been the one helping her being that her own Mum wasn't very bouyant in that respect.

       Then it happened again. I lost my job! Everybody loved me in the cafe, I was even the manager's favourite so it greatly bewildered me why I should be fired for no reason at all. For Christ sake, was I jinxed?

I later found out that it was Uncle Jimmy who had paid the manager to chase me away. Talk of the devil! Was this some kind of joke, some kind of game, to him?

All I could think of was to get a gun and shoot him first in both his legs, crippling him; then in his hands, and then his potbelly into which he devours the money that was rightfully ours; and finally lodge a bullet in his despicable skull while he cries for fucking mercy!

       "Whatever am I going to do now?" I lamented. "Where do I go from here? Where do I start from? What do I do?" I wished I had learnt some skill outside school.

        Alot of evil ideas of desperation began creeping into my head. Should I kidnap that my monster of an uncle? Should I try robbing a bank? My head was filled I couldn't even think straight anymore.

     Mike had gone to school now so he wasn't around. I had no one to run to. Lizzy was understanding at first, in fact, very understanding. But I later began to notice some changes. The rate at which she calls to hear from me declined considerably and she sometimes failed to answer my calls.

        One cold night I was missing her so much, I dialed her number. She didn't answer. I called again and again but she didn't pick up. I couldn't sleep that night. Next morning I got a call me back text from her. I called.

     "Why didn't you pick my call last night?" I roared into the phone.

     "I'm sorry I was asleep," came her sweet voice.

     "But you don't sleep so early. It was barely past eight thirty when I called."

     "Yes, but, well, I... I was too tired," she stuttered.

     "Tell me the truth, Liz, what's going on?"

     "I'm the one who's got a question," she retorted. "Where are we going with this, Raymond?"

     "Why are you asking me such a question so suddenly? You weren't like this before, Liz."

     "As a matter of fact, we weren't like this before. I'm graduating this year and you think I'm just gonna wait around till things get better with you?"

     "But you still love me, don't you?"

      "Love isn't going to pay the bills, or is it?"

     I felt so heart broken and down trodden. The tears were slowly forming in my eyes now. It was all I could do to hold the phone in my shaking hand.

     "Liz just hold on for a while I'm gonna get things sorted out I promise."

     "I'm really sorry, Ray, really I am. But I can't just fold my arms and wait till things get better. Besides, I've found someone who's ready to marry me and take care of me."

     My world faded away in an instant. "WHATTT?!!" I screamed with my hand to my head.

     "I really didn't wanna do this but my hands are tied. Goodbye, Ray. And I wish you goodluck."

     Her words were like poison to me now. I hung up and cried my eyes out. There and then my mind was made. I wasn't going to sit around and do meager things. I was either going to make it big or die trying.

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Hello to everyone reading this story of mine, actually it was my first attempt at writing a novella besides short stories and poetry.
Thanks for reading up to this point, I love you!   ❤❤