Seyah Pov:

"Seyah!" I heard my step mom shouting my name. I quickly run downstairs. "am here mam" I said and bow my head. "The reason I called you here is that, you have to work your self and feed your self now on. I have done a lot for you."She said. " mam, please I don't understand" I asked confused. "What am trying to say is that, I have done a lot for you here. so find your self a job so that you can pay your school fees and other stuffs on your own.now get out and cook something nice for my precious daughter." She said. "Okay mam" I said and run to the kitchen before she start beating me. I don't know what to do now. I have no one to help me. I have no family and she and her daughter Hedy are the only family I have and now she has said she won't pay my school fees and other stuffs for me. how will I get a job to do and where? oh Lord please help me. I cook something nice for Hedy and went to her room to give her food to her. I knocked. "come in."She said. I opened the door and got in. "Hedy please here is your food."I said as I placed her food on a table. "did you dare call me by my name!"she yelled and slap me hard. I landed on the floor. "Who do you think you are?huh? you are just a maid and will always remain our maid." she shouted at me. tears fall down on my cheeks. "Get out of my room now!" I get up tears falling from my eyes and get out of the room. Oh mom and dad why did you guys died? I went to my room and close the door. My room is an old room that belongs to my late grandma. I don't even have a good bed , my bed was still the one my grandma used to sleep. It's okay Seyah everything will be fine as soon as you learn hard and achieve your goals. Don't be afraid God is with you and your mom and dad's ghost will protect you. life is not easy but if you encourage your self you will achieve your goals. I encouraged my self and get up. I went to the bathroom to bath. After my bath, I wear my pink dress and comb my and wear my slippers. I got out of my room and locked the door. Well am going to find my self a work. I walk downstairs and find my Step mom watching television in the living room. am not allowed to watch television in this house but sometimes I steal glances at the television. "Where are you going?"She asked. "Mam, am going to find a job." I said."And you didn't bother telling me?"She asked angry."Mam, I was going to tell you."I said. "She is lying mom." Hedy said walking downstairs. "So you were trying to run away huh?"My step mom asked.

Seyah Pov:

"No Mam" I defended myself. "What are you standing there for? go and look for the job you are going to look for" She said. "Okay mam, I said and run out of the house. Oh thank you Lord you have saved me again. Now where should I start?I thought as I continue walking. I spotted a restaurant. I went inside. "Please can I see the manager?"I asked the receptionist as she looked me from top to toe."Do you have an appointment with him?" She asked. "Ummm... no ,am looking for a job." I said. "Come let me show you his office."She said as she stand up. "Thanks madam." I thanked her. "You are welcome." I followed her. Finally we reached the manager office."Here." She said. "Thank you very much." I said. "You are welcome again." She said and walk away. I Knocked. "Come in." I heard the Manager's voice. I opened the door and get in."Good afternoon sir."I greeted him with a warm smile. "Afternoon, sit down"he said. I sit down. "What do you want me to do for you?"He asked. "Sir please am looking for a job."I said with a smile. "Oh okay, then you have to work as a waitress." "Okay sir, I don't have a problem with that." I said. "Okay then your work start at tomorrow." He said. "Ummm... I forget to tell you, I am a student so I will really appreciate it if you give me an afternoon shift." I requested. "Okay then, no problem." He said. "Thank you very much sir" I said. "You are welcome." He said. "Okay sir,then I will take my leave."I said and stand up. " Okay." He said. I walk out of the office with joy all over my face. "Did you get the job?"The receptionist asked. "yes " I said with a smile. "Am happy for you. I forget to ask your name, what's your name?"She asked. "Am Seyah what about you?" I asked. " Am Carlee." she replied. "Okay nice to meet you."I said. "Nice to meet you too." She also said. "I have to go. see you tomorrow."I said. "Okay bye."she said. "Bye." I said and walk away.

Am happy that I got the job else my step mom will kill me. I walk on my way home. She didn't even gave me money for transport. Since morning, I haven't eaten. They said I should eat at 6:00pm everyday so that we can save money. I often steal some food when no one is around. I also eat the leftovers whenever am washing plates but today aunty has been around. Last time I steal some of Hedy's breakfast she beat me nearly to death. "Did you find the job."Aunty Victoria asked as soon as I entered the house. "Yes maa."I said as I bow my head. "Good, what type of job did you find?" she as taking a sip of her wine. "Mam, I will work as a waitress in the restaurant near the house."I said my head still bowed . "Good, now on if you get your payment bring it to me to give you some. you are too young to handle money."She said. "But mam, am 17years old and you asked me to look for a job so that I can Carter for my self."I said. "How dare you challenge me?huh? did you pay house rent? huh? did you pay water bill in this house? did you pay electricity bill in this house? don't let me skin you alive.get out from my face!" she yelled at me as I quickly run away.

Seyah Pov:

I went to my room and locked the door.

Oh dad, why? why did you went to date this woman behind my mom's back? why? Why did you gave all your properties to her? why did you die mom ? I will like to run away from this house but I don't know anywhere to go.I don't have any family except my parents and my late grandma who died before my parents died. it is said that my grandma don't have any family. Her mother left her infront of an orphanage. So my grandma suffered a lot till she met my late grandfather who died earlier because of a heart attack. it was also said by my mom that when my late grandfather met my grandma,his family hated my grandma so my grandfather cut any contract of his family and move to a far away country with my grandma. My father too don't have any family. my father told me his family died due to an accident when they were going on a vacation. he was the only one who didn't died. my grandma took him to their house and my mom and dad fall in love. this made my grandma and grandpa decided to let them get married. they got married and my grandparents transfer their inheritance to my dad, later my grandfather died. So I don't have any family. I think I should let it be. If my step mom insist that I should give her my payment,I will give it to her else she will kill me in this house. no matter what, if she give me small amount of money I will make a savings so that I can get enough money to run out from this hell. I think it's late, I should take a bath and sleep. I stand up and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and bath after that, I get out and wear my blue pajamas. It was for my grandma.I picked it from my grandma's wardrobe. my room that I was staying in when I was young was giving to Hedy and my step mother too have taken my parents room. my step mother haven't bought me any clothes and anytime I try to tell her to by me clothes, she will beat me nearly to death and cursing me that I will not have a better life. I will die like my parents and my grandparents and will be no body. she will sometimes curse me that I will be their servant till I die so I decided not to ask her or tell her to buy me clothes anymore.I will pick my grandma's old clothes and wear. And besides my grandma haven't wear some of the clothes in her wardrobe. Am hungry, I think I should go and eat. 6:00pm has already passed. I thought and walk out of my room and walk down stairs. I walk to the kitchen."What are you doing here?"I heard some one asked. I turn my self just to realize it's Hedy." Madam am hungry and 6:00pm has already passed."I said my head bowed. "you have to get a punishment, you have to ask me first to give you the permission to eat."She said walking close to me. "Ummm.... madam am sorry, I forget. am very hungry." I said. " So if I didn't came here early you were going to eat all the food in the kitchen huh?" she said as she walked close to me."N...o madam."I said panicked not knowing what she will do to me. "Now come, let me give you food but you have a punishment."She said. I heaved a heavy sign. Oh thank you Lord. She poured me a small amount of cereal and mixed it with water. come and take it."she said. I rushed quickly to take it. I am hungry no matter what, that the food is not nice. I think I should eat it like that.