Episode 1

The cockcrow doesn't start the day, it's just a reminder.

Amara stood before the glass door. She stared at the flowers and rubbed her palm on the door as a butterfly flew by.

Her eyes lit up and she smiled with pressed lips. A palm gripped her hair," Aaarghhh!!" She groaned and turned. Her gaze locked with his. His nose flared. He pushed her chest and her butt shook the floor.

She looked up and knelt down. " Dad, I'm sorry.. I'll never do that again!" She said, tears sprang from her eyes and fell from the corners of her eyes.

He raised her palm and slacked it across her face. Her cheeks burned and turned red, her palm covered her lips.

" I'm not your father!"

" I'm sorry, Sir. Ike."

" Kneel down and hold your ears. " He blurted. Her knees pressed the tiles. Her gaze fixed at the floor. " The day you walk out of that door is the day you'll die."

" Why? What's my crime?" She retorted abruptly.

" You dare ask me why?" He raised her hand in the air.

"Please!!" He heard and a palm held him. He turned and locked into her eyes. He took his hand from her and left. Amara cried as she ran into her embrace.

"Mum, I just wanted to be normal and..." She said and Ebere rubbed her palm on her back.

"It's okay.." she said. He glared and spat on her then he left.

Ebere held Amara by her arm and pulled her to herself as they walked into the room. She pushed her to the couch, Amara's butt bounced on the foam.

" Mum." She paused," Now you're going to join him?"

" Him?. Amara, he's still your father."

"What kind of father is he? No, tell me! The one that doesn't allow his child to call him DAD or the one that barters her like a punch bag."

Ebere drew closer to her and took her palm. "I love you, Amara and so does your father. Seeing you like this...hurts me." She uttered and Amara took her palm from her.

"I know he wishes I was dead but I never prayed to be born this way. You both made me like this. It's your genes.." Tears slipped out of Amara's eyes.

" If I could pay the price to see you shine like the superstar that you're."

" No, you're killing me. I have never felt the sun or flowers. I have never known what it felt like to be outside, class, church. It's been like this all my life!"

Amara turned to Ebere. Her eyes and mouth were open. She held her chest as she fell.

Amara held her arm," mummmm... Where'd you keep your inhaler?" She said and ran her fingers through her body.

*******

Nze raised his palm and slacked it across Jachimma's face. He held his cheeks and bowed his head.

"Dad it's not what you think, you're taking this too far. I wanted to make you proud but I got duped." Jachimma's voice came but he lifted his palm again and hit him.

Chiamaka rushed to his side and held his trouser." Please, my husband. He's still our only son. Let him work and refund you the money."

" He's our only son's kind of mindset that made him like this!" Nze's voice came. His teeth gnashed.

" One more chance, Nze, Ezigbo Di m." She uttered.

" No!! Enough is enough. Young man, you'll leave my house. You'll work hard to be better and if in one year, you don't become better and established, I'll disown you." Nze said and trailed off.

Chiamaka's face went red and her fingers fidgeted but she held his palms. Jachimma stood and kissed her forehead then he withdrew his palm and left.

He walked to the garage and to the black Bentley. " Young man, that's my car. If you need a car, get it yourself!" He heard and looked up.

Nze stood, his jaw clenched. Jachimma's lips pressed as he dropped the keys on the car and turned.

"You'll learn gravity more as you're leaving without too much." He added.

********

" Chikaaa!!." Ngozi called. Chika ran out of the kitchen.

" Nne, you called me." She bowed.

" And you didn't answer the first time?"

" I didn't..."

" Liar! Shut that gutter you call a mouth." She snarled and flung some notes at her." Get some beads for my Adaeze, my princess."

" Nne.."

" Go now , stinky thing. You're spoiling the air!"

" There's food on the fire, can I go after?"

" If you waste two more seconds, you'll be toothless.." she said. Chika glanced at Adaeze.

She crossed her legs and chuckled at her phone while Ngozi adorned her hair. She ran out.

******Minutes Later****

Chika walked through the narrow path swinging her arm that held the nylon. She felt a presence behind her.

She turned, and a guy trailed behind her. He wore a black hoodie, a pair of black jeans trousers.

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