Chapter One
I am 21—beautiful, intelligent, and hardworking. I live with my mother and my four siblings in a small village called Nwola.
My mother owns a bush meat business, which we run together. She is deeply rooted in our culture and widely respected in the community. She owns countless tribal attires and beads, and whenever a maiden is to be married, she is the one who prepares and dresses her.
Her hands are blessed.
Her name carries honor.
As I grew older, my beauty blossomed day by day. I watched my mates excel in school, but I never liked anything about school. Eventually, I dropped out and focused fully on helping my mother with the business.
Whenever she prepared the meat, I took it to the market—and it always sold out. Some people bought from me because they found me attractive. Others supported me because they genuinely wanted to see me grow.
Either way, the business flourished
But inside me, something restless was growing.
"Heewwww…" I sighed one afternoon as I arranged the meat carefully on the tray.
I was tired.
Not tired of working—but tired of the smallness of it all.
I didn't want to continue the business anymore. I wanted more. I wanted to live big. I wanted a life of my own. I felt I was old enough to make my own decisions—to do whatever I believed was best for me.
That evening, I told my mother
"I'm leaving for greener pastures," I said firmly. "I want to be like my mates who are earning big in the outside world."
Her face fell instantly.
"My daughter," she pleaded softly, "the outside world is not what you think. It will ruin you."
But I was stubborn. Her words sounded like fear, not wisdom.
I insisted
And I left.
I did not look back.
I did not know that some decisions echo louder than we expect
To be continue…