Prologue

Her eyes opened at the sound coming from her parent's room. She wondered why there was so much noise. Opening her eyes lazily, she found everything in her room dark and quiet. Yesterday was the last day of school, and if nine-year-old Zoe was sure of anything, she was sure of the fact that the next day after Friday was Saturday and that meant she could have a long sleep.

She got up from the bed she shares with her little sister, Emily, rubbing her eyes with her hand she stood up and walk out of the room and to her parent's room.

They were arguing again. She had always wondered why they were fond of arguing, it had become a normal thing since her last birthday. They used to be a very loving family until her mother started complaining about everything.

The room door was open, and Zoe could see them clearly; her father was getting ready for another interview with his documents neatly arranged in a clear bag. Zoe leaned on the door frame as they were too busy with their arguments to notice she was there.

"I don't just understand why you’re applying for a position lower than your previous position. I mean I don't understand, how do you expect to feed our family with such a small income?” Zoe's mother, Darasimi ranted.

Zoe's father acted completely unbothered by her words as he put on his shoes.

“Gbemiga, I'm talking to you!” Darasimi yelled.

"What do you want from me woman!!” Gbemiga replied, obviously frustrated by his wife's nagging. "When I didn't have a job, you made life a living hell for me. Now, I'm trying my possible best to get one, you still won't give me peace of mind,” Gbemiga added.

“I won't, Gbemiga, what is your problem. I have been fending for this family for the past 8 months after you lost your job. And you've not made a tangible effort to get back on your feet, even better than before.”

"Dara, can you listen to yourself? Yes, for the past eight months you've taken responsibility, which you've always rubbed in my face. But I have not relented in finding a new job, I have tried my best Dara,” Gbemiga said.

"Your best is not enough, my dear, because if it was you wouldn't be looking for a job as a secretary,” Dara nagged.

"What do you want me to do, when I couldn't get a job for better positions? Why can't I accept this one? At least it will pay the bills if we cut down our cost of living.”

"That's it!” Dara said getting up from where she had been sitting. "Gbemiga, I won't let go of my designer clothes and jewelry, my daughters won't go to a ghetto school all because of your incapability,” Dara added.

"Ah, Dara. It's all about money for you, right?! You don't care about anything else but money, money, money, money!” Gbemiga yelled.

"Yes, darling, it's about the money. And trust me, if you don't get a better job, I'll leave you and I'll leave with my daughters,” Dara threatened as Gbemiga got up and faced her.

"You can go to hell for all I care but delete the idea of taking my daughters to your sugar daddy’s place. It's not like you've not been involved in the trash before now,” Gbemiga said, causing Dara to fume with anger.

"How dare you!!!” Dara said as she landed a dirty slap on Gbemiga's face.

"Mom!” Zoe yelled as she entered the room. "What happened!” she said as she looked at them. She was on the verge of crying as she was scared and worried about what she just saw.

"Zoe, why are you up, my darling?” Gbemiga said as he walked up to his daughter.

"I heard some noise, and I came to check. Why are you guys fighting?” innocent Zoe asked.

Gbemiga laughed causing Zoe to be calmer and he said. "No, darling, Mummy and Daddy aren't fighting. We are just talking about how wonderful you are."

"Huh. Okay,” Zoe said unconvinced; she might be young, but she wasn't stupid. "Where are you going, Daddy,” she asked.

"I'm going for a job interview,” Gbemiga replied.

"But it's Saturday, and it's so early in the morning."

"Yes, darling, it's a Saturday, but this company wants very serious candidates, so they made the interview on a Saturday. And I'm going early because, darling, I sold my car and I need to be their very early. So, I must leave home early,” Gbemiga answered.

"Okay Daddy,” Zoe said.

"I love you, baby,” Gbemiga said.

"I love you, Daddy,” Zoe replied.

"Come here,” Gbemiga said pulling her into a hug. He went over to the bed, as Darasimi frowned and wrapped her arms together. He took his file, his wallet, and phone walked up towards the front door.

"If you like, don't come back early. You might not come back at all. Lazy man,”Gbemiga and Zoe heard Dara say. Gbemiga smirked as he bent down to look his daughter in the face.

"Zoe, darling, I'm leaving now,” Gbemiga said.

“You'll be back right?” Zoe asked.

"Yes, darling I will, I promise,” Gbemiga said. But Zoe couldn't get past the possibility that her Dad might not come back, as her mother said. She loved her father a whole lot. Her mom wasn't so nice, but her Dad was perfect. He bought her everything she asked for and was always around to hang out with her and Emily. Unlike her mother, who only cared about her fine clothes and makeup.

“Dad, it's my birthday tomorrow. You'll be there right,” Zoe asked.

Gbemiga laughed loud at her question, "Yes, I will, darling. And I'll buy you a big, beautiful gift.”

But he was never going to be back, he was never going to fulfill that promise.

A few hours later.

Zoe and Emily were watching cartoons, while Dara was busy painting her nails. Dara's phone rang and she checked the caller ID; it was her husband Gbemiga. She hissed and cut the call, but the number kept calling. Finally, on the third time, she picked up.

“What is it?” she asked angrily.

“I'm sorry ma, but the owner of this phone was involved in an accident,” the person on the other end said hurriedly. His voice was so loud Zoe could hear what he was saying.

“What! How?! Where?!” she asked as she stood up from her seat. Zoe walked to her, as Emily watched.

“Yes, ma, along the expressway. There was a collision between his cab and a truck.” The person said. “I'm sorry ma, but he didn't make it out alive.”

"Haaaaaaaaa!!” Dara screamed as she fainted.

Eight months later.

It was a difficult time for Zoe, she always wondered and hoped her dad would walk into the room, holding flowers and gifts for her birthday.

He had told her he would return. He promised he would, but for eight months he hadn't. Zoe had seen him in the coffin dead and lifeless but refused to believe her father was gone.

He was the life of the family. There was no way Zoe would ever forget his love; the bedtime stories, the movie nights, the many times they spent in the kitchen making dishes together which ended up tasting terrible. The many dancing lessons he had given her, the times he took her out for lunch and shopping; none of these memories would ever be forgotten.

Emily was young and couldn't understand much about what happened to their father, but it was obvious she knew something was wrong. She had asked their mom where their father was on the day of the burial, and Dara had told her he was in a better place.

Zoe wondered how her mother could have moved on so easily. She was back to her usual nature two months after Gbemiga's death. She would leave the girls with the neighbors while she attended parties. There was no financial lack in the home because somehow, she had lots of money even without working.

Zoe nurtured a hatred for her mother in her heart, she believed she was the reason her father had died. Her father died in a motor accident when her mother refused to let him drive in her car; the car he bought for her when things were good and rosy. She had even asked him not to come back home that very day. Her wickedness and awful behavior must have caused her father's death.

On one of the many days of her negligence and self-gratification, she came home with her best friend, Sharon, who happens to be one of the wives of a minister in the country. They had a discussion Dara didn't want Zoe to hear, so she told her to go into the room. But inquisitive Zoe leaned on the door frame, covered with a curtain, so she could hear what they were saying.

“Darasimi, I'm telling you. This guy likes you, no lies. You better shine your eye and grab him unless someone else does,” Sharon had said.

“Sharon, I understand you. But what of my children, he also has a daughter.” Dara replied.

“I know, but does that mean you won't give him another child? Even children. Come on! You are young and in good shape. If you want to have four children for him, you still can.” Sharon said.

“You don't seem to understand me, do you remember when he was talking with Morris? Do you remember what he said?” Dara asked.

“Yes, I remember, Dara. But there is a solution to everything my dear. He said he can't marry a woman with more than one child, right?” Emily asked.

"Yes!"

"Simple, you will just become a mother of one!” Sharon explained.

"Sharon what are you saying, I have two girls. I don't understand you.”

“You will,” Sharon said sitting closer to her. “You will tell him you have only one child, which will be Emily. And you will take Zoe to someone else's house to live.”

Zoe was shocked at what her mother's friend said. She hoped her mother would borrow a little sense and not agree with what Sharon suggested.

“Hmmm, that's true. My God! I never thought of that. Babe, you are a genius!” Dara said giving Sharon a high five.

Zoe was shocked, to say the least, her little feeble heart couldn't take it. She was heartbroken her mother would want to do that to her.

"To think that Zoe is so much like her father, always complaining and being picky. She was her father's favorite, and she looks too much like that loser. I'll make her live with someone, and I'll take Emily with me.” Dara said with a wide devilish grin.

Her mother just decided to get rid of her, but she tried hard not to think too deeply about it.

Mummy will never leave me, she kept saying to herself, but she couldn't speak this into existence. Her mother was determined!

Her father left her and never returned, she hoped and hoped he would walk in one day, but he never did. She couldn't hear his voice again. All that remained of him in her, were the sweet memories they had shared.

Emily was leaving her too, not like she understood what was going on. But Zoe couldn't help but feel betrayed that her sister was leaving with her mother to have a better life. She couldn't help but feel she was never even wanted in the equation.

Her mother was living her life and she was not ashamed of doing so. Her mother was leaving her without a second thought, all the time grinning wide and laughing. She was leaving her all alone to live life without hope and reason. Without love and its rhythm, she was to live an empty life.

The ones she cared for had all left her, so no one was allowed in Zoe's space.