“Mum, why did you do this to me?” Stephanie shouted immediately her mum and Kimberly walked inside the house on the day of Jordan’s funeral.

“And what is she talking about?” Kimberly asked, looking askance at no one in particular.

“Why did you both lock me up inside so I won’t be able to attend Dad’s funeral? This is the height of it. What you both did is abominable, denying a daughter the chance of bidding her father goodbye.” Stephanie said.

“The same father you killed; the same father that showered you with so much love and attention yet you couldn’t find any other way to repay him for his kind deeds, other than choosing to end his life. I hate you, Stephanie. I hate the fact that you are my sister, ’cause you’re nothing but a monster in a body of a ten-year-old girl.” Kimberly shouted.

“I didn’t kill father. Are you both that blind that you can’t see the truth?” Stephanie said.

“You got showered with all the love, attention, and everything money could buy but the only thing that made you happy was ending his life,” Kimberly said.

“And how sure am I you didn’t kill Dad? Maybe because you’re jealous; you’re always the indoor type, and because of your stinking attitude, you don’t have friends and no one wants to come closer to you.” Stephanie fired back at her.

Elena walked close to where Stephanie stood and slapped her so hard on the face that she fell.

“You little monster! You should know by now that I don’t give up easily until I make the evil ones confess to their crimes. You should know the woman who bore you, and never try to accuse Kimberly of the crime you committed.” Elena said, fuming.

“You’re upset that I accused Kimberly of killing father, but how come your spirit isn’t upset with you that you are accusing your daughter of a crime she knows nothing about?” Stephanie asked.

“You this imp. Mum don’t waste your energy on her for sooner or later she will confess to her crimes.” Kimberly said.

“You denied me of seeing my father’s body one last time; you denied me the access of paying him his last respect. You both think is just a mere punishment but you both have denied me something worth more than anything in this life. Nothing is hidden under the sun for too long. Sure, and when the truth comes, it will sting so hard like a bee. One day Mum, one day Kimberly, you both will regret this decision you took today, and mind you by then it will be too late. Write it down somewhere.” Stephanie said and walked out on them to her room.

* * *

“What are you doing in my room, Stephanie?” asked Elena immediately she entered her mum’s room.

“I am hungry. I couldn’t get to eat last night because Kimberly said the food was finished and the kitchen was locked.” Stephanie replied.

“Now listen, Stephanie, you will only get to eat twice a day in this house, and you…”

“But this is my father’s house; why will you starve me?” Stephanie asked.

“The same father you killed with no reason, Stephanie? You didn’t allow me to finish the words in my mouth; every morning if you wake up, you clean the whole house, dust everywhere only then can you have your morning food, and henceforth, you have to relocate to the room beside the kitchen downstairs, because you don’t belong here anymore.” Elena said.

“How do you expect me to clean the whole house mother and…?”

“Don’t you dare call me mother. You ceased to be my daughter the very day you sent my husband to the great beyond. Who did I give birth to? A monster?” Elena said.

“You want me to clean the whole house in return for me to have my breakfast, then what will you be doing mum?” Stephanie asked, but no sooner had the words left her mouth than she received a hot slap from her mum.

“You don’t talk back at me,” Elena shouted.

“What did I do to you? You accused me of killing someone whom I loved and cherished so much, my father, and you stopped me from going to school and as if that isn’t enough, you deprived me of the one chance of seeing my father before he was lowered 6ft. You now hate me so much without finding out whether I am guilty of the crime you accuse me of. You have transferred so much aggression and hate for me simply because you think I killed Dad. I don’t know what else to do. I have lost the urge to fight anymore and tell you, people, that I am innocent. You people are free to think of whatever comes to your mind. And now, the next punishment is to starve me. I hope once the truth surfaces, it won’t be too late, Mother.” Stephanie said as tears found their way down her cheeks.

“Now get out of my room you monster,” Elena commanded.

Stephanie glanced at her mother once more before she left the room, and quietly walked outside. She closed the door as she walked straight to their garden within the compound and sat down there, all alone.

“What have I done to deserve such inhumane treatment being meted out to me by my loved ones? They will surely regret this decision; that I know.” Stephanie soliloquized.

“Hey, Mrs. Robert,” Stephanie called out immediately she saw the old woman watering the flowers in her garden, just adjacent to theirs. She was their neighbor who lived in the adjoining compound, separated by a row of flowers.

“Stephanie, come here my child.” Mrs. Robert said, smiling.

Stephanie stood up and ran to the other side of the garden which belonged to Mrs. Robert.

“How are you, my child?” Mrs. Robert asked.

“I am doing great,” Stephanie replied.

“Can I help you out?”

“Sure,” Mrs. Robert replied, as she handed the watering can to Stephanie.

“I haven’t seen you outside for the past few weeks and I didn’t see you at your father’s funeral; is there any problem?” Mrs. Robert asked.

“I won’t lie to you, there is a very big problem,” Stephanie said as she kept watering the flowers.

But Mrs. Robert asked her to stop watering the garden and come inside so they could talk.

“Here, have some pancakes and orange juice.” Mrs. Robert offered her as she dropped the tray right in front of Stephanie.

“Aww, thank you so much, Mrs. Robert,” Stephanie said pouting her lips.

“You’re welcome.” Mrs. Robert replied smiling.

“So would you mind sharing with your granny what the problem is?” Mrs. Robert asked.

“It’s really heavy to say but I’ve got to say it. Mum and Kimberly think I killed Dad.” Stephanie blurted out.

“What! That’s ridiculous. How can they even come up with such an idea? I mean, you’re only but ten, Stephanie.” Mrs. Robert said.

“Well, I served Dad the coffee he drank before he left for work, but what we don’t know is if Dad branched somewhere and ate something else as the autopsy result showed Dad was poisoned and Mum thinks I am the one,” Stephanie said amid tears welling up in her eyes.

“That’s outrageous. That he died of poisoning doesn’t mean you killed Jordan.” Mrs. Robert said.

“How I wish my family will think like you. I am already going through what someone of my age isn’t meant to go through. I have practically been turned into a slave in my father’s house. I have been denied food on countless occasions and Mum had also stopped me from going to school. She locks the house before leaving so I won’t run away but where will I even run to? I don’t know anyone. Mum and Kimberly hit me at any slightest opportunity they get and they wouldn’t fail to tell it to my face that I killed Dad and that someday I will definitely tell them my reason for doing so, and now I was forced by my mum to live downstairs in the room beside the kitchen.” Stephanie said as tears continued to drip down her cheeks.

“Stop crying, my child.” Mrs. Robert said as she wiped Stephanie’s face with the back of her hands.

“Mum said I was only gonna eat two times in a day with the conditions that I am to clean the whole house before being served breakfast. It’s really scary. Thanks for the pancakes, Mrs. Robert. I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday night. This will go a long way for me.” Stephanie said smiling.

“Now listen to me, Stephanie. I don’t know why but I totally believe that you are innocent of the crime you are being accused of, but not to worry, the truth will be out someday. They might subject you to untold hardship and suffering but I know the girl sitting right in front of me has got a strong spirit; you will conquer all. Every morning, afternoon, and night I will always bring food for you at your window. It’s a promise I am making to you child. But don’t worry as everything will be okay soon. Eat up dear.” Mrs. Robert said.

“Thanks,” Stephanie said smiling as she ate her food quickly so her mum won’t notice her absence. Before she left Mrs Robert dished out a spaghetti in a flask meant for Stephanie’s lunch. She took it happily and hugged her before leaving for her own house through the garden. She walked back into the house and she walked straight into her room and locked the door.

She kept the flask of spaghetti close to her bed as she sat down at the edge of the bed. She was quietly waiting for the clock to strike 10 am and immediately it did, her veins popped out from her body, her breathing became audible and her hair changed to red. She tried so hard to fight whatever it was that was happening to her before she passed out again. This started from the day Jordan died.