Chapter 2

Clara’s vision was blurry for some minutes before she got back to herself. She didn’t understand why Elizabeth had to slap her but she didn’t blame her at all. She blamed her Dad for always supporting her Stepmom. 

When she noticed that nothing positive would come out of her pleading, she went to her room to sleep. Sleep was an escape mechanism for her. Tomorrow, she will continue.

“You should be even grateful you have a roof over your head. Some people are homeless but yet you are such an ingrate!” Elizabeth screamed as she went to her room.

Though Clara did not hear the last part of what Elizabeth said because she already shut her door, she cried in bed till the next morning.

When she woke up the next day, she realised she had overslept a little bit. That was not the time she usually woke up, so she rushed to take her shower and got outfitted for work. She was about to rush out when Elizabeth obstructed her way.

“Where do you think you are rushing to without getting this house tidied and doing the dishes?” Elizabeth asked her, laughing out for only God knows why.

If Clara wasted any more minutes in that house, she would get sacked by her boss so she just pleaded with Elizabeth that she would get it done when she was back.

“Please Mom just let me go, I promise to do them once I’m back. I’m late for work.” Her eyes meant every damn word she said, and even more.

Before she could finish talking Elizabeth landed a slap on her face. Just in the space of a few hours at home, she has been slapped twice, twice!

“I have told you I’m not your mother! I’m not your dying mother in the hospital! I’m healthy and alive. If you ever call me mom again, I will make sure not to take it easy on you.”

“Now go inside and do all I asked of you before leaving this house.” She ordered, pointing at the door behind her.

Clara understood there was nothing more to do other than to be very fast. Maybe if she was so fast, she would meet up.

She was washing the dishes so fast when a plate slipped and broke, making a loud sound on the floor. The pieces splashed on her and gave her a cut on her leg. 

She wasn’t even worried about herself but prayed Elizabeth wouldn't see that. A plate was more important than her injury, that was how bad it was!

When Elizabeth was not forthcoming, she was happy that she escaped that and quickly disposed of it before she came. She didn’t see the pool of blood on the floor until she was about to leave.

She had noticed something was dropping earlier but thought it was water because she was rushing to meet up. When she looked at her leg, she found out that she was bleeding profusely.

It was not just a cut but a deep cut. She managed to clean the wound and applied medicated spirit to it. Hoping to treat it better after work.

She ran off immediately she was done, even though she limped, it didn’t matter to her.

It was already late when she got to her workplace. As she entered, all her colleagues were laughing but she presumed it was because of how she limped. Unknown to her, the manager had come earlier and asked where she was.

She went to her post and found another of her colleagues already there.

“Hi Julie, this is my position,” she said to her faintly, but the lady only laughed at her and others joined her too.

The manager came out of his office and questioned Clara.

“What is going on here? Clara, are you just coming?” He asked her directly.

“Yes sir, I ……”

“Your family did what again? You know what, I have been kind enough to you. Pick up every item you have here and leave immediately, never to come back.”

She could feel tears already dropping down her cheeks or rather, running down her cheeks, but she doesn't have any control of it. She limped towards where her boss was standing.

“Please sir, I need this job, you can’t fire me, sir, please” she said pleading with him.

“I will work overtime” she added, but instead her boss started mocking her.

“Please you can’t fire me, sir,” he said, mocking her. “I can't fire you but I can employ you, right? Get out of this building.” He urged without pity.

After begging for a while without any commendable result, Clara picked up her belongings and left. Her colleagues made a jest of her as she exited the building. She had nothing on her, she never got to receive any of her salary at her workplace before a tragedy occurred.

Clara couldn’t even think of going home and decided to try her luck at any job vacancy she came across. At every job she went to, the manager threw her paper at her and told her she wasn’t qualified for the position.

It is true that she only went to high school but she was the best graduating student in her school, because her stepmom and her dad had refused to sponsor her, she couldn’t further her education.

Her school even had to give her a scholarship but the scholarship won’t fetch her money because she needed to take care of herself and her sick mum.

All her efforts to find a job that day were to no avail so she went home intending to continue tomorrow. She managed to branch to a clinic on her way home and treated her wound properly, making the pains subside too.

Later that night, she was so exhausted and lonely, her family was always having one fun or the other and they weren’t back and it was seven in the night. 

Clara decided to just hang out in a lounge and come back later. At least, a little alcohol would help her feel better.

She proceeded to go to a popular club in the city. She was going to have a little fun and come back home.

When she arrived at the club, she just sat in a corner and watched ladies and gentlemen dancing while she was just taking shots. Feeding her eyes a little wouldn't be so bad.

But why does her eyes refuse to be fed with the people in the club? Why are they fixed on one person? He looks more handsome than anyone she had ever seen. Is he an angel? Clara concluded that he was an angel, so she let her eyes take the lead. 

She had already gotten quite tipsy when the same gentleman approached her and introduced himself. Why would an Angel be introducing himself to her? Has he come to liberate her from her situation?

The young man only said just a few things to her and Clara stood and followed him. It wasn't so bad following this angel. 

Maybe, she might find a solution to her problems.