The begining of the end. 1

One could begin with the tears that were once on her eyes, maybe not that tough. I think beginning with the sad smile laced on her face every single morning, she wishes to have a good smile, a happy one, a smile that would warm her heart, but the reverse is the case. I wake up all sore since I got into this marriage… if I had known, that day I wouldn't have taken the step I took, I wouldn't have taken that step I took, I wouldn't have helped him. I swear I wouldn't have helped Leo Luther. From one problem to another.… I rubbed my tummy, and cleaned out the tears on my cheek with the back of my right hand, I lay back on the bed staring at the white ceiling.

"Em. Emily! Emily! "… that's how my morning starts, with noise from my mum, she does that when she's already going to her workplace, it's not like she's working in a reputable place tho, well it's a reputable place don't mind me, I tend to say trash sometimes. Yeah?… 

"Okay mum.. take care, and please don't forget to bring the normals… Thank you in advance… " I yelled in response… I am sure she's shaking her head..?''

I smiled, as I walked downstairs to get the bucket, I needed to fetch my routine water, well that's life here… I fetch five buckets of water daily. One for my bath this morning, one for mum when she comes back from work in the night, one in the toilet, one in the kitchen then one for my bath in the night. Well, you can say it, we are wretched. The word Poor is still a little bit good, but if I am to be honest with me, we are very very wretched. We eat once a day most times. But I am happy with our peaceful life…

I am 12 years old, My name is Emily Laura Macbeth. I am supposed to be in junior high, but the one close to my area is very expensive. The public school is 4 kilometers from my house… I told mum I can walk the distances, after all the public water where I fetch water is at the outskirts of town. And I walk all the way there, at least five times daily. On days we clean and wash, I fetch up to 10 buckets of water, I am used to it. 

"Laura " I heard the oldest woman in our small town call me…  And mind you she's also my namesake… Her children are rich, I don't know why she chooses to stay in our small town. Anytime I try to persuade her, all she will say is, she prefers to stay where there is peace and tranquility and where her lifetime memories lie…

"Ma'am Laura" I turned as I waved with a smile on my face, I read her books from the library. It's nice and mind you. Her stories are better than the ones I read from the library…

"Let it go, Let it go"

"Can hold it back anymore"

"Let it go, Let it go"

"Turn your back and slam the door"

I sang along to the song from the cartoon I watched when I followed mum to her workplace, although that was like last two months ago when I feel sick and she had to watch over me, and at the same time had to attend to work since her boss's rude children are around and they won't want to stay with a wretched fellow who's not elegantly dressed just like them… Although their place is so beautiful. I even tag it, Heaven, on Earth. I can't wait for mum to take me back there. Sometimes I wish I'm sick so I could get to Leo Luther… I am sure my face is so flushed right now… well you guessed right he's my crush…

After a long walk. I got to the tap to see a long queue. 

"Hey Hannah "I greeted the girl in front of me. She's a very nice person. She lives close by, so I would bring an extra bucket and get it filled up with water just for me. In case the water seize…

"Hey em you came a little late today… yeah?"

"Yeah. Was a little bit slow during my little journey here.."

That day was the last time I went that far to fetch water, that day marked the beginning of my endless tears.. it marked the beginning of my constant heartache.. although it started with happiness, as I was able to go to my dream school, I was able to go to the amusement park, I was able to go to the beach, I was able to see the sunset while sitting on the deck of a ship, I fulfilled my childhood dreams. If I had known that fulfilling those dreams would be the beginning of my torture I wouldn't have dreamt at all, although I got to see my childhood crush every single day. But if I had known that seeing him would cause me sleepless night now… I swear I wouldn't have crushed on him in the first instance, I wouldn't have agreed to help mum that day. I wouldn't have agreed to be a playmate to Isabella Luther. Yeah, I get to leave Aldovia, as I claim I was suffering, although I didn't complain to my mum. Because I know she was trying her best to put the little me we had on the table, she worked her ass out to get me everything I ever wanted, I even plant some veg at the back of our small cottage. And I sell them at the market place during the evening market, then get some stuff which I know we lack at home. That day was the last day I saw round Aldovia town and the beginning of my mystery…

"Okay, Em today my mum went straight to the market in the third city. Away from here, I would be able to help you get your water home, and you can even fetch more than enough. ….. she said as the line moved… 

"Oh Hannah, thank you so much, you don't know how happy I wanted to read the book I saw yesterday, at the library… which is only possible with you there to help me.. thank you one's again Hannah. Okay.. " 

We talked about random things, our crushes, she had always had a crush on Judah Luther. The elder brother to Leo, a guy whom she saw on her T.V set. He's a model. 

"Em you don't know how happy I will be if he proposes to me in front of the press, I would want the whole world to know how much I love him" …. I watch her rant on and on about Judah Luther, the model, how she would be so happy to get a hug from Judah .… and blah blah blah.

"Hannah c'mon let's get going already, we can gist all we want on the road, I still have to do the dishes and do some laundry. and I have to go down to the library to get a book for ma'am Laura and myself"

"Oops! You are tied today yeah?… "

"Yeah Hannah, I am so fixed today. Let's get going already "

By the time we were carrying the fifth round each, on getting home, I saw my mum looking all worried and in a hurry, mummy does not come home during this time, she left 3 hours ago. Why is she back? Was she fired? … I quickly dropped my water and helped Hannah bring down hers from her head as well…

"Mum. What's wrong, it's just 10 am why are you back and looking that way.. where you fired. Don't worry I will work too, so we fend for ourselves. We are gonna overcome every obstacle together. Okay..  remember I love you."

 I knew I was rushing my words. I do that when I get so nervous and I wish time would pass and I forget everything, I tend to comfort myself with words, encouraging words. 

"Oh, Laura c'mon, I wasn't fired neither is anything wrong it's just that I got so worried when I saw all these water, I counted eight buckets of water, I became worried you are overworking yourself… but now that I have seen Hannah, I know you both fetched the water.. "

"Ma'am, I should get going now, " Hannah said behind me…

"Hannah dear, thank you so much. I appreciate your help… thank you so much" 

She already walked to where Hannah was standing and pulled her in for a hug. Why do I keep feeling that everything's not fine and she's not happy… Hannah left afterwards, and mum's face showed panic. What's wrong?

"Laura, come over here let me talk to you." 

I knew something was wrong somewhere…

"Mum… your looks are getting creepy and they are giving me chills, please mum just tell me what's wrong.. please."

I am sure my eyes are getting watery already… 

"You know where I work right? "

"Yes mum, you work as a cook in Luther's mansion."

"Oh, my honey is becoming a big girl. You know Mr Luther has a daughter, who is the same age as you? "

"Oh! Yeah.. her name is Isabella Leslie Luther." I answered innocently…

"Yes, Isabella Leslie Luther. And she's 12 years old too… Now the problem is, I wouldn't say its a problem, probably it's an issue. Just let me say the thing is that Her father needs a playmate for her."

"What's a playmate mum, how does it work, where can I get it…" I was eager to help, I was so eager to be of help, so far it was going to make my mum so happy again…

"Playmate is someone you would always play with, the person is just like your best friend. Do you have any?"

"No mum, I don't have a best friend. I only play randomly with people around"

"Okay Laura, you are gonna be Isabella Luther's new best friend. And you are gonna stay with them in their mansion"

"What! "

And that became the beginning of the end.

One could begin with the tears that once sat on her eyes. Perhaps, it is better to start with the sad smile that is etched on her face every single morning. She wishes for a good, happy smile that would warm her heart. However, the reverse is the case. She wakes up all sore ever since she got into this marriage. If she had known, she wouldn't have taken the step she took