Chapter seventeen

Later that evening, Riley was back from school, So was Mia. Because there was no one at home, Mr. Liam had agreed that Mia shall always be dropped at his residence so that we can leave together once it was my time to go.

My departure time was 8:00pm, once Riley was off to bed. I had to make sure she had gone to bed before I left. Mr. Liam had provided for us a car that was to drop us home every evening.

“Auntie”, Riley came running and gave me a hug. Mia jogged behind her, and gave me a hug too, after Riley. “Auntie, am so happy to see you, are you going to be here everyday?”, Riley asked excitedly.

“ Yes dear, I am going to be here, taking care of you”.

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Once Riley had gone to bed, it was time for us to leave, right before I stepped out, a curious thought struck me, “I haven't seen Riley's mother anywhere, nor did anyone mention her”, a questioning look clouded my face, but I decided to ignore it and proceeded to leave.

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“Emily!”Nora was so excited to see us. “ So tell me, how was your first day at work, how do you feel now”, she asked, you could sense a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“It was okay”, I replied, with a low and calm voice.

“ Am so happy for you bestie, I am sure this is the beginning to your journey of success”, Nora said.

I stared at Nora, with a smile across my face, and hugged her. “Thank you so much for everything Nora, I couldn't have made it out without you, I really appreciate”.

“Your welcome, Just know I will never leave your side, I promise, this is the beginning of a new chapter of your life, please embrace it, I am sure one day you will look back and be grateful that you came to the city”, Nora said as she stared right to my face with a warm smile.

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Two years later, I had successfully transitioned to a new chapter of my life, embracing the urban rhyme. My life in the city had become a fulfilling routine, filled with new experiences and connections. I had seamlessly Integrated into the city's vibrant culture, leaving the past memories behind.

For the past two years, my relationship with Mr. Liam and Riley had become a part of my life. From being strangers, our relationship had developed to a stronger one, more like family.

When I look back, I am always glad I helped a little girl, because that changed my life for the better. Mr. Liam has remained the kindest person I have ever met, he has done so much for me and Mia, without expecting much in return.

My routine still remains the same-taking care of Riley, Riley became so fond of me that she is always sad everytime I leave. Looking back, I realized I had grown so much since moving to the city. The city had become my home, a place where I had discovered my true self. I had risen from the ashes, Reborn in the city's dynamic landscape.

Nora on the other hand, continued to be a valued and cherished friend, our friendship was a constant source of joy and comfort. I was grateful to have her by my side.

During my stay at Mr. Liam's mansion, I came to learn of the fact that Mr. Liam was a divorcee. I learnt it from Miss Rosa when I asked her about Riley's mother. Miss Rosa informed me that after Mr. Liam had won Riley's custody, Riley's mother disappeared from the city, no one knew about her whereabouts.

Even after I learnt about Mr. Liam's truth from Miss Rosa, I have never asked him about anything concerning Riley's mother, nor did he ever mention it to me. The topic remained unaddressed, with neither of us broaching the subject.

As for Mia's father, I chose not to disclose anything about my past to Mr. Liam, and he didn't inquire about it. A mutual silence surrounded the issues concerning our pasts, with no questions asked or answers given.

I often wondered what could have been if things had ended differently between Harrison and me, the connection was severed the moment I left the village, leaving me with only memories of our past interactions. It was as if he vanished into thin air, leaving no trail or hint of his whereabouts.

It's hard to admit, but I still think about him, even when I wish I wouldn't. His presence still echoes in my heart, a faint but persistent hum. I am still working on letting go, but sometimes my mind wanders back to him. I am not proud to admit it, but he still occupies a small space in my mind. His memory still lingers, a bittersweet reminder of what we had.

I have heard that first love is hard to forget, and I can definitely relate to that. Looking back at how Harrison treated me, and the amount of pain he caused me, I am surprised I still think about him.

The Echoes of betrayal still linger in my mind, a constant reminder of what was lost. His presence still haunts me, a ghostly reminder of love that turned sour. I wish I could erase the memories of him but they remain, a painful yet sweet reminder.

Mia never stopped asking about her father, hoping for updates, while Nora kept on lying everytime, it was a recurring conversation. At her age, she lacked critical thinking skills to question false information, her childlike trust made her an easy target for deception.

However, you could sense a depth of her longing for her father in every gesture, every expression. She would often pause, lost in thought, and you could sense she was thinking about her father.

My heart swells with sadness whenever I see my daughter lost in thought, her mind drifting to her father. In those moments, I see the weight of her father's absence settling upon her small shoulders, and my heart feels the crushing blow.

The thought of Mia discovering the truth of her father's absence keeps me up at night, filled with fear and anxiety. I am terrified of the day she will realize we have been hiding the truth from her, It's a weight that's constantly pressing on my mind. As she grows older, the web of lies we have spun will become increasingly fragile, it's a constant worry I can't shake off. I pray that when she learns the truth one day, she's also able to understand that it was for her own good.