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"Life's got its troubles and turbulence and, everyone has his or her own share in it."
Unknown.
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Upon arriving at her aunt's home, Derin was introduced to the family. Her aunt had three children: two females, and a male. The females were both older than her, and the male, Dolapo, was the same age as her. On meeting the family, Derin could tell that she was unwanted, and Bunmi was only obliged to take care of her according to the family's traditions and customs. Her daughters and her husband did not conceal the actuality that they also despised her arrival, but Dolapo was pleased to have her around.

What puzzled her was that her aunt dedicated all household chores to her, despite having two well-developed and capable daughters who were both competent in doing the menial work. Apart from chores, Derin had to accompany her aunt to her boutique every day to work as a sales representative. Derin had no choice; she could neither argue nor complain. She had to obey all instructions and commandments laid down for her and embrace her new life.

The following day, at Port-Harcourt, began her life as the housemaid to Bunmi and her family, as the daughters of the house gladly neglected all work to her.

"Hey."

One of the girls had called to her, as she headed to the small pantry that would be her room. She spun around to the caller and met both girls standing there. The two girls eyed her and giggled among themselves. They were jesting her, but she had to be patient, she said to herself as she watched the girls make fun of her.

"Your name is Derin, right?" The same girl asked, and Derin nodded.

"Oh." The girl grinned. "In that case, I'm Ayodele." She introduced herself.

Derin smiled as she took a proper look at her. Ayodele was petite and plump, with a bulbous but cute face, housing a set of beautiful black eyes and pink lips. She was quite light-skinned, so unlike her sister, who was dark, and looked much older than her. She also appeared quite nicer than her sister.

"Nice meeting you, Ayodele," Derin smiled.

The other girl hissed. "Why are you even speaking to this filth?" She asked her sister as she eyed Derin. Her sister laughed and faced Derin.

"Derin, she is my sister, Olaleye," the petite spoke up with a smile.

Her sister rolled her eyes and yawned loudly.

"Cut the chase, Ayodele." She ordered, a frown growing on her face.

Ayo's smile fell downwards, replaced with a puckered brow. "All right, Derin. We don't like you, and you are not welcome in this house." She stated.

Ayodele's change of attitude took Derin aback, but she instantly plastered a small smile on. "I understand." She responded and turned to go.

"Hey," Ayodele called her, and she turned back to the sisters. "We need you," she said, and a sly smile crept up her lips and she winked at her sister.

Her sister squinted at Derin, staring her down before she laughed once. "Derin, we need you as a maid. After all, this is all you are ever going to be." She groused, and both she and her sister cut into chortles of mocks.

Derin's eyes went moist with tears, and she tilted her head downwards as she turned away from them, walking as fast as she could to get away from their jests.

Initially, she had thought that at least one of the sisters would be kind to her, but she was wrong. However, she could not let their words get to her. She was not going to stay destitute forever. They weren't always going to be in a better position, as one day, the tables would turn.

Life changed drastically for Derin, as her aunt and her daughters ensured she never forgot her place in the house. They did not regard her as a member of the family, and not even as a decent maid. She wanted so many times to let them know what she really thought of them, but she couldn't, and this was due to the cursed ethical teachings she had received from her mother. Her mother had implored her to remain patient in all situations. So, she had to play along with her pitiful life.

Everyone in the house treated her as a nonentity, all except Dolapo, who felt she was unjustly treated, but he was as helpless as she was, and he could do nothing to help her out. He, however, did his best to assist her in the chores, careful to avoid his mother spotting him.

Despite the woeful change in her circumstance, life continued in Port Harcourt. Derin went with the flow of the events, each day a repeat of the previous day. All her life now revolved around the house, and her aunt's superstore, and all she ever did was chores, chores, and more chores.

Soon it was a year after her parents' accident. The family held a ceremony in their remembrance. Due to this, Derin was opportune to see her sister after being away for so long. Before she left for Lagos, her aunt threatened her to not speak of how she was truly treated at her home. Derin had scoffed in her mind, but what could she do? If she told on Bunmi, she was very sure that meant she'll have to live in the streets, but if she didn't, she may as well kiss her freedom goodbye. Neither of the choices appealed to her, and this was her dilemma, but she knew what she had to do, no matter how unpleasing it was.

On seeing Danielle, all her worries flew off her, and she was elated. Danielle lived a better life; Derin could see this in her face as soon as she saw her. She was pleased that luck had not evaded her sister and that Danielle was living a much better life than that of hers.

The sisters got to meet and converse after the ceremony; it was during their chat that Danielle mentioned to her sister that she had continued schooling, and she was planning to sit for the main exam. Elle also tattled about all the wonderful things occurring to her under the guidance of their father's sister.

After speaking about herself for almost the entire night, Danielle asked Derin about life in Port-Harcourt, but Derin fibbed, as she didn't want her sister to know of her current plight, knowing well that Danielle would become worried.

Much to her joy, Danielle believed her, and they chatted the night away. Derin returned to Port Harcourt. Though she found it hard to part with her sister, she had to. Therefore, she returned to her regularly screwed-up and miserable life.

Time flew by, and months later was Derin's birthday. She was now eighteen years of age. The day went by like every other day. It was not an ounce special, as nobody showed that they knew of the day or its significance to her. Danielle remembered though, and she sent Derin birthday wishes via text, but this little from her sister made her day. Then, Dolapo bought some cookies and chocolates from school making her much happier, but unfortunately, Bunmi caught him giving her, and she seized the goodies, despite his pleas.

As the sun retracted from the skies far away, Derin sat in her tiny room with her legs pulled to her chest. She wept as she recalled the previous years, and how she had spent her birthdays with her family. Her thoughts made her recall that her father had promised to get her a car once she clocks eighteen, but now is the day, and he was no more. Her father never got the chance to fulfill his promise, as the cold and wicked hands of death cuddled him and their mother away forever, with the heavens allowing it.

That night, she cried herself to sleep with the picture of her parents held tightly to her chest.

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A few months later, on one fateful evening, Derin overheard that one of the family's friends was returning from the States with their grown-up son. This news caused so much excitement in the house, and even though Derin had not met the said family, she could tell that they were so important to Bunmi and her family. So, it was not a surprise when the family expressed interest in taking one of her aunt's daughters as a bride to their son. Eagerly, Bunmi immediately made plans to make either of her daughters suitable to be married to him.

"Ayo, Ola, you two, get something to wear. The Hartleys are coming in an hour!"

Bunmi's yell resounded through the walls of the house, as she ran around ensuring everything was perfect and in place. Derin was cleaning the girls' room when she heard this announcement from her aunt. She felt lighthearted at the thought of one of her cousin's sisters getting married and leaving the house.

Both girls had done nothing but pick on Derin, and they treated her more like Cinderella. If not that they were her cousin's sisters, she might have just agreed that her life was as miserable as Cinderella's.

Cinderella had two stepsisters who made her life a living hell, and a stepmother whose specialty was in chores distribution–this was like her fate in Bunmi's house. The only difference between her and the fairy tale character was that Cinderella, at the end of the tale, was whisked away by her knight in shiny armor–her prince charming. Derin had no knight who will come out of the blues and whisk her away into the sunset.

Fairy tales are just fantasies. They are tales that are made to create a belief in things that do not exist. Things like true love, true love's kiss, the verbiage of having a mate from the heavens, and other make-believe.

"Derin!" Ayo called her out; her loud voice rang in her ears. Derin exhaled loudly and rolled her eyes inwardly–preparing for Ayo's usual disturbs.

Derin stood up and faced her–she examined Ayo and noticed that her cousin was dressed in an elegant knee-length gown which was colored blue and laced with limestones. To match this, Ayo had on her feet a pair of gleaming white stilettos. Honestly, Ayo appeared beautiful in the outfit, but she was extravagantly dressed, and her nose was high up in the air. Yes, she was the epitome of physical beauty, but her inner thoughts were nothing like her looks.

Ayo smiled and swirled around. "How do I look?"

"You look exquisite," Derin lied.

Ayo pulled on a Cheshire cat grin and elevated her chin. "That should be how I look," she said and made her way over to Derin. Her eyes downed over Derin, and she snarled at her. "You know what? When I get married to the Hartleys' son, I'll take you along," she mentioned and grinned dreamily.

Derin nodded her focus on the bed in the room.

"Who do you think he'll choose?" Ayo asked–her voice sounding suddenly curious.

Derin shrugged. "I don't know."

"He will not pick my sister, will he?" Ayo asked; doubt in her tone, but she laughed immediately and answered her question. "That can't happen," she said and walked out of the room.

Derin released a huge exhalation of pent-up breath and sat on the bed. She had no idea who the Hartleys were, but she could tell that Bunmi and her daughters were so excited to welcome them in, and she sincerely hoped and prayed that whosoever their son was would take one of her cousins away and spare her some troubles.

As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Hartley had come into the house, they lost interest in the daughters of Bunmi, as they noticed that the girls were both unsuitable to become a wife to their son. They needed a girl who would become a noble wife, and a companion to their son, and neither of Bunmi's daughters fitted their likes. The girls, undoubtedly, were classy, but a future was their son, which was almost unfeasible.

"Are these your daughters?" Mr. Lake Hartley asked as he observed the girls with keen interest, while his wife scrutinized the way the girls acted. They were brought up to be ladies, but they weren't humble, had no proper home training, and they were just hypocrites.

Lake Hartley was a European having pinkish skin that had reddened due to the degree of the sun he got himself into. He had a broad figure and a set of pale grey-colored eyes. He was an average-height man, and he was quite handsome despite his age. His wife was a slightly chocolate-tanned African lady, with an attractive shape and a youthful face. From one glance, anyone would think she was still in her early thirties.

"You are correct, Lake," Bunmi replied with a huge grin plastered on her face. She turned to her daughters and introduced them to the couple. "She is Olaleye, and she is Ayodele."

Mrs. Hartley had almost lost all hope when her eyes fell on the young girl who was cleaning in the kitchen, and her interest went to her.

"Who's she?" The woman asked.

Bunmi followed her gaze and landed on Derin. Her shoulders fell along with her face, as she glumly answered, "Oh, she is Derin."

Mrs. Hartley smiled as she watched the girl.

On setting their eyes on Derin, both Lake and his wife agreed that she had all the qualities they were looking for in a good and mannered wife. This they told Bunmi, who was shocked by their choice, but she immediately conceded after finding out from others that their son was a delinquent man and his way of life was unspeakable.

Unwilling, Bunmi discussed this with Derin, who tried to object, but her aunt insisted it was not a request but an order. Having no choice, Derin succumbed.

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"So, you'll just marry him?" Dolapo flared up after Derin had briefed him on the couple's visit and their decision to make her their son's wife.

"What can I do?" Derin spoke as she crimped the clothes in the laundry room. "It's not like I can refuse your mother," she added in, as she tried to make herself busier.

"What will you do?" Dolapo questioned–his brows knitted together as he watched her.

"I'll just go on and hope that he'll refuse me." She replied.

"I highly doubt that," Dolapo butted in, causing her to turn to him at once.

She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Dolapo smiled. "How can he ever refuse you, Derin?" His tone dropped a notch as his eyes blazed with admiration at her. "I mean you're so beautiful, he'll never say no to you," He mumbled.

Derin stopped, as she stared away from him–her mind going over his words, but she had to be optimistic that he would refuse her. "I still hope he refuses," she said, but Dolapo placed his palms on her shoulders, giving them a slight squeeze.

"It's all going to be alright, no matter what happens," He expressed in a reassuring tone, making a broad smile appear on her face.

"Thanks, Dolapo." She chuffed and wrapped her arms around him, and he kissed the top of her forehead.

"I will miss you."

She looked up at him with a frown. "But I'm not even gone yet."

"I'll still miss you," He insisted, and she gave him a slight punch to his abdomen.

"Don't go mushy on me now." She pouted. "It'll make me cry."

Dolapo pulled her closer to his chest and stroked her hair.

He knew she would be alright because she was strong and brave. He just hoped her perseverance will sustain her with the monstrous infant of the Hartleys.

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"You'll always find someone, who will be your friend even when you're in the midst of enemies."
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