Maadwoa's POV

I wipe my sweat as I bend down to sweep the broken twigs and dust off the ground. My aunt made me scrub the bathroom early in the morning, clean every room in the house after, and now she said I should sweep everywhere around the house. I've been up since nine in the morning doing chores and she won't let me eat until everything is done and she approves of it. It's already 12 in the afternoon and I'm exhausted.

The heat from the scorching sun hits my back as I keep my body down. My forehead keeps getting sweaty and the movement during the chores makes me dizzy. The world looks like it's spinning.

I put the small broom down and carefully walk back to the verandah, where I kept my sachet of water. I quickly open it with my teeth and gulp down the water. The once cool water had become warm and didn't satisfy me as I wanted it to, but at least it was something. I rest on the bench and put my head in my hands. I've had to suffer since morning while my aunt is relaxing inside, watching television.

I stand up before she catches me doing nothing. Before I can take a step, the dizziness overcomes me and I feel myself fall backwards. I fall to the ground, knocking something over, causing there to be a loud crash. I wince in pain as my head falls to the ground and I groan, holding my forehead. I slowly look forward to see one of my aunt's bowls shattered into pieces and I gasp in shock and fear. My eyes widen as I quickly stand up, all the dizziness suddenly disappearing. I carefully grab some of the pieces in my hands, looking at them to see if I could magically piece them back together.

I hear a gasp from behind me and I quickly whip my head around. Auntie Nana stands with her hand over her mouth and I try to speak but nothing comes out. I know this is not going to turn out well at all.

"My bowl!" she exclaims, marching towards me and pushing me out of the way.

I distance myself from her in fear as she stares at the broken pieces in shock. I bite my finger anxiously, waiting for her to explode. It's just a bowl but she is going to make it seem like I just killed her dog, I know it.

She turns to me with a glare and puts her hands on her hips.

"Herh, Maadwoa. Are you stupid?"

I frown. "Ma, it was an accident. I-I'm sorry."

"Do you know what I used to buy this bowl? It's worth more than the raggedy clothes you're wearing! And you have the guts to break my bowl!" she insults and I look down at clothes in shame.

"P-please, I didn't mean to. I fell because I was dizzy and it accidentally broke. I'm sorry, ma." I beg.

"Your life is sorry, foolish girl. You see how lazy you are? So because of these small chores I asked you to do, you got dizzy. And you couldn't take your dizziness out on anything else but my bowl?" she questions bitterly.

I frown and scratch my head nervously. Why is she do angry about this bowl? She has plenty more.

Then a look of realization hits her and she raises her eyebrows.

"Oh! I see now. This is revenge, right? Since I prevented you from eating when I threw your tasteless waakye away, now you also want to prevent me from eating by breaking my bowl." she accuses and I immediately shake my head.

She acts as if there aren't other bowls in the house to eat from, I don't understand what the big problem is.

"No, ma. That's --"

"So that's how you are? Okay, don't worry. Come here." she calmly says, making my heart beat faster.

She's definitely plotting something.

I hesitate and give her a frown, hoping something would cause her to pity me.

"I said come here!"

I flinch at her tone and I slowly make my way towards her, my heart thumping with every step. What is she going to do to me? I get closer to her and once I'm in her reach, she aggressively grabs my wrist and pulls me into the house. She drags me and I trail behind her like a puppy on a leash, as I groan from the pressure she puts on my wrist.

I look up to see where she's dragging me to and I see that she is walking towards the closet. My heart drops in my chest and I gasp loudly, trying to break away from her grip. Not again. I can't be in there.

"Ma, please, no." I beg, as she opens the closet.

She sucks her teeth, ignoring me as she unlocks the closet. I feel tears well up in my eyes as I try to release myself from her grip. I use my free hand to grab her hand and remove it from my wrist, and she gasps, looking up at me.

"Herh, foolish girl. Look how she's trying to fight me now." she remarks.

I shake my head, my eyes still watering.

"Please, I said I'm sorry. Please, I won't break your stuff again. I'm begging you."

"Nonsense. When you do something wrong, you need to be punished." she spits, before she throws me into the closet and slams the door shut.

I quickly try to open the door again but it's too late, as I hear the sound of the key locking me in. I cry out and look around me in the darkness. Black is all I see. Fear is all I feel. I let our shaky breaths as tears slide down my face.

I bang on the door loudly.

"Ma, please, let me out. I beg you."

I hear her footsteps pass by the door but she ignores my cries and pleads. I knock loudly on the door again, sobbing as I start to feel even hotter. I slide to the floor and wrap my arms around my legs, rocking back and forth in fear. I can hear my heart beating loudly as I shake in fear. I tell myself to calm down. There is nothing in the dark, I'm the only one in here.

I look around me slowly, seeing nothing but darkness. I squint and slowly extend my arm to touch the wall to the left of me. My hand makes contact with the hard wall and I gasp in fear. The walls are so close, closer than they need to be. I quickly stand up and hyperventilate, taking deep breaths as I place my hands on my head. The walls are closing in on me. I'm going to be squashed like a bug.

I bang on the door again.

"Ma, please." I yell, tears still flowing down my face.

She does not answer me and I rest my head on the door, still banging. It's like the more yelling I do, the less oxygen I have. I kneel down on the floor and quietly sob, as sweat and tears slide down my face. There's no use, the walls are going to squash me and my aunt doesn't care.

I can vaguely hear my aunt talking to someone outside. She was greeting someone and I could hear her dragging a stool, most likely for the visitor. My ears perk up, hoping that she is talking to Uncle Kwame. He would be able to save me. I cover my mouth to stop my loud hyperventilating so that I can hear what is going on outside. The voices are muffled but I can make out what they are saying.

"May I please ask what you are doing here?" she asks politely.

I immediately know that it can't be Uncle Kwame. She doesn't speak so respectfully and politely to her brother like that. The person's voice is a bit farther away and I can't hear them as much. However, my aunt's response makes my eyes widen.

"Oh, I'm sorry, my prince. Maadwoa is at the market right now oo." she lies and I shake my head.

I cannot let the prince leave. Somebody has to let me out of here, and the only way my aunt will let me out is if there is company. I stand up again and bang loudly on the door.

"Help me!" I yell as loud as I can.

I hear a short silence between the two of them before my aunt nervously laughs.

"Did you hear that?" I hear the prince ask, his voice coming closer.

"Oh, I think it was the television inside." my aunt lies again.

I glare through the door and bang again, screaming louder.

"Please, help me. I'm in the closet!"

I hear footsteps shuffling and growing louder as they get closer to me. I see a shadow right in front of the closet, meaning someone is standing in front of the door.

"That sounds like Maadwoa. Maadwoa, are you in there?" the prince asks.

I sigh in relief and nod, even though he can't see me. "Yes. Yes, I am."

He tries to open the door, shaking the doorknob, but to no avail.

"Ma, she's locked in here." he tells my aunt.

I hear my aunt fake a surprised gasp. "Ei. Maadwoa, how did you get in there?"

I stop myself from yelling at her and I just take a breath.

"Please let me out."

I hear a jingle of keys and I quickly wipe my tears from my face. My aunt (I assume) puts the key in the hole and quickly opens up the door. I come face to face with her, with Danny and the guards right behind her. My aunt gives me a subtle glare but I ignore it and run out of the room. Danny grabs my shoulders gently and scans me in confusion.

"Are you okay? Your aunt said you were at the market. How did you get in there?" he questions, as my aunt closes the closet door.

I glance at her and she puts a fake look of surprise on her face.

"I'm even confused oo. When did you get back from the market?" my aunt questions and I feel the urge to expose her right here and now, but I refrain from doing so. The guards look at her with scowls on their faces.

"Y-you must have been taking a nap when I got back." I lie for her.

"But how did you get locked in the closet?" Danny asks with his brows furrowed.

"I-I needed some supplies and t-the door locked behind me."

"Oh, I always warn you to be careful with this closet. It locks very easily." my aunt advises and I almost roll my eyes at her.

Danny glances at her and then looks back at the guards with their eyebrows raised. I scratch my afro puff nervously, avoiding her gaze. My aunt nervously laughs.

"Well, now that you're here, the prince wants to see you." she tells me.

Danny sighs and puts his hand on my shoulder. I look up at him and give him a small smile.

"Yes. It's very hot today and I wanted to take you out for ice cream. If that's okay with everyone." he asks, looking between my aunt and I.

I smile and nod. Anything to get out of the house right now. My aunt hides the glare on her face.

"Yes, yes. Take her. Maadwoa, go enjoy." she commands with a big fake smile.

I hear one of the guards scoff quietly and I glance at him but he shows no emotion on his face.

"Alright then. I will bring her back soon." Danny informs my aunt and she nods. When Danny looks away, she sucks her teeth quietly and glares at me.

I grab the prince's wrist and gently pull him with me. "Please, let's go now."

He smiles and we walk out of the hot room with the guards following closely behind us.

*

The guards open the door for us as we enter the ice cream parlour. We thank them and slowly walk in.

Danny suggested we go to a parlour in the city, even though the guards advised that people would recognise him. He said that this particular ice cream was not too known, so there wouldn't be many people there anyway.

When we get in, I take a look around and notice that Danny was right; there was only one family of three having ice cream together and one worker at the counter. The family of four stop their chatter and look over at us in shock. The mother gasps and the little kids bounce in their seats in excitement when they see Danny. I smile at how cute they are being but then I look back down at my clothes. A long loose blue skirt with an over-sized black top. I look like a peasant standing next to him and I wrap my arms around myself bashfully.

Danny makes his way to the counter but the two kids, one boy and one girl, run over to him and block him from walking further.

"Prince!" they exclaim, jumping up and down, trying to touch his pants. The guards move closer to the kids to grab them but Danny holds his hand out to stop them.

Their mother runs over and bows down to Danny.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. Please forgive them." she pleads, grabbing her kids' hands.

Danny smiles at the kids.

"There is no problem. They are just saying hello, right?" he asks the children and they happily nod.

"When I grow up, I want to be a superhero like you!" the little boy says and his mother giggles.

The guards snicker and I smile at how adorable he is.

"Aw, I'm not a superhero. I'm just like you." the prince humbly says.

"And I want to be a princess when I grow up so I can wear pretty pink dresses everyday." the little girl says.

Wow, these kids know what they want.

"You are already a pretty princess." he tells her and she looks at her mother happily.

"Mummy, the prince said I'm a pretty princess."

The mother laughs and glances at me before grabbing the children.

"The Prince is busy. Let's go. Your Highness, we will be going now." she says, gently dragging them with her.

"Take care." Danny says, waving at them.

"Mummy, I want a crown." the little girl whines, as they leave the parlour.

I giggle and Danny puts his hands in his pockets.

"That was cute." I say.

"I know right. Kids are sweet." he tells me before leading me to the counter for us to order the ice cream.

When we get to the counter, the young man smiles and bows down.

"Good day, Your Highness." he quickly greets. The man glances at me and gives me weird look, as if he wants to ask what I am doing standing next to a prince. I look away and scan the ice cream flavours on the board above him.

"Good afternoon. Do you have any specials today?" Danny asks.

"Erm, yes, Your Highness." he says, handing him a book, which was opened to one page.

Danny thanks him and hands me the book for me to look through. I smile and scratch my hair, not knowing what to choose. There are so many flavours from strawberry and lime swirl to mango. I scan the book until my eyes fall on one special flavour. I feel my heart smile in happiness. There was one called 'Choco-phobic' which was just white chocolate ice cream with caramel sauce and salted pecans on top. I point at the picture and Danny smiles.

"I figured you'd pick that. Please, one Choco-phobic on a cone for the lady." Danny requests and I smile, rocking on my heels.

"And for you, my prince?" the man asks.

"My usual, please." he requests and the man nods.

l look at Danny and raise my eyebrow. "What is your usual?"

We walk over to the small, pink booth and take a seat. The guards stay at the counter and order their own ice cream, waiting for all our orders to be ready.

"Coffee fudge ice cream." he tells me and I blink. Isn't coffee a drink?

"I have never had coffee." I tell him.

He gasps. "Are you serious?"

I nod. "Very."

He smirks. "I'll make sure you try some soon."

I blush and look down, playing with my fingers. He sighs and clears his throat.

"Can I ask you something?" he asks.

"Yes."

"Are you sure you accidentally got locked in the closet?"

I avoid his gaze and scratch my hair again. I thought he would forget about it. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want him to know that it was aunt that did it to me.

"Y-yes. Remember I told you I'm very clumsy." I stutter, with a nervous smile.

He raises his brows at me and grabs one of my hands gently.

"Are you sure? Maadwoa, you know you can talk to me, right?" he softly tells me and I glance at our hands, my face heating up.

His tone almost made me melt. I wanted to tell him right then and there but I'm scared. I don't want my aunt to hate me even more and I don't want him pitying me. How I wish I could just tell him about it but I don't want to provoke her even more.

I am broken out of my thoughts when I hear one of the guards talking to the worker.

"Mind your business. That has nothing to do with you. Just get us our ice cream." the guard scolds the worker, who was watching Danny and I. Danny quickly removes his hand from mine and I pull my hands back to my lap.

"It was an accident, I promise." I say, answering his question.

He narrows his eyes at me, and I know he doesn't believe me but he doesn't question me any further. The guards walk over to our table and hand us our ice cream cones. I thank them and carefully grab the cone, a huge smile forming on my face. Food and I have a special relationship. I start licking the sweet delicacy, almost moaning at the goodness. White chocolate is simply the best.

Danny chuckles. "I see the ice cream has made you happy."

I nod and lick more. "Yes, thank you Danny. You're a hero."

He licks his ice cream before scoffing. "I just wanted you to cheer up. I'm glad it worked."

* *

After two hours of ice cream and talking, Danny decides to take me back home. It was almost 3 and he didn't want to keep me for too long, although I wanted him to. Anything to stay out of the house longer.

We walk towards my verandah and I see my aunt sitting there, preparing a meal. I frown when I see her. It's too soon, I wish I could go back to the ice cream parlour and swim in more ice cream.

She sees us and plasters another fake smile on her face.

"Oh, you guys are back already?" she questions.

Danny nods with a smirk. "Yes, I don't want to keep her too late."

"I hope you both enjoyed yourselves."

He looks at me and smiles while I nod bashfully.

"Yes, I had a pleasant time." he replies and I feel my face heat up again.

"Well that's nice. I'm preparing soup for us to eat with rice balls, would you like to stay for some?" she offers.

I silently hope that he accepts and stays over, just so I don't have to be in the house alone with her.

He clears his throat. "Erm, thank you, but I really have to get going. I really appreciate the offer."

I frown to myself and my aunt nods.

"That's fine. Please stay for dinner one of these days." she tells him and he nods.

"No problem. I will be leaving now." he informs and I reluctantly nod.

He smirks at me and puts his arms around my waist, pulling me into a hug. I instantly hug back and smile to myself. I could hug him all day. Unfortunately, he lets go and pats my shoulder.

"I will see you soon, Maadwoa." he tells me.

"Bye Danny." I wave, watching him walk back to the limousine.

When he is out of sight, my aunt laughs to herself and claps her hands sarcastically.

"This girl is too funny." she says to herself and I cross my arms at her. What is so amusing to her?

"I hope you know that the prince would never stoop to your level. Just know that he only pities you and that's why he's always here. He can't even bear to sit here and eat with us." she spits at me.

I frown but a part of me believes her. The prince has money and power, why would he even want to be seen in public with me.

"And as for that stunt you pulled with the closet, I hope the ice cream filled you up because you are not eating tonight. Wicked girl." she seethes, glaring at me.

I look at my feet and slowly walk past her into the house. When I close the door behind me, she laughs again.

"Ha! I'm waiting for you to come home crying because of this prince. Keep telling yourself that he cares about you. Foolish girl."

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Hello lovely people! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I may update two more chapters soon so stay tuned ;) Please comment and vote!

Song: Kuami Eugene - Walaahi