It's been four years since i finished high school, and all i do is wake up in the morning, clean, cook, get ready and leave before 8am to my uncle's store. I run the business untill 9pm if i have to cook dinner and 11pm if there's food to eat when we get home. This became a daily routine and it went on for years. I wanted to achieve more in life, i was tired of living in a static way, but i didn't know how to go about it.
I started living with my uncle after the death of my father, he promised to sponsor my education in the university, i knew if i stayed with my mother that she wouldn't be able to sponsor me, that's the reason i decided to go live with my uncle.
I saw friends who finished high school same year with me get admitted into the university, some travelled abroad, while others learnt skills that would help them in the future. As for me, all i ever did was my routine daily activity, nothing different. I wondered when i would also start something exciting, a journey that would shape my future.
I've always wanted to go to the university, so that i can give my mother and sibling's a better life. Because my uncle know's how much i desire going to the university, he was determined to keep using me to his own advantage. I worked both a home and at his store without any pay.
I was a cheerful child and i had good customer relationship, as a result, i usually get lots of gifts from customers. The business continue to grow because of the way i managed customer complaints, making sure they get value for their money.
On one faithful Wednesday afternoon, a regular customer named Michael came to get stuff from the store, he said to me "why don't you want to further your education? You are young and very intelligent "
His question left me dumbfounded, i stammered, not knowing what to say.
So many thoughts ran through my mind in seconds and i finally broke the silence and told him that I would love to, but I'm still waiting for my uncle. Then Michael said "why not discuss with your uncle, so that you will know what plans he has for you". I told Michael that i would and thanked him for his concerns.
That night when i got home i couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about how to bring up the discussion with my uncle. My uncle is very strict, he doesn't smile, he doesn't discuss anything with me, he forbids me from having friends, no one can visit me and i can't visit anyone either. I was all alone, he frowns whenever he finds me having a conversation with customers. How do i approach my uncle? I asked myself. I decided to pen down my words and go through it many times, i also prepared possible questions he might ask and my responses to them. I studied it for a week before mustering up the courage to meet my uncle.
I approached my uncle and politely told him that it's been four years i finished high school, and that i would really love to further my education. My words seemed to have angered him because he snapped at me, shouting at the top of his voice, he asked that i told him the person that put such thoughts in my head. He also said that i should focus on growing his business and continue to be a good girl before he sends me back to my mother to starve.
His words pierced to my heart, i felt weak and hopeless. I never expected such response from my uncle, what will i do now? I thought to myself.
I cried bitterly that night, sleep was far away from me. I kept thinking about my life. How would I give my mother and siblings a better life? I asked myself without answers.
Next day, i woke up and did my routine work. I went to the store like nothing happened, even though deep down i was torn, sad and hopeless. A customer named Evan that usually admires my cheerfulness noticed i wasn't my usually self. She sincerely asked what was wrong and i opened up to her. She listened attentively to me and cheered me up with encouraging words. She advised that i start saving to achieve my goals, "that's the only way out" she said. I told her that my uncle doesn't pay me a dime, so how do i save. Then she whispered something unexpected "then pay yourself from the business"
I thanked her for advising me and vowed within me to achieve my goals.
I started saving, i secretly opened an account and would save cash gifts given to me by customers, which I previously used to remit to my uncle, i also paid myself from the business.
One year after, i had saved enough and decided to apply for a course in the university. I got someone to help me process my admission and i also informed my mother about my plans.
Two weeks later, my uncle started acting cold towards me, he wouldn't respond to my greetings and he would fault anything i do.
Then he did the unexpected! He stopped me from going to the store. He said he has been watching me and noticed i acted differently and too confident and that he would find out in time. He went to his store and handled his business himself. Customers kept looking for me, they preferred my service to his, he started losing customers.
My uncle was arranging the store when he something that belongs to me, something i had kept secret from him.
Guess what! It was my bank opening slip i had kept hidden in the shop, not knowing about my uncle's plan to stop me from going to the store, i had left it there, thinking it was safer.
My uncle came back that night furious, asking how i managed to have an account since I'm always at the store. He asked that i withdraw the money and bring to him and close the account.
I became scared and worried. "O God, i hope he doesn't find out i applied for admission" i prayed silently. What will i do now? I'm scared of making any wrong move because my uncle's eyes are on me, watching intently my every move.
Three days after he found out about the account, he told me to leave his house and go back to my mother because i didn't obey his instructions to withdraw the money and close the account. With my mind made up to face any obstacles and not giving in to defeat, i started packing up. After i had finished packing, he went through my stuff to see if he would see anything to implicate me, but found nothing.
I left and went back to my mother, i narrated everything to her and she wept and encouraged me for my bravery. Three months after returning home, i got the best news of my life. Something i had worked so hard for, something I had dreamed of, something that brought so much joy to me and my family.
Can you guess?
Well i have gotten admission to study my preferred course in the university. I gasped for air, it was all tears of joy, i was surprised and happy, my dream had come through.
I felt like the happiest person in the world, my joy overflowed.
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