Sometimes life isn't what we hoped and planned for but living your life to the fullest is the best revenge.
My name's Ruth Gray,the third daughter and last born of the late Mavis and Blocken Grey.
I actually had no relationship with my elder siblings and all the other family members.
One of the fateful days I was on my way to the market when I met my childhood friend Clara,I couldn't believe my eyes,she was so grown and I could tell by the way she was dressed and the car she drove in to that she was successful and a business woman.
We exchanged greetings and we found ourselves talking about my miserable life and how god had forsaken me,she promised to take me along with her to the city and give me a new life which made my heart leap in joy.
Well,my siblings swore that I'd be a disappointed like I had always been wich was hurtful but I was happy at the thought of starting my life afresh,I was going to prove them wrong and be better than them.
The day came and Clara took me with her.
"Wow", I exclaimed as I walked fully into the house
"Is this yours?", I asked unbelievably and she nodded her head.
"Its beautiful", I said walking around touching everything I could that I almost tripped.
"Watch it now", she warned walking closer to me.
"Never in my life have I seen something like this", I mentioned smiling
"Thank you Clara,for allowing me stay here", I appreciated and she just smiled.
"Let me show you your room", she announced walking towards the staircase and I trailed behind her quietly Up to the corridor.
She stopped in front of the second door on the left and faced me.
"This will be you room,feel at home", she said pushing the door agape and we both walked in.
I gasped in awe at the very big room with a king sized bed,a dressing table and mirror with a closet.
"Beautiful", I almost screamed
"You like?", she asked and I nodded my head vigorously.
"My room is the one opposite,take your bath and come down stairs,dinner will be ready soon", she said and I nodded.
She turned and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.
"Great", I exclaimed
I hurriedly took off my clothes and ran to the second door in the room.
I stared at the clean bath tab,the shower and the neatly arranged blue towels.
It was like she still remembered my favorite colour.
I stepped into the bath tab and switched on the tab and walked until the water covered my body and I had my bath,
It felt so good and refreshing.
I stepped out of the water and wrapped a towel around my body when done and released the dirty water then walked back to the room drying my body and hair,
I dropt the towel on the floor and stood infront of the dressing mirror admiring my body for the first time.
I am short,dark in complexion,afro hair,pink lips which the upper lip was fuller than the lower lip,small blossom,a little curvy and manageable backside.
I applied the lotions placed on the dressing table and searched through my luggage for something better to wear,all those were old and some torn,I sighed in frustration sitting on thw floor,I took a glace to the bed and I saw a blue floral dress placed on it.
I stood on my feet and walked to the bed,took the dress and wore it then stood in front of the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.
I combed my hair and walked out if the room bare footed.
I walked through the stairs to the dinning and Clara was already on seat.
"Come my dear,grab a seat", she said with a smile with I returned wholeheartedly.
I got to the table and pulled a chair then sat down.
"You smell fresh", she announced and I smiled.
"Thank you", I appreciated.
"Dish yourself and eat to your satisfaction", she said and I waisted no time in doing so.
Spaghetti and meatballs..yummy
I ate my food like there was no tomorrow.
"Slow down,you'll choke", she warned and I slowed down feeling embarrassed.
"The food isn't going anywhere", she said chuckling.
"So,tell me,how have you been my friend?", she suddenly asked.
"Just fine,I've been managing", I said without sparing her a glance.
"Your family?", she added and I almost choked on the food.
"Sorry", she handed me a glass of water and I collected it gulping down the whole content.
"Um", I clears my throat.
"They are fine", I said with a sad face which she didn't fail to notice.
"You can tell me everything", she said and I dropt the fork on the plate then faced her.
"I don't have a family,my family lost the day I played my parents to rest,they are all dead", I said rushing my words.
"Calm down,tell me why is that", she said and I looked away.
"My siblings hate me to the extend of calling me an embarrassement,a good for nothing and lazy human being", a tear slipped out of my eye and I quickly wiped it off with the back of my hand.
"Hush",
"Is it my fault I'm unemployed?,I did go to school,didn't I?", I almost yelled.
"I know,I promise to help you,you will rise up high like a wave,inspire of the aches you will,you will prove them wrong", she said wearing a sad face.
"I don't ever want to see them again,they are dead to me", I said sadly.
"You like the dress?", she tried to change my mood and it worked
"Yes,thank you", I smiled.
"Tomorrow we're going shopping,you need new clothes so you can look like city babes", she announced and my smile got wider.
"I'll appreciate that",
"Now finish your food and go to rest,shopping isn't child's play", she chuckled and I nodded eating my food.
"Good night now", she bade.walking towards the stairs.
"Night", my eyes followed her as she walked through the stairs until she was in no view.
I finished my meal and packed the plates then walked to the kitchen,I drop them on the sink and walked out to the dining then up the stairs to my room.
I opened the door and walked in closing it behind me and walked to the bed and threw myself on it.
"So soft", I mumbled closing my eyes.
***
"Waley waley sleepy head", a voice rang through my ears and I groaned in annoyance opening my eyes.
"Good morning", she greeted when my eyes met hers.
"Clara,what time is it?", I asked turning to the other side of the bed and clised my eyes.
"Time for you to wake up,come on now", she replied
The sunlight went through the window and hit my eyes and I groaned once again.
"Clara", I warned opening my eyes again.
'God,she just opened the curtains', I frowned.
"Wake up", she screamed.
"Fine", I screamed back dragging myself out of bed.
"Have your bath and come downstairs for breakfast,we have to hit the mall during early hours of morning", she announced.
'Yeah right', I rolled my eyes.
'But wait,I can't wait to see the shopping mall center', I jumped in joy.
"Watch it", she warned chuckling.
I ran to the bathroom and had myself cleaned up then returned to the room.
It was clean and the bed was arranged.
I smiled applying my lotions.
I was about calling for Clara for I had no idea of what to wear when a beautiful green dress on the bed caught my eye.
I walked to the bed and I almost tripped over the heels next to it,
I took the dress on wore it with the matching heels.
I looked so beautiful and I was happy,
My life was going to change for the better and j couldn't ask for more.
I toon the hand bag on the bed and walked out of the room closing the door behind me.
"Oh,you're done?", our eyes met
"Yeah", I replied
She was looking so beautiful in that yellow dress that stopped slightly above her knees,just like mine,with matching heels and bag.
"Likewise", she closed the door and we both walked down the stairs to the dining.
She took her car keys and we walked out of the house bolting the door behind us.
We walked to the car and got in,on starting the engine she drove off to the mall.
I was busy looking out the window during the ride,the city was so beautiful and peace fun,maybe because it was a Tuesday morning.
"You aren't working today?", I broke the silence.
"I took the day off for you", she said smiling.
"Won't you get into trouble for that?", I asked again and she shook her head.
"My boss is a very nice person",
I nooded my head.
The car came to a halt and I looked out of the window.
"Beautiful", I exclaimed with my mouth open.
"You think?,wait until you see the inside", she said
We both came down and she locked the car.
She held my hand and I gave her a glare.
"I don't want you to get lost", she announced.
We both walked inside the mall and indeed,the inside was even more beautiful.
We shopped from one shop to the other until we were done and we walked to the salon.
"You need to fix your hair", she announced.
We walked inside and we had our seats.
"Hello", a fine lady greeted with a polite smile.
"Hi", Clara greeted back returning the smile.
"What can we do for you?", she asked looking at me.
'Oh yeah,I'm the one with unfixed hair', I literally rolled my eyes.
"Um,I don't know,any suggestions?", I asked
She ushered me to the other chair infront of a mirror and I stood up and sat on it facing the mirror.
She handed me am album and I took it then paged through until I saw a beautiful lady on braids,she was dark in complexion and had a round face just like me.
"This one", I pointed and she nooded taking the album away.
I closed my eyes as she worked her magic on my hair and waited patiently.
"All done", she announced after some time and I opened my eyes.
I stared in awe at my reflection through the mirror.
The braids were quite long and I loved them.
I stood up and faced Clara.
"Wow,you look beautiful", she complimented and I mouthed a thank you.
"I'll be coming Jere each month to change this", I said to the lady with a smile and she smiled back.
"And I want it to be done by you and only you", I added
I just liked her and I don't know why.
"Thank you ma'am", she appreciated.
Clara opened her purse and handed the lady her money and we walked out with the shopping bags on our hands.
We walked to the parking lot and I waited for Clara to open the trunk and when she did I placed the bags inside and closed it.
I walked around and opened the does then hooped in on the passenger seat and Clara did the same.
On starting the engine she drove back home.
'Home?,that feels nice', I smiled at the thought.
***
"Try all of them on and let's see how they look on you", she said sitting on the couch and I frowned.
"You want me to walk all the way from my room to show you the clothes?", I asked as my frown deepened.
The thought of it freaked me out.
I was tired and i felt like my head was spinning.
"Okay,let's go to your room", she suggested.
'Better',
We both walked through the stars to my room and she sat on the Ned watchingbme change from one outfit to the other.
I loved all of them but the blue ones even more.
"Thank you so much Clara,god will bless you and I promise to pay you back after I get a job", I said seated next to her and she shook her head.
"What are friends for?", she kissed my cheek.
"Now we need to get you a makeup kit", she announced.
"But I don't know how to use that", I protested.
"You'll learn,now pack all these things and come downstairs", she said and walked out of the room.
The dress I was on was a little formal so I changed it to leggings and oversized tank top along with sleepers.
After arranging the clothes in the closet I walked down the stairs.
It was already dinner time.
'How time flies',
"Dinner's ready,we're having mash potatoes and chicken curry", she announced when she noticed my presence and I walked closer.
"Sounds nice", I sat on the chair and dished myself.
"Your phone hasn't rang since you got here", she announced and I froze.
'This is embarrassing',
"That's because I don't have one", I dropt the bomb and her eyes widened then adjusted herself on the seat.
"I'll get one for you then", she said picking a spoon.
I did the same and we both ate our food quietly.
We were soon done and she stoop up and packed the plates then walked to the kitchen and came back after a moment.
"I'm going to work tomorrow,goodnight", she bade.
"Good night", I stood up and trailed behind her through the stairs.
"See you in the morning", she opened the door to her room and walked in closing it behind her and I did the same.
I went to the bathroom to freshen up and layed on the bed naked.
It was so unbearably hot and the air conditioner wasn't helping at all.
***
"Ruth", a feminine voice rang through my ears and I turned to the other side
"Ruth,please come downstairs", it came again and I groaned before opening my eyes.
I dragged myself out of bed and walked to the door.
"Shit", I cursed realizing I was without clothes.
I walked to the closet dragging my feet.
