THE DAUGHTER NOBODY WANTED

THE DAUGHTER NOBODY WANTED Written by ARIKE ROSE CHAPTER ONE THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED Mia Adelaja woke before sunrise. She folded her thin blanket and placed it beside the old boxes stacked against the wall. The small storage room was the only place she was allowed to sleep. "Mia!" She quickly stood. "Yes, ma?" "Have you fetched water?" "No, ma. I'm going now." She grabbed the bucket and hurried outside. By the time she returned, her arms were already aching. She swept the compound, washed the plates, cleaned the kitchen and hung the clothes. Nobody thanked her. Nobody asked if she was tired. As she passed the front gate, Mia saw children walking to school. Their uniforms were neat, and their bags hung over their shoulders. She stopped for a moment. She wished she could join them. She had always wanted to go to school. Instead, she spent her days working. "Mia!" She quickly looked away and continued walking. That evening, she ate the little food left for her and returned to the storage room. Lying on her thin mattress, she whispered into the darkness, "One day, I'll become a soldier." It was the only dream she had. And she refused to give it up.