CHAPTER 5- Leaving Without Looking Back
214 Words
The answer didn’t come immediately. It took her a while before she realized she was being ignored.
"We still got a lot to do, please step out for the next person to come in. A letter will be sent out once everything is finalized. You can go now". said one of the palace staff.
"Alright thanks," she turned and left dejected.
Amina returned home with uncertainty sitting heavy in her chest.
Days passed.
Nothing.
Then—
A letter.
Delivered in the afternoon heat, folded and official-looking, like something important had decided to visit her life.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
She read it once.
Then again.
Then a third time, just to be sure her eyes weren’t lying.
She had been accepted.
Not into comfort.
Not into luxury.
But into opportunity.
“Auntie…” she said, her voice barely steady.
Abena barely glanced at the paper before shrugging.
“If they want to use you for cleaning, that’s their business.”
No pride.
No support.
Just indifference.
And somehow… that made leaving easier.
That night, Amina packed quietly.
A few clothes.
A small cloth bundle.
And a heart full of something unfamiliar.
Hope.
She didn’t sleep much.
And before sunrise, she stepped out of the compound.
This time…
She didn’t look back.
- Writer
