Ada sat alone at the backyard, her face buried in her palms.
“I can’t continue like this anymore,” she muttered, tears streaming down. “I’m tired of this shame…I’m tired of this suffering. I go out every day only to get insulted. Even this pure water business is not working for me. God, please… come to my rescue.”

Her voice broke, and she pressed her chest as though it would ease the pain inside.
“My own mother doesn’t even care…she is not helping matters at all but it’s my fault. It’s all my fault. If only I had listened to Mama… if only I had listened to Emeka… I wouldn’t be suffering like this. Chidi!” she cried bitterly. “God will judge you. God will surely judge you for putting me in this condition.”

She wept harder, her sobs filling the empty space, but when she heard footsteps approaching, she quickly wiped her tears and tried to compose herself.

Her mother, Ugochi, walked out, carrying a bundle of Ada’s clothes. She flung them roughly on the ground.

“Mama?!” Ada exclaimed, standing up. “What are you doing? Those are my clothes!”

“Watch what I’m about to do,” Ugochi said coldly as she marched into the kitchen and came back with kerosene and a box of matches.

“Mama… Mama, no!” Ada fell on her knees. “Please, you want to burn my clothes? These are the only fine clothes I have. Please, Mama, don’t do this to me. I beg you in God’s name.”

“Let go of me before I burn you together with these rags you called clothes!” her mother snapped, pushing her away. “I bought them, and I have every right to burn them. You made me a laughingstock in this village, Ada. Because of you, I lost the church title I was supposed to get. Because of you, women mock me in every gathering. Today, I will teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!”

“Mama, please!” Ada wailed, crawling on her knees. She saw her favorite gown in her mother’s hand and stretched her arm desperately. “Please, don’t burn that one! I love that one… please Mama, I beg you!”

But Ugochi’s face remained hard. She poured the kerosene, struck the match, and threw it into the heap. Flames swallowed Ada’s dresses, shoes, and head ties in seconds.

Ada screamed, beating the ground with both fists. Her tears flowed like rain, but Ugochi only folded her arms, watching the fire.

“You want me to have no peace in this village?” Ugochi hissed. “Then you too, Ada, you will never have peace in this village.”

The next day, Ada returned from the market. She had managed to sell a few sachets of water, and for the first time in weeks, her face lit up with a smile. She entered the compound singing softly, but her mother’s sharp eyes caught her happiness. Ugochi’s heart boiled with anger.

Later, Ada fetched water from the stream. She bathed without soap and went to take the small money she had kept under her pillow for transport to Community Secondary School Umuaku. But the money was gone.

Ada’s heart dropped. She searched her bag, her boxes, under the mat, everywhere. Nothing. She staggered to her mother’s room where Ugochi lay, pretending to sleep.

“Mama… Mama!” Ada called. No response.
She swallowed hard. “Mama, where is the money I kept under my pillow?”

Ugochi opened her eyes slowly, glaring at her. “Are you mad? You barge into my room to accuse me of stealing? Has something gone wrong with your head?”

Ada clenched her fists. “Mama, you told me to mind my business, and I’ve been doing just that. But you… you took my money.”

Ugochi sat up, her face twisting with rage. “Why will I not take it, eh? You brought shame upon me, and now you want to enjoy while I drown in disgrace? I will never allow that!”

“Mama… why are you doing this to me?” Ada cried. “Am I the first girl in this village to get pregnant out of wedlock? Yes, I made a mistake, but must you punish me forever? You burned my clothes, you banned me from touching your food, from using your things. One day, you’ll throw me out of this house. But before you do, I will leave with my own legs.”

Ugochi looked away, but Ada stretched her hand. “Mama, give me back my money.”

“You are free to leave, Ada. The door is open. You are no longer useful to me in this house. Get out of my sight!”

Ada’s lips trembled. “Mama, one day you’ll wake up and you won’t find me here again. I’m tired of being maltreated by my own mother.” She stormed out, tears pouring.

Ugochi broke down immediately and began to cry silently.

The following day, Early in the morning Ada trekked to Community Secondary School Umuaku. The school compound was wide, shaded by old mango and almond trees. Students played football in the dusty field, some gossiped under a tree, while others crowded around the snack stand.

The gateman, an old man chewing kola nut, opened the gate when Ada knocked.

“Ah, fine aunty! Longest time o!” he greeted warmly.

Ada forced a smile. “Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning. Ever since those corpers left, you no dey visit again,” he teased.

Ada sighed. “You won’t understand. Please, is the principal around?”

“Yes, she’s in her office. Come in, I’ll take you there.”

He led her to the principal’s office.

Inside, the cream-colored walls were decorated with pictures of past students and a large portrait of the governor. A standing fan hummed in one corner, pushing around the smell of chalk. On the desk were a red table clock, stacks of papers, and a large ledger.

Mrs. Maduka, the principal, looked up from her writing. “Good morning, my dear. Please, sit down.”

Ada sat nervously, her hands shaking.

“How may I help you?” the principal asked, adjusting her glasses.

Ada stammered, “Ma… I… I’m sorry to disturb you, but do you still remember the two corpers who served here?”

“Chidi and Emeka?”

“Yes, ma,” Ada said quickly.

“What about them?”

Ada scratched her head, trembling. “Please, ma… I want their contact. Their phone numbers… or where they stay in the city.”

The principal frowned, folding her arms. “And for what exactly do you need their numbers? Those corpers finished service and left month ago. Why do you suddenly want them?”

Ada swallowed hard. “Chidi… Chidi got me pregnant, ma.”

“What?!” Mrs. Maduka dropped her pen sharply on the desk. “Chidi got you pregnant? And you want me to involve myself in this matter? Young girl, do you know the kind of trouble you are inviting?”

Ada quickly dropped to her knees. “Please, ma. I know you have records… their files… something else. I just want to call him, to inform him. I have suffered enough. Please, ma.”

The principal shook her head in disbelief. “Ada, do you hear yourself? You are asking me to release confidential information because of a personal issue. What if he denies it? What if his people accuse me of breaking privacy laws? Do you want to put me into trouble?”

“Please, ma,” Ada sobbed, pressing her forehead to the desk. “I’m begging you in God’s name. I have nobody else to run to. Chidi abandoned me. My mother has rejected me. I just need to hear from him, even if it’s the last time.”

Mrs. Maduka sighed heavily. “Do you have any proof that Chidi is truly responsible for your pregnancy? Anything that shows he was once with you?”

Ada shook her head helplessly. “I only have my tears, ma. My condition is the proof. Please, help me. Don’t let me die with this pain.”

The principal leaned back, silent for a moment. Then she whispered, almost to herself, “This is exactly why I always warn young girls… never to trust sweet words. Now see where it has landed you.”

She looked at Ada again, her stern face softening. “Stand up, Ada. Stop kneeling.”

Ada obeyed slowly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

“I will help you,” Mrs. Maduka finally said. “But hear me clearly: if this man denies you, don’t drag my name into it. I don’t want to be mentioned anywhere. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma. I swear, I won’t involve you.”

The principal opened her drawer, pulled out the record book, and flipped through. She found Chidi’s contact, dialed it to confirm, but he didn’t pick. Finally, she scribbled the number and address on a sheet and handed it to Ada.

“Take it,” she said firmly.

Ada hugged the paper to her chest, tears streaming. “Thank you, ma. God bless you! God will bless you abundantly.”

Mrs. Maduka sighed again and waved her hand. “Go, my daughter. And please… be wise. Don’t let this mistake destroy you completely.”

Later that evening, Ada headed to chinedu’s house she met Chinedu and Ujunwa his girlfriend sitting on a wooden bench outside, laughing over a small gist. Their laughter pierced her heart like a knife. She hesitated at a distance, her hands trembling, but finally gathered courage and walked towards them.

“Mm… Chinedu,” Ada called softly, her voice weak.

Chinedu and Ujunwa turned, their smiles fading as they saw her swollen eyes and broken face.

“What do you want, Ada?” Chinedu asked bluntly, shifting uneasily.

Ada lowered her gaze, her lips quivering. “Please… just hear me out. I didn’t come here to cause trouble.”

Ujunwa whispered, “Chinedu, let her talk. Look at her… she’s broken.”

Ada nodded quickly, tears spilling. She dropped to her knees in front of them. “Chinedu… I know I hurt you. I know I disgraced you in front of everyone. I insulted you, I poured water on you, mocked you after all the good you did for me. God knows I regret every single thing I did.”

Chinedu’s jaw tightened. He looked away, shaking his leg nervously. “Ada, do you think saying sorry now will erase everything? Do you know how I felt that day when you pushed me aside like trash? You destroyed my pride, Ada. People still laugh at me because of you.”

Ada cried louder, holding her chest. “I know! I know I wronged you. I don’t deserve your kindness. I don’t even deserve to stand here. But please… forgive me. I’m not asking you to take me back. I just need your forgiveness before I leave this village tomorrow. My heart will not rest if you don’t forgive me.”

Chinedu finally looked at her, his eyes glistening but his face still hard. “So you’re going to the city… to meet that Chidi of yours?”

Ada nodded slowly. “Yes. I’ll go and face him. He must take responsibility for his actions.”

Ujunwa, who had been quiet, leaned forward. “Ada, do you think it will be easy? That man might deny you to your face. You’re carrying too much pain, and you want to walk into more pain. Are you ready for that?”

Ada wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “I have no choice, Uju. I can’t continue suffering here. I would rather face him than remain a stranger in my father’ house.”

Chinedu sighed deeply, pressing his palms together. He turned to Ujunwa as if he was seeking guidance. She gave him a small nod.

He finally spoke, his voice calmer. “Ada… I don’t hate you. I only hated the way you treated me. But hearing you now, seeing you like this… my heart softens. I forgive you, Ada. Truly, I forgive you.”

Ada broke into another round of sobs, bending her head to the ground. “Thank you, Chinedu… thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. God bless you for letting go of the pain I caused.”

Ujunwa reached out and touched Ada’s shoulder gently. “Stand up, my sister. Don’t cry anymore. The road ahead may be rough, but you will survive. Just remember, no matter what happens, don’t lose yourself. Hold onto hope.”

Ada stood slowly, wiping her swollen eyes. She looked at both of them, her voice shaking. “I’ll never forget this kindness. Even if the world rejects me, I’ll remember that you both forgave me. Thank you, Chinedu… thank you, Uju.”

She turned and walked away into the night, her figure fading like a shadow. Chinedu watched her go, his lips pressed tightly.

“If only she had listened to her mother from the beginning…” he muttered.

Ujunwa sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. “But at least, she has realized her mistakes. That alone is something.”

Chinedu nodded slowly, his heart heavy.

To be continued….