Boom!...Afia jolted awake by the a sound in the middle of the night her Dad quickly scooped her up Afia .I called you here to have a little conversation with you, and then Afia sat and nodded head with "Afia what's wrong? Bad dream?.She nodded. What was it about my daughter?. Come sit with me i want us to have a father daughter talk. How is school? Afia replied "school is fine" . Good, hope you're taking your studies seriously? " yes Father. "Very good school is a great asset every child needs so take yours serious so you can be a great person in future says Mr John. "My daughter, by God's grace, I've won an American lottery, and my visa has been approved, so I'll be travelling to the White's man land in seeking of greener pasture so i can give you and your younger siblings a better life. Afia said in a joyous voice, "we thank God o Daddy, so when are you leaving and when are you coming back? I hope you'll come and take us with you because I have heard beautiful stories about America in my school and I would love to see it with her smiley face and her father said my daughter I've not left yet and you're asking when I'm coming and he laughed. My dear, my flight is next tomorrow. Afia said, "Okay, Daddy, in a calm but excited tone and her father added, please be a good daughter to your stepmother and take care of your younger siblings and take your education seriously. Afia said, "I'll make you proud, Papa, and she went to bed.
"As the sun peeked through the curtains, the birds chirping outside signalled a new day – one that held promises of change for Afia, but uncertainty about what lay ahead."
She said in a joyous voice, "It's a beautiful day, and I must get ready for school. She knelt to say a word of prayer for her family and hurriedly went to wake her younger siblings to get ready for school. Afia bumped into her father on her way to take a shower. "Good morning, Daddy, in Afia's voice, "Good morning, Afia, Mr. John responded, and he said, "Go and take a shower, I'm preparing breakfast for you and your siblings, Afia went to the washroom, and as she entered, she started singing as she normally does. Mummy got the young ones ready, and they went to sit on the dining table waiting for their elder sister "Afia". My daughter says her stepmother, the food is getting cold, and you might get late for school. Afia rushed to join her 2 siblings for breakfast their Daddy prepared for them.
They left for school, and Mr. John and his wife began talking, " My beautiful wife, you know today is last day being together as families, as I'm about to leave to another man's land in seeking of greener pastures please, take care of our kids and I know you've been a good mother to Afia ever since we got married and I must say I'm very grateful and God bless you for that.
Please continue loving her as your own, and when the time is right, I'll come back and take you'll with me for us to leave together again. Mrs Sophia responded, "Afia is my child as the younger ones, so don't worry, I'll take very good care of her, and I promise to love her as my child that she is so honey don't worry your pretty heard. Mr John thanked her wife and hugged her. He began packing with the help of her wife. "Honey, the wife called. Is there anything you'll like to take along? No, my wife, i think I'm set to go. She said alright then, what time is your flight?. it's 9am in the morning, then his wife said, "Then you must leave as early as four dawn to the station so you can catch the first bus to Accra in other to get at the airport early. Yeah, you're right, my dear, but first I have to visit the barbering salon for a cut, so see you when I'm back. He left, and his wife started arranging the house and filled the water tank. Afterwards, she went to the market to stock up the house and prepared dinner for her family. "Afia slipped into the house quietly, her mind racing. She hadn't expected it – not today, not like this. She saw the stain and panic set in. Rushing to her room, she changed into fresh clothes, hoping no one noticed. "Just as Afia was trying to process her emotions, her stepmother appeared at the door, a knowing look in her eyes. 'Afia, come here,' she said softly, beckoning her to the bathroom. Without a word, she handed Afia a pad and some painkillers, her touch surprisingly gentle. 'It's okay, m' dear. You're a big girl now,' she whispered, helping Afia clean up the stain on her uniform. Afterwards, she taught how to wear the pads and then added to make sure to wear them until the last flow, and Afia nodded. Her mother went to continue what she was doing, and Afia had a nap. "The afternoon air was filled with laughter and chatter as the children spilt out of school, their backpacks slumping over their shoulders. Afia's heart swelled with excitement as she watched her younger siblings burst through her window, their faces flushed with excitement. Just then, their father walked in, his fresh cut gleaming under the evening sun, a smile spreading across his face. 'How was school?' he asked, scooping them into a warm hug." They answered it was good, and he asked where's your sister? Afia, then they said we heard she came home earlier because she was sick. Just as he was about to call his wife and asked about Afia, he got greeted by the sounds of sizzling plantains and the aroma of stew wafting from the kitchen, where his wife was busy cooking up. He sat on a chair in the living room and asked his children to go inside and remove their uniforms. Afia came to welcome her father, and he asked why she came home earlier she "Afia hesitated, then later said to her father as he settled into his favourite chair. 'Daddy... I... I had my period today,' she whispered, her face flushing with embarrassment. Her father's expression softened, and he pulled her into a warm hug. 'It's okay, my girl. You're growing up. Let's get you sorted out,' he said with a gentle smile, making Afia feel a bit more at ease."Welcome home, my husband his wife said out loud from the kitchen. He responded, "Thanks, love. "Afia's stepmother called out from the kitchen, 'Afia, come help me set the table, and tell your siblings to wash up, dinner's ready!' Afia nodded, grateful for the distraction, and began gathering plates and utensils. 'Kofi! Ama! Time for dinner!' she shouted, calling her younger siblings, who reluctantly left their room to come wash their hands. As they gathered around the table, Afia's father smiled, 'Let's give thanks,' and they all joined hands for a quick prayer before digging in. As they ate, Afia's father spoke up, his voice filled with excitement and a hint of nostalgia. 'Kids, Daddy's got to travel soon for work, but I'll be back before you know it. Kofi, Ama, be good for Mommy, okay? Listen to her and help out. When I make it big, we'll go on a trip together, He looked at Afia, 'You take care of your siblings, yeah?' The kids nodded, wide-eyed, and their father added, 'And pray for Daddy, God listens to children's prayers, I know He does.' The table fell quiet for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in.The house settled into a quiet rhythm as the kids settled in to do their homework. Afia's stepmother began clearing the table, the cl cl cl of dishes being stacked a soothing background noise. Afia sat with her siblings, helping Kofi with his math problems while Ama scribbled away in her notebook. Their father sat in the living room, his eyes on his phone as he made travel arrangements, his mind already on the road ahead.