TORMENT

Sleeping on the floor was not new and Special adjusted just fine when she realized that her room bed gets wet daily. Her father was out of town for an important audit to a firm that he consults for. When she arrived, she was informed by Beatrice and she hoped to see him before she resumed school.

Watching her ordeal every day, Beatrice pulled her aside on her Tenth day at home. "Listen to me child! You will need to grow some tough skin. You can't accept all that is being dished out to you. This is your father's house and you are not a slave. You need to fight back or speak up. Now, I see Treasure go into your room everytime you come downstairs for food with a bowl of water and she returns empty without the water".

Special instantly became so angry. Feeling very motivated, she walked up to Treasure who was sitting by her younger sister Susan, playing their dolls on the dinning table.

"Why did you pour water on my bed Treasure?" Special asked politely.

"Don't you want me to sleep well at night? I have been sleeping on the cold tile floor because my blankets and pillows are wet. Even when I dry them, you still pour water on them. Why?!!!"

"Did you come home to rest or to work in this house. Leave here right now before I call my mum for you. Witch!" Treasure replied with so much confidence that it shattered Special who broke down on the floor crying. Susan her younger sister immediately felt remorseful and came down from her chair to give Special a hug.

"Am so sorry Special. Mummy said she should do it. You can sleep in my room tonight. My bed is big enough for the both of us" the five year old child offered.

"Mummy!!!!!!" Treasure screamed aloud. "Susan is playing with this witch that you warned us to stay away from".

Hope who was lying down in the living room charged towards Special raising her hand to strike her.

Suddenly she remembered that she couldn't hit Special because of her husband's repercussions. "Go outside, go and kneel down under the water tank right now." Hope ordered Special who couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Madam please take it easy, Since this child came home, she has not been eating well and sleeping well either. Now you want to punish her some more? Please have mercy" Beatrice asked as she had been watching the scene from the kitchen where she stood.

"Please mind your business. How I raise her is completely my own prerogative. So Madam Beatrice, stay out of it. Is she your child? You are just being a busy body!!!!" Hope attacked.

She dragged Special outside and made her kneel down under the water tank and she turned it on. The water overflowing from the tank began to drop on Special and this made Hope smile. Her daughter Treasure bursted into laughter as she seemed to like the punishment. They all went inside the house leaving her there all alone. After a while, Hope would come out to laugh aloud as the scene seems amusing. The child stayed there, struggling to wipe the water off her face for about four hours.

As soon as her father's car honked, Hope immediately rushed outside again, asked her to go and bath upstairs quickly, which she did with her legs quivering as she moved.

Professor John was overjoyed to know his daughter was home as he had received her excellent school report while he was away. His daughter was indeed a genius and he was proud to be her Father.

However he became very worried after about twenty minutes of his arrival when she had not come downstairs to greet him. Feeling impatient, he went upstairs to her room.

"Special!!! Daddy is home" He said in front of her room door but no response. Turning the knob of the door open, he saw a lifeless Special looking pale, cold and outstretched on the room floor. He raised an alarm for Hope and She panicked as they took the 11 year old to Hospital for the first time in years.

Hope kept praying aloud for divine protection for the child as they drove to the hospital and John for the first time thought she might actually care of the child.

Special looked lean unlike what he was pre-informed by Mrs Lola. Her skin so pale that one could definitely deduce that she lacked adequate blood supply but he was not a medical personnel to make such diagnosis.Hence he kept his mouth shut.

As an emergency case, she was put on oxygen and intubated. John queried his wife as they waited, who kept stating that she didn't know what happened. Ignoring her, he went outside to the hospital parking lot for a while, taking out his mobile phone, he called the house line to speak with Beatrice the house keeper and what he heard from her mouth made him vengeful.

Entering back inside the waiting hall, the doctor called him into his office and Hope rushed inside oblivious to her husband's change of facial expressions.

"Good evening Proff" The doctor greeted as he had already been acquainted with the family history as this was their family hospital. Treasure, Susan and Ashley were usually his patients.

"Good evening Doctor Mark"

"How is my daughter?"

"She is stable for the now. It's been two hours, I just removed the oxygen and she is being transfused blood as she is anaemic at the moment."

"Oh my God, what could have caused this doctor? Hope asked in fear knowing that she had been starving the child.

"It could be due to Iron defiency anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, penicious anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, A Plastic anaemia, or anaemia of chronic disorder disease or even lack of proper nutrition amongst others but we are going to carry out a thorough investigation." Doctor Mark narrated.

"Oh my God" Professor John exclaimed. The usual medical grammars of doctors were frightening and this was one of the case for him.

"But that is not the main issue Professor"

"Please what is the main issue doctor? I don't want anything to happen to my child" John pleaded.

"I believe she experienced a near drowning syndrome resulting in aspiration pneumonitis.

"What?!!my daughter didn't go swimming today. Or did she?" Professor John screamed to Hope who shook her head in ignorance wondering what to say.

"As a matter of fact, since admitted she had been admitted, she has had three episodes of seizures, as a result of that, coupled with this her unconsciousness state, we are not exactly sure of how much brain damage she has experienced." Doctor Mark explained.

"Please Doctor help me." Hope pleaded.

"We have started her on antibiotics. Hoping she responds soon, she will be fine."

"Thank you Doctor." Hope said.

"Another thing, She had cold clammy extremities as well as extreme palor like she has been under water or cold for a while. So please watch out for that also. Anyways that will be all Prof."

"Thank you Doctor" John appreciated the doctor.

As they shook hands and exchange greetings, John looked at his wife whilst they walked out of the doctor's office.

"So you asked Treasure to pour water on her bed right?" Hope gasped in surprise and wondered how her husband got to know.

"Don't worry, when we get home, you will be more surprised with a divorce letter waiting for you". John assured her. Hope knelt down instantly grabbing her husband by his knees to apologize but he shoved her off which made her fall hard on the floor.

On getting home that night, Treasure and Susan were made to kneel down until they told their father that everything was the instructions from their mother. Professor John couldn't look at Hope his wife without feeling nostalgic. He knew he had made a very mistake maritally but he lacked ideas on how to correct the menace that he has found himself in. He didn't want to divorce the mother of his children but he was been pushed to the wall. He sent his children away from the sitting room as he sat down to think.

"Hope!!" he called out aloud.

"My husband, am here" she responded acting so innocent and repentant but John knew these were all an act.

"Since I will be paying hospital bills this month that I didn't plan for. Moreover, I will be paying hospital bill for a child that has never fallen ill since she was born, there would be no monthly personal allowance for you. I will give the feeding allowance for the house to Beatrice and if you dare question her, I will ensure you regret it for the rest of your wicked life" John said calmly whilst sitting down and Hope knew her husband was dead serious.

"My husband I am sorry. I don't know what came over me. it's the devil. I swear it will never happen again" Hope pleaded.

"It has always been the devil who pushes you to do this evils. That child barely misbehaves in this house. She just came from holiday and you are making her stay miserable. Get out of my sight Hope! You are just a mean soul"

John left her alone crying in the sitting room as he entered the guest room he had come to enjoy in recent times.

Special was discharged a day to her leaving for school. Doctor Mark called her recovery a miracle as no neurological malfunction was detected. Her Father put a call to Mrs Lola to come to the house to pick her up for school. Her provisions were not bought as Her father didn't trust Hope to do a thorough job and he also didn't want her to poison his child. When Mrs Lola came to pick her up the next day, she was in tears when she saw how skinny, pale and dark skinned Special looked. She could barely walk well as she was still recovering.

Professor John was too ashamed to explain anything to Mrs Lola that he simply gave her a cheque covering the entire amount and more required to buy things for Special and walked inside the house. Beatrice had already arranged her school box and ironed all her uniform, hence Special didn't spend much time in preparing for school. Hope came outside to wave Special good bye but was given an unexpected disgrace, One she couldn't ever imagine by Mrs Lola.

"What is this Mrs hope? Just look at a child I dropped off two weeks ago and see hoe you have maltreated her into this thin looking girl? Mrs Lola Screamed, crying at the same time.

"Ha! ma what happened? why are you crying? What did Special say about me just now? I didn't do anything o" Hope replied feigning ignorance.

"You must be ashamed of yourself! Lying at the same time. I pray you get what is coming to you in the future because Special is going to be extremely great in this life and you will grovel at her feet. I promise you".

"Oh please stop making such stupid prophecy! this child is nothing but a witch that will die soon." Hope declared.

"Oh! that is why you have been cruel to her right?" Her husband John suddenly asked from behind her as he has been hearing their voices from inside the house.

"My husband am so sorry. Its not what I meant. it's a slip of tongue" Hope immediately knelt down to apologize as this was her regular mantra.

"Please Mrs Lola I apologize for my wife's rude behavior and conduct. Please see to it that my child is well cared for".

"That is no problem sir. I will take my leave" Mrs Lola stated scowling at Hope as she moved.

"Hope Let's watch and see who dies first in this house." John said to his wife as he entered inside the house.

Mrs Lola stormed angrily off into her car as she drove Special and Toju to school. She wished she had enough time to thoroughly deal with Hope. She gazed at Special in the back seat who was cuddled up by her stepdaughter Toju. Mrs Lola wanted to adopt this child legally and take care of her in an environment void of Hope's influence.

As they arrived in the school, Mrs Grace was further displeased at the state of Special. She ordered a one week rest for the child and assigned a steward to take care for her, bringing the daily book work to her room each day. She picked up the phone and called Special's parents.

She threatened to call the United Nations Child welfare if Special reappears after another Holiday looking the way she did.

By evening, some chefs came to Special's room with pie, cookies and some chocolates. They were all displeased at the state the child was in, as they loved the girls' behavior. They wished her speedy recovery and all these show of love made Special stronger.

She resumed classes the following week and the teachers were once again impressed and amazed at the intelligence of the child. By the time the second test for the third term was over, Mrs Grace gifted Special a blue diary as a reward for her tireless hard work. She had once again increased in weight and her skin looked more radiant. She refused going home during the Mid term opting to stay back learning mathematics as the tutor was around.

Mrs Lola decided that Toju should stay behind during the midterms to keep Special company and bought a lot of goodies as a bribe for her. She was also pleased with Special's academic performance as well as her appearance. Special's influence on. Toju grew so much that She came out with the fifth position at the end of the third term which gladdened her parents.

The regular Holiday abuse continued for Special but she always looked forward to resuming school. She was made the Junior school Prefect by the next class and her excellence in academics made her a darling to most students and teachers.

One time, when she was to resume school. Her father gave her the sum of seventy five thousand naira to give to Mrs Lola who would use it in buying books and provisions for her. As soon as her father left for work, Hope her step mother took twenty thousand naira from th money and ordered Special not to tell anyone. She also told her to start walking to Mrs Lola's house before she is left behind for school.

Special dragged her boxes outside and she began to walk. Having walked some distance from her house, Mrs Lola drove by obviously driving to her house. She was disappointed at Hope but she had gotten used to the woman's wickedness. She collected the money from Special and assured the child that she would always get her the best. She called Special's father and informed him of what had happened. Professor John was exhausted from his wife's irresponsibility and wickedness to his child. He promised Mrs Lola that such would never happen again.

Playhieght became a home for Special and Mrs Grace loved her dearly. She ensured the child never went home for the midterms or special holidays. She would only permit her to go home for the normal holiday after she had taken some extra lessons. Her holiday was usually two weeks.

Hope often wondered why Special's holiday was shorter than most boarding school children she knew but was not getting any answer. Special blossomed into a beautiful teenager by the age of 13 that made most parents compliment her in their street or in their church whenever she was back from school.

Hope's jealousy for the child grew that at slightest provocation, she would punish the child Sometimes, she would give Special a slap across her face. Special grew to be respectful, never confrontational and she loved her sisters dearly Treasure, Susan and Ashley but they didn't love her. They also didn't hide their displeasure about her whenever she was back from school.

Professor John had once called a family meeting threatening to divorce Hope for her unkind ways to his daughter. Her family members made her kneel on the floor to apologize to her husband and to promise that she would be a better mother to her first child by marriage.

By her final year in secondary school, Special won a scholarship to study abroad and everyone in the school congratulated her. She also had the best WAEC result in the country which gave Mrs Grace a prestigious honour amongst principal's in the country.

The send forth party for Special out of secondary school was so grand that gifts filled her room in school. She was also the head girl in the school and most senior Prefect and she had earned the respect of all. Though sad to return home, she knew that it was for a short time till she leaves the country so she had to endure whatever Hope threw her way.

When she returned home, her father was super proud of his daughter. His other three daughters were not as intelligent as Special and this angered Hope alot. She began to compare how much had been invested in Special's educational pursuit. She would claim that Special had it all while her kids had scraps.

Mrs Lola decided to enroll Toju in the same University in Edinburg that Special was awarded a scholarship. She knew she could bear the cost, being born and brought up in the united kingdom, Mrs Lola traveled with Toju to begin her admission process ahead of Special.

Special felt their absence that holiday. Hope watched how big and beautiful the 16 year old step daughter of hers was and decided she was not going to travel abroad. She hid all the mails the University sent to Special and waited till it had expired. One day, while Beatrice swept her room, she discovered all the letters and they were two weeks late. The mails arrived regularly and she collected them all.

That night when Special found out what Hope had done to her academic pursuit, she cried uncontrollably and her Father drove out of the house in frustration as he knew this was the orchestrated plan of Hope to frustrate his daughter. A drunk driver crashed into the Professor's Car and it resulted in a terrible accident. Hope received the call and she panicked as she explained to Special and Beatrice.

When they got to the hospital, Special agreed to stay behind caring for her father. He was her only parent and she didn't want to be an orphan at such a young age.

That year she missed the Jamb exam and she didn't mind. Her father was hospitalized for five months and Special cared for him without complaint. She was kind, affectionate and most of the nurses loved her. She would arrive early in the morning with meals and stayed till in the evening. She goes home to get more food and return to sleep in the hospital till the next day.

Professor John stayed a full year at home after his discharge, recovering from his injuries. Physiotherapy followed which empowered the use of his limps again. He started to recall that Special should be in the University but wondered what she was still doing at home at 18. Hope usually tells him to focus on his getting better as he had other responsibilities to cater for knowing her daughters were in secondary school.

One day, while Special was coming from the market, She met Mrs Grace. The principal was elated to see most exceptional shinning star student but also sad to know she was all alone and still in Nigeria. She missed Toju and Mrs Lola who had since been in the United kingdom. Mrs Grace inquired about her school and Specials answer was heart breaking.

Immediately, she took Special to a car and gave Special a form for weekend program at the federal University not far from Playhieght nursery arms. She also assured her that if she needed a job and accomodations, she would be given at the nursery arm of the school. Special returned home with the good news as she had been at home for two whole years. Hope immediately refused for Special to go to school as she said Her husband didn't have the money to train her.

Though receiving allowances from the University, it still was not enough to pay the expensive school fees of his other three daughters as well as cater for the home. The maid Beatrice had to resign as Hope mentioned their financial state. Special was made to become the full time maid caring for the house.

Each morning, she would wake up by 3am, sweep the entire house, make breakfast, wash all their clothes as her sisters were not in boarding school. Her chores also included, going to the market on foot and running errands. At 18, she kept her haircut low as Hope said it was immoral for her hair to be made as it will attract the opposite sex to her.

Despite her ordeals, she kept praying for God to help her leave the life of suffering. Suddenly, Her father miraculously recovered and resumed his work. Special worked hard academically and she got the admission for a five year educational program in the University on weekends. Her father was not happy with such course as he had high hopes for her, but he knew his daughter wanted to leave this house of pain by all means.

He didn't try to stop her, rather he encouraged her until she secured the admission. Special moved to school at the age of 19 to begin her 5 year course. True to her words, Mrs Grace ensured that she had a job as a teaching assistant in the nursery school as well as an accomodation. Special did not bother going home for the first three years and no one came to visit her. Her father called her regularly but he could tell his daughter was sad and wanted to be alone.

She visited her father every Christmas and she left the same day as Hope would order her to cook, clean, wash whenever she visited while her daughters sat like queens. After her programme at the age of 24, she began a masters programs fully funded by a scholarship and that angered Hope who called her selfish. She wanted her to return home and help in the house chores, despite having a new maid called Pamela but Special had met someone whom she liked.

When Special was 26, she was invited for younger sister Susan's marriage who was only 20 years old. She was getting married to the son of a commissioner and they were going to travel abroad as soon as she was through with her university education. Hope had ensured that Susan had gone to a private university, hence her academic transitions were faster than Special.

At the wedding ceremony, Special was treated like a maid as Hope had told everyone she was a maid.Her husband's family rebuked her because of the way she spoke to Special and she simply asked them to mind their business. Whenever her father wanted to speak out, Hope usually shunned him. Special was absent at the family photos as Hope made it clear that they didn't want to associate themselves with her. Most importantly, she got the biggest heart break of the century at that wedding.

That was the last time she went home. it's been three years now and she was the head mistress of Playhieght nursery school with a two bedroom apartment given by the school, she was a master's degree and a PhD holder.

Each night, she would cry, wishing she never went through such maltreatment. Although she was happy being alone, most of the staffs working under her would tease her for being too introverted. What mattered most to her was the peace she enjoyed in Play height. She was a plump 29 year old lady with voluptuous figure. Her big breasted chest was an attraction to the opposite sex but she ignored them all. Her fair in complexion skin was as radiant as ever but she dresses down her figure. She would always wear dark coloured gowns as they most times reflect her mood.

Special was content and happy with Mrs Grace by her side as she had gone through the most toughest of times too early in life.