Chapter 1
Episode 2: The Toil
Dawn broke, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold. I was already ankle-deep in the cracked earth of my inheritance, sweat beading on my brow despite the early hour. The hoe felt heavy in my hands, each swing sending shockwaves of pain through my arms.
“You’re wasting your time,” Bidemi’s mocking voice carried across the field. She lounged beneath a tree on her lush property, fanning herself lazily. “That land will never yield anything but dust and despair.”
I gritted my teeth, redoubling my efforts. The sun climbed higher, its relentless heat beating down upon my back. My muscles screamed in protest, but I pressed on, determined to prove them all wrong.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. While Bidemi’s land flourished effortlessly, I battled against nature itself. I dug irrigation channels, hauled water from the distant river, and worked the soil until my hands were raw and bleeding.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, life began to stir in my barren plot. Tiny green shoots poked through the earth, reaching for the sun. I nurtured them, pouring my sweat, blood, and tears into every inch of soil.
One evening, as I stood surveying my progress, a familiar voice startled me.
“Well, well,” Fulu sneered, her eyes narrowed. “Looks like the little orphan girl thinks she can play farmer.”
I spun around, my fists clenched at my sides. “This ‘little orphan girl’ is doing just fine,” I spat back. “My crops are growing. Soon, they’ll rival Bidemi’s.”
Fulu’s laughter was like nails on a chalkboard. “Keep dreaming, child. You’ll never amount to anything. Just like your mother.”
The mention of my mother sent a jolt of pain through my chest. I advanced on Fulu, my voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare speak of my mother. She was worth ten of you.”
For a moment, fear flickered in Fulu’s eyes. Then she composed herself, sneering once more. “We’ll see who’s laughing when harvest time comes,” she hissed before turning on her heel and striding away.
I watched her go, my heart racing. Her words had only strengthened my resolve. I’d show them all what I was capable of, no matter the cost.
