1 Prologue

Firstly thank you for choosing IRIS

You won't regret any of the ride.

IRIS

BOOK 1

Prologue

Before we begin

Kindly put your Playlist here

Aren't you something to admire

Cause your shine is something like a

mirror

And I can't help but notice you reflect in

this heart of mine

If you ever feel alone and the glare makes

Me hard to find

Just know that I'm always parallel on the

Other side

(Mirror by Justine Timberlake)

BENIN 2009

The rain seemed to have increased this middle of the year since the friendly sun oddly peeked through the white clouds with a slight glow that didn't seem to please mother earth,because the rain had no intention of ending any sooner.

Iris Adanna Ezinna held her small red umbrella to shield herself from the drizzling rain as she left her hostel paying little heed to the wet tarred road which led to the campus it was only a twenty minutes walk from her lodge,she didn't have that kind of money to waste on shuttle plus her roommate already left with her car.

The young girl was clad in black Jean trouser and a long sleeve yellow sweat shirt to shield herself from the cold,because it was believed these little rain that drizzled down the earth were the ones responsible for fever,malaria or possibly pneumonia and that she must avoid,because things around this side was darn expensive,so she couldn't afford to fall sick.

Iris didn't think she would be able to make it to class before her lecturer did,she cursed the damn rain which was the cause for her woes,she didn't mind the water that tickled wetting her slippered feet at least she didn't have to worry about stepping her foot in a mud .

Apart from most part of the road that is waterlogged the prestigious royal university of Benin owned by a wealthy traditional ruler in Edo state and was living up to its name as been modernized, equipped,flexible and came along with an attractive environment, most times Iris found it too good to be true she had finally been given a unique opportunity and privileges to achieve her academic goals in one of the most expensive university in Nigeria, if someone had told her a year ago that she would further her Education she would have doubted them back then such wishes were like asking the moon for breakfast,she had solely given up on furthering her education due to her grandfather illness which had required funds.

Growing up with her mother and maternal grandfather in umueze a local village in Anambra state still yet to be developed Iris had kept to helping her family in the oil mill business since it was there means of lively hood,her grand father had hoped that she would enroll in one of the state universities immediately after her JAMB (Joint Admissions And Matriculation board) examination but was met with partial stroke that left him paralyzed ,the old man became bed ridden since her mother could not afford a wheel chair lots of money had been exhausted on her grandfather medication which had made her shun any hope of furthering her education.

Mr Ufoma Iris former school principal who had always admired her intelligence had told her about the scholarship in Benin and had helped her apply without the family permission ,she passed the exams and was granted admission on scholarship immediately ,it was indeed a great thing to celebrate, her grandfather was elated amidst her mother been against it,

she couldn't tell why but through constant cajoling and the intercession of her former principal Mr Ufoma ,her mother agreed with much reluctance.

" Adanna you know you are all I have ,please stay safe for me oh" Iris mother had wept

" make your mother proud,go to this school and come out with flying colours let me be counted among mother's that have educated children "

The words of her mother rang in her ears ,now in her second year,she didn't mind the challenges a university which was meant for rich men kids had to offer.

All Iris needed to worry about was her upkeep and feeding money thankful she met a generous lady who gave her a part time job in the school canteen whenever she was free from the school activities.

With a profound feeling of assurance iris felt she could take on the world...she turned her back as she heard the roaring sound of a power bike coming with speed from behind her,deep in thought she hadn't realized she had walked close to the center of the road,she quickly pushed herself out of the road when she lost her footings the bike speedily passed her splashing water all over her.

"Hey"

she shouted at the top of her voice but the occupant couldn't hear her with the outrageous sound of the bike and that damn helmet she could had sworn he saw her out of anger she threw her umbrella at the already distant figure.

"What was it with Spoilt rich kids born with platinum spoon in there fragile mouth,was it that they were all breeds of arrogance "

"Devil"

she shouted out of frustration when she couldn't fathom anymore abusive word to throw at the reason for her woes.

Could this day be anymore unkind to her not only was was she late and wet for her class,she didn't want to miss the test or risk her name from been marked absent,with tears she looked at the horrendous damage done to her and her note book .

"that dratted devil" she swore silently with

"that was exactly what he was a devil incarnate clad in all black"

Left with no choice she limped to school enduring the mocking stare from the people that saw her.

"I am going to make sure that jerk have a piece of his own medicine whenever i see him again"

She mumbled to herself feeling down in the dumps.

*Sometimes the dreams that come through

are the ones you never even knew

you had*

J.R.WARD

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