1 One:

OVERVIEW:

Someone had entered the house. At the sound of voices, she paused in the tiny kitchen of their wrecked and dirty home.

Out of habit, she moved into a shadowy nook, lest they see her unawares and stop to stare at her. 

Talia Jacobs, a girl who did nothing wrong besides surviving at birth. If anyone had told her that her life would have turned out to be such a mess, she would have pretty much killed herself, if she could, in her mother's womb.

Eighteen, young, pretty, innocent, beautiful, kind but unfortunate. You name all the qualities possible to qualify a young woman.

Most people thought that her beauty came from the mermaids or something supernatural had a role to play in it due to her beauty.

Talia was unlike every other young woman. Her full jet-black hair was long and stopped just a bit below the bra length.

The hair complemented her sparkling green eyes radiating like the reflections of green diamonds under the sun.

A straight nose that sat atop her pale skin over a well-sculptured jaw. Full, red lips that would make anyone wish to kiss them.

Talia was tall with long, smooth, and athletic legs. A nice, curvy body with a nice butt and breasts. Just about the right proportions. She was the perfect definition of an angel on earth.

Despite all those physical qualities, nature gave her more and took away the most important things in her life like; no mother, father, hardly any friends, and she was filthy poor.

Even after years of living with her grandmother, grandma Caro, she clarified that Talia must remain invisible to all her visitors.

She didn't want to answer questions like; who was she? How did she come about? And why do we not know about her all these years?

At first, Talia found it painful that her grandmother was hiding her from the world because of how she came to be. But, she had no choice but to accept it eventually, despite how hurtful it was.

It still bothered her when people made certain unbelievable expressions and remained speechless, after learning the truth. It was easier for her to just blend in with the shadows and stay hidden until they were gone.

She waited, her ears straining to determine who was there. 

Grandma hardly had visitors, but today must have been an exception because not only one but two people came to the house.

Talia thought the place would be empty, so it would be a perfect time for her to do the dishes and tidy up the house before going back to study the few books she had.

Of course, school wasn't the most important thing for grandma. But, it was for her. It was a place she escaped the harsh and sad reality of her life.

There was a shuffle of footsteps, and then her grandmother with her friends hushing indiscernibly.

It wasn't her business what they were talking about, but she knew that she was stuck in the kitchen until they leave.

Sagging to the floor, she began to count numbers. Something she did whenever she was sad. Talia was sad because she was so unfortunate.

Most times, she regretted being born. Other grandmothers would have been happy to show off their grandchild.

Not just their grandchild, their only surviving blood relative. But, that wasn't the case for her. She despised everything about Talia, even the oxygen she inhaled. Yet, Talia loved and cherished her.

She was all Talia had. No siblings, parents, uncles, aunties, or friends. Just Grandma.

Most times, Talia tried to see reasons with her grandmother. Talia didn't blame her for hating her, Talia even hated herself because she brought so many misfortunes to her grandmother.

Grandma Caro said that Talia was a child of darkness. Her mum died a few weeks after her birth. No one knew her dad. Grandma's business got burned in a fire accident. And, Grandma's only son died in a plane crash. All these happened serially a few weeks after Talia's birth.

Sensibly, others wouldn't put that blame on an innocent child who knew nothing about what was happening. But, bitter and torn apart, grandma Caro just dumped it on Talia. Maybe to feel better or relieved, whatever it was, she just didn't care anymore.

Her life has pretty much revolved around doing the same things every day. Cook, clean, read, bathe, eat, go to school, get scolded, and sleep. Nothing interesting or new.

She had just turned eighteen, two months back. No one wanted to be her friend because of how poor they were.

Even the kids who lived around her neighbourhood in the slums laughed at her. Talia didn't care about their thoughts about her.

Instead, it made her develop a thick skin and deaf ears towards whatever was said about her.

"What is this place?" A soft, pleasant female voice asked in disgust. "Caro, you could live better." One of her friends said.

Caro Jacobs was Talia's grandma's name. She was 68 and still very vibrant. The only issue was that she had seen the unfair share of life.

Although she treated Talia badly, Talia thinks grandma Caro deeply cared about her. She has to.

Grandma was very beautiful for a woman her age. Only a few wrinkles on her face would suggest that she had advanced in age.

Her dark chocolate-brown eyes were always flaming, in a way, complementing her silver-grey short hair. She was a little bent because age and strength were no longer on her sides.

"I have told you to come to make good money instead of living like some pig." The other woman's voice seemed full of laughter and amusement, but her tone was cutting. "And, besides, there is no harm in taking the risk. Don't tell me that Caro of all people is scared?"

"I am not scared, ladies. Just trying to make the appropriate choice here."

"If you say so." The woman stood and approached Talia's shadowed hiding place, and she stilled, waiting for her to pass without noticing him.

Talia raised her head a bit to peek as she heard one of the women approaching her hideout. She was a redhead and was standing not ten feet away from where she hid, her head bent.

Talia couldn't see her face, but she was curvy and tall. Her body showed that she was well-to-do. How come her grandma knew someone of this standard? Her hair was a brilliant shade of red.

The other woman-a pretty brunette with wide eyes-stared intensively in the direction of the redhead. You could tell that both women had done a lot of surgery to keep looking young. Take those surgeries away, and they were no different from Talia's grandma.

"I can't believe you live like this," the redhead said. "I am tasty for water but can't even get myself to drink any here because of how filthy it is."

"Enough, Cecily. You must not rub salt in Caro's injury." the dark-haired one said.

"Whatever," the redhead said in a crisp voice and came into the kitchen. Seeing Talia, she squealed and jumped into midair. She must have frightened her.

"What is it, Cecily?" Grandma Caro came to see the problem.

"Is she okay?" The brunette asked.

"There is a girl in the kitchen!" she let out.

"I am sorry, ma'am," Talia said apologetically, with her face down on the floor, while she earned deadly glares from her grandma as she looked her way through the corners of her eyes.

"Who is she?" Cecily asked. At that question, Talia's breathing hitched. She found it difficult to breathe.

"No one. Just my maid." Grandma midair.