The Billoniare's Rejected Daughter

ore the sun disappea

and water poured like a curse, flooding the narrow, potholed streets. Children screamed and laughed as they ran for co

no umbrella.

faded dress clung to her skin. Her slippers slapped loudly against the waterlogged ground

old, but life had not al

hop, she had grown up learning that happiness was a luxury for the rich. Her mother, Mama Ngozi, had worked as a cleaner until her bo

Adanna had

iblings. No one

ng roasted plantain after school. Every day was a str

he rain caught her. She had hoped to roast some plantai

ed shed behind Mama Chika's shop. Her stomach growl

ed up at

y me?" she

my mother. I don't want to

he had stopped expecting answers. But stil

when sh

asses. A white scarf covered the lower half of his face, like he was hiding something. He moved

d in fron

back, unsure

n said, his voic

eart

do you kno

to the inside of his coat and pulled out a small brown e

to give this to you. W

envelope like it mi

you?" s

d. Then

n you think. You are not just some poor girl struggling in

o

ed like thunde

, confused.

the man repeated, ge

funny, but because it was the onl

ie. That ca

, airlines. He was on TV all the time-shaking hands with politicians, sitting on magazine covers,

ived in a leaking room, wore donated school

the wrong girl,"

mother's eyes. And your father's stubborn j

at it, hear

he come for me? Why did my mothe

ful men have powerful secrets. And some

se in her chest. An

elope, and held it close like it

emanded. "Where is t

up... the man was

n afte

't just tell m

peared aroun

the junction, he was gon

e rain

, holding a secret that could chang

ar the envelope apart. Another part wanted to run strai

none of th

ack to her r

Nig

attress. The walls of the room were stained from years of rain and

ed as she opened t

mother's careful script. There was also a photo-a black a

ppy-happier than she ever remembered. And the ma

Eze

d the photo l

the letter a

s too afraid. I met your father when I was just 19. I worked as a housemaid in his uncle's house. He was kind to me

word like a kni

could never be part of their world. They gave me money to disappear. I refus

hook. Her eyes w

better life. If the time is right, go to him. Demand the truth. B

with a line tha

u were born for more than this. Don

er to her chest and

was nothing. Just a girl in the rain.

w what tomorro

thing wa

r just Adanna th

Adanna

hter of Nigeria's

s going to