Chapter 1 - Ugly heart

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One and half years ago…

“Promise me you will take care of yourself, dear,” Gina says as she follows Neriah into the already moving train.

“I promise, mom,” Neriah says for the one millionth time today.

Tears run down Gina's face ruining the perfect face Neriah hopes to remember for a long time. “And you promise to always call right?” She asks, making Neriah’s heart hurt even more.

Neriah pulls her into a tight hug, “I’ll call; I promise I’ll call every week as much as I can.” She vows, before pulling away and helping to wipe her tears away.

She gently takes Neriah’s hands making her look into her eyes, trying to insert assertiveness. “If things get bad, you know you can always come back home okay?” she reminds her.

Neriah nods, biting her lips. Gina seems to be making it as though this is a final goodbye, which she knows isn’t true. “I know, and if things don’t work out well after two years, I’ll come back home and find a decent job in the town, and get married. I promise, now stop crying and causing people to stare."

Gina nods, wipe her tears off and kisses Neriah on her forehead, “Take care of yourself, okay?” she says with a small whimper.

Neriah nods before collecting her other bag and Gina gets off the train and waves at her.

***

NOW...

“Please, Mr Tony, just one more week and I’ll find a place to move go to, I promise." Neriah practically begs as she follows Tony out of her apartment.

Tony is the caretaker of her apartment, this is the thirteenth month since she has been in this apartment and it is the last month she has been here.

The Middle Eastern man gives her a pitiful smile, “I like you, Miss. Gomez, but my hands are tied here. Mr Inferno, the new buyer of this house hopes to have everyone out before Friday so that he can tear down the building and begin a new one."

Neriah rubs her forehead vigorously as she felt a migraine coming in, “Mr Tony, that’s tomorrow —" she tries to speak but he interrupts her.

“Don’t do this to me, Neriah,” he pleads, “you’re one of the best tenants this building has ever had, but you got to move out before Friday."

Her eyes grow glassy and her lips trembles, “I don’t have anywhere to go,” she mumbles pathetically.
 
The fact that this notice came suddenly, robbed her of the chance of finding another good place to move into and she didn't have the luxury of staying in a hotel.

Tony groans, “I’m sorry, Miss Gomez” he apologizes once more before walking out of the room.

When Neriah stepped into the big city eighteen months ago, she wanted to pursue her dream which had always been fashion and clothing design and there was no better place to pursue that but in the large city of Lagos where all dreams could come true.

Upon her arrival, she settled in and began working at some of the industries she'd read about while she was still at home, but none of them would approve of her work. Determined, she continued to go further, but the more she believed, the more she failed and the more heartbroken she became.

Her dreams are almost over, having already spent eighteen out of the twenty-four months she’d initially set out to pursue this dream and now to make matters worse, she’s now being asked to leave the house with the refund of the six months in advance she made on the house.

She scrambles to the cold tiled floor, burying her head between her legs and tears sting her eyes as she contemplates what to do next. Life couldn't be worse for someone like her. All her life she had to fight through every moment and from one battle, she was tossed into another. She wonders if it will ever end.

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