Let us go back to Levi. He and his wife welcomed their first daughter, Davina Chukwudaalu. It was a huge blessing to our family, and Amelia was elated with joy. They moved out, though not far from my grandparents' home, and we visited as often as we could.
A year later, they began experiencing strange occurrences. Levi started having terrifying nightmares—so vivid and disturbing that the family began to question whether it had something to do with the house. Eventually, it dawned on him: the landlady was somehow behind the nightmares.
**********
Now, let's return to Amelia. When she was in school at Abide Montessori, something happened to her mother. One day, Amelia and Ethan were dismissed from school, but their mother hadn't arrived yet. After waiting for a while, they decided to take a motorbike home.
By the time their mother reached the school, they were already gone. Worried, she decided to visit Levi's house to check if the kids were there. But just minutes away from Levi's house, she had a terrible accident—her leg was broken. Amelia cried for days, overwhelmed with guilt and sadness.
Thankfully, a few months later, Scarlett began to heal.
*********
We spent time laughing and playing with Chloe and Mason. When Amelia turned ten, she developed a small crush on Mason. She thought it would fade like the others—but it didn't. Instead, it grew stronger. But let's continue the journey.
Then Grandma brought home a new housemaid named Isabella. She was always diligent and fulfilled her duties well. Ethan and Amelia were constantly fighting and arguing, and somehow, Amelia ended up doing all the chores—mainly because Ethan was her older brother.
When Amelia finished primary school, Mom told her she would be traveling to join Aunt Amanda. Amelia cried because she didn't want her mom to leave. But her mother explained that it was her father's wish that she follow her dreams and explore the world.
Amelia wiped her tears and promised, "One day, I will make my parents proud. I will begin my new journey."
She started packing her bags. She was going to Lagos the next week. Mom would travel with her but wouldn't stay long. Scarlett would return to Delta State, and Amelia had to be brave.
We began the journey to Lagos. We traveled by bus—it was long and tiring, but we made stops to buy snacks. Amelia missed her brother, her friends, her best friend, and Mason, but she knew she had to do this—for herself and for her mom.
Aunt Amanda welcomed us warmly. Mom stayed for just two weeks before preparing to leave. Scarlett sat Amelia down and said:
"I love you so much. Take care of yourself and be good to Amanda. Goodbye."
Amelia replied, "I love you too. Goodbye, Mom."
And then, she left.
Amelia cried day and night, but eventually, she pulled herself together and faced her new life.
The next day, Amelia woke up on her own. She felt her mother's presence lingering. She bathed, brushed her teeth, got dressed, and ate breakfast—without anyone's help. She was ready for school. What would it be like?
For months, Amelia did great in school. She made new friends both in and outside of school. She found joy in babysitting for neighbors and cooking when Aunt Amanda wasn't home. She enjoyed helping around the house. But deep inside, she still missed her family in Delta State.
One day at school, we were getting ready to take a test. The atmosphere was tense. Everyone sat quietly, flipping through notebooks and muttering formulas under their breath. Amelia sat in the middle row, pencil in hand, her heart pounding. This was her first real test since moving to Lagos.
She took a deep breath and remembered what her mom had told her:
"You're smart, Amelia. Just believe in yourself."
The teacher entered the classroom and handed out the papers. As Amelia began, she felt calm. Each question seemed familiar. All the hours she had spent studying were worth it. But all of a sudden, she felt the urge to pee.
She finished late and reviewed her work carefully. The teacher collected the students' tests—but Amelia hadn't written her name. She really needed to pee, so she rushed to the toilet. But when she got there, the bathroom was stinking, and the urge disappeared.
She returned and wrote her name on the test. Immediately, the urge came back—and the pee came out, wetting the floor in the teacher's office. Amelia was mortified.
The teacher said,
"It's okay. Just go and wash your skirt and come back to the classroom. The janitor will take care of it."
She nodded and went straight to the running tap to clean herself. But when she got back to class, the students began laughing and making silly comments. That day, she wasn't herself. She felt deeply embarrassed and sad.
Days later, the results came in—and Amelia had the highest score in class.
**********
As time passed, Amelia began to blossom. She joined the school's drama club and even got the lead role in a play. She started writing in her journal every night, expressing her thoughts, fears, and dreams. Sometimes, she wrote letters to Mason—even though she never sent them.
She still thought about her dad, her mom, Ethan, and the past, but it didn't weigh her down anymore. She carried them with her, like a backpack filled with memories—heavy, but manageable.
One evening, Aunt Amanda took her to a beach in Lagos. It was sunset, and the sky was painted in shades of gold and purple.
"This is life, Amelia," Aunt Amanda said, watching the waves. "It's full of pain, joy, and change—but through it all, you grow."
Amelia nodded, feeling the cool wind brush against her face.
Every day, she grew more confident. And though challenges still came—tears, failures, loneliness—Amelia faced them with courage.
Because Amelia knew that life is a journey.
And hers had only just begun.