CHAPTER 3

Sheila walked back. She had no intention of roaming the city.

Walking by the passenger path, she came across a food store. The smell of fresh burgers wafted in her nose making her stomach grumble. She walked to the food vendor and ordered one Burger.

After she paid for the one piece, she walked to a nearby park and sat on a bench. She savoured the taste of the delicious piece in her hands. She even licked her fingers after she was done. That one piece was not enough for her hungry stomach but at least, it could sustain her till supper time.

She rested for a while before resuming her journey back to her house.She intended to take rest before roaming the streets later to see if she could get lucky and land an evening shift job. That's how she survived for years, she was used to the hardships.

What Sheila didn't know was that a young girl spotted her at the park and had been following her secretly. Being a black belt holder in taekwondo, ofcourse Sheila sensed that someone was following her, but upon looking back, nobody was suspicious in the vicinity. Everyone was busy with their own things.

She immediately dismissed that thought as being paranoid. Who would bother stalking a penniless nobody like her?She walked back to her house. It was a bedsitter which was old and dilapidated. This was what she could afford. Even paying the rent for that house was hard. She owed the landlady two months worth of rent. She just hoped that the Lady wouldn't come knocking today because she was in the mood of getting a nap.Sheila had just removed her shoes and was planning to lie down and rest when the door to her house was knocked.

" Who could it be?" She wondered. Her best friend Vee had told her that she was out of the country for business reasons. She was an editor In a small entertainment company called hawk limited. They specialized in writing about nature or anything intriguing. She was assigned by the CEO to head to country B and collect information.

The CEO informed her that her article would be representing hawk limited in the year's entertainment competition. Of Course, that was a big and important task and she was given a month to accomplish.

Wondering who could be lost to visit her, Sheila opened the door hoping that it wasn't the landlady, otherwise she could kiss goodbye to taking a nap.Opening the door, Sheila saw a little girl. Maybe four years, looking at her with her doe like eyes. The girl resembled a doll. Her beauty was otherworldly. Even as a child, Sheila could tell that this little miss would wreak havoc in the whole of country A with her beauty.

She was dressed in a pink Princess dress and her hair was tied into two pigtails adding charm to her already adorable self." Little girl, are you lost?" Sheila asked after she was done admiring and fawning over the little girl's beauty." No, I followed you here." The little girl confessed directly, surprising Sheila.

No wonder she felt at some point that someone was definitely trailing her. But why?

" You followed me all the way here? Why?"Why? Of course, because I like you, why else will I follow you? Lily thought of controlling herself from rolling her eyes at her beautiful sister.

" Beautiful sister, I am hungry." Instead of answering, the little girl said.

" Oh!" Sheila felt a headache coming. Just from the clothes she wore,the little girl must come from a rich family. In her house, the only edible thing was the packet of noodles she was saving for dinner. But there's no way she'll tell the girl that. She was currently penniless, not even a coin rich.

" Come in," Sheila said, ushering the little girl to her little squeezed room.Sheila guided her to the old two-seater coach and helped her settle." Wait here, I'll make something for you." With that, she walked to the little kitchen and started preparing the noodles for her.

Ten minutes later, Sheila carried a bowl of steaming noodles with well-cut tomatoes placed on top.Looking at the simple yet appealing food, Lily did not waste more time before picking the chopsticks and started eating.

Sheila watched as her supper entered the little girl's stomach and could only see herself sleeping on an empty stomach. But she was happy despite it. Her mother taught her hospitality, reminding her of the window in the bible who offered to cook for Elijah with the last flour and oil she had. It was a virtue she learnt from her mother.Sheila watched as the girl drank the last bit of broth. For a girl of her status, it was a miracle that she wasn't a picky eater which was common among high society people.

She was humble and that made Sheila love her more.She offered the girl a glass of water and the girl thanked her. ' How well mannered!' Sheila gushed. She expected the little girl to be a brat but she kept surprising her every passing moment.

" So can you tell me your name?" Sheila approached the topic after the girl was well fed."Lilian, but you can call me lily." The little girl answered." Lily! it's a nice name for a beautiful girl like you." Sheila complimented earning a blush from the little girl. It was the first time she was called beautiful. The children in her kindergarten always told her that she was scary.

" Where are your parents Lily?" Sheila asked. It would have been better if this Young girl had reunited with her family. Rich people had weird ways of approaching matters. She didn't want to be accused of kidnapping.

" Beautiful sister, I Just arrived, do you want to send me away so soon?" Her tone, her voice, and her expressions made Sheila feel guilty." No no, I didn't mean that. I just don't want your parents to worry about you." Sheila tried to explain herself to the little one who seemed to be on the verge of breaking down.

" I ran away, anyway my father will find me sooner or later. You don't have to worry about him." Lily replied composed now, looking nothing like the pitiful child a moment ago.Seeing her change of expression, Sheila felt cheated. How could she emotionally blackmail her so easily? And what did she mean by her father finding her Sooner or later? Was she that confident?" Okay, if you say so." Sheila finally gave in. She will just have to wait and in the evening if no one comes looking for her, she'll just report to the police station. With that , she relaxed and enjoyed the company of the little bundle of joy.