Chapter 1
She was still in bed after sunrise. It was a regular Sunday morning as usual, Christians who worship on such day make preparation for church service but Abena had no intention of wakening up. Her room was looking like hell. Everything including herself was in a mess. The party she organized the night before has made her room to be scattered and filled with polythenes, plastic bottles and cans, leftover foods and et cetera.
Her phone alarmed her continously to wake up but the excessive alcohol that was mixed with a tranquilizing muscle relaxant she drunk had resulted in a hungover and was making her too debilitated to wake up.
"Argh! Who is worrying me now" Abena said and took her phone. She didn't bother to look at the digit calling her. A sudden beep from her phone again woke her properly up. She needn't anybody to tell her to pick that crucial call.
Helena, her elder sister was calling. She was five years older than Abena and was Abena's protector anytime that she was in need. After their parents passed on a decade ago, Helena had been taking care of her. Abena was barely seven years when their parents died. After that tragic incidence, their parents' responsibility was shifted to Helena so she worked very industriously for herself and her younger sister and had to skip most school days to provide for both of them.
It was very devastating when they lost their parents. Mr and Mrs Wilson were the best of parents that every child would wish for. The Wilson family were not affluent but they made sure everyone in the family's needs were met.
"Hello Helena" Abena said after she finally picked the call.
"Good morning" she said after a yawn.
"Good morning" Helena responded.
"Your voice sounds slow like you are sick or just wake up from sleep. Is everything alright?" Helena asked. She was wondering how her younger sister was faring now that they were living apart in different places.
"Yes sister, everything is fine here. I am doing well dear. Don't worry about me" Abena answered assuring her elder sister that everything was fine.
"Okay Abena, take care of yourself very well. I called to check up on you" Helena said.
"Thanks for calling sister" Abena said and hung up. With a sigh, Abena collapsed on the bed and drifted into another sleep in a split second.
After completing high school, Abena left her sister's place with the intention of finding a noble work to do and save money to continue her studies to the tertiary level. Helena only allowed her to go because Abena assured her that she would take very good care of herself and avoid bad company. For it is better to be alone than in bad company because bad company corrupt good morals.
At first Abena was conforming to her elder sister's advice of staying away from bad company until she met Andrea popular called 'Bouncer'. She was notorious young lady in her early twenties. Notoriety was her food back in days. At the beginning, she was very friendly with Abena and did not involve Abena in her unorthodox act but later had to add Abena. She was the one who was going out to work for money.
Coming to the city with the intention of finding a noble job to do is not easy. Accra, the centre of the country and the capital with mixed ethnic groups is not just a mere city.
Although the smallest region in the country but the heart of the country and also the most populous region boasting glittering beaches, monumental buildings, traditional markets and night life. And unless you come for tourism, you will starve to death in that city of worthiness.
"Abena, have you gotten in touch with with Mrs Arthur?" Helena asked from the other side of the call.
"No dear sister. I went to the address that you gave me but I was told that her family had moved out some months ago" Abena responded.
"Then why did you not tell me earlier? How are you going to survive in that big city as Accra?" Helena asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about that sister. I have found a friend here and she seems so nice. For the mean time, I will be perching at her place" Abena said to Helena.
"Hmm! Remember what I have cautioned you about. Bad company corrupts good morals" Helena said and Abena mimicked after her.
"Thanks for reminding me sister and I am promising you that I will not do the opposite" Abena halsened.
"Okay dear little sister. Better do as you have promised" Helena said and hung up the call.
Abena Point Of View
After packing my belongings in a bag popularly called 'Efiewura soa me' in our local twi dialect, it was time to say goodbye. My only sister, Helena who has been taking care of me since our parents passed on a decade ago did not want me to leave but she got no other option but to let me go since I promised her that I will be industrious to further my education to the tertiary level. I know my sister would not have allowed me to come to the city if not for the fact that her boyfriend did not want me to stay with them.
Ato detest me to the core and I do not know the reason behind him hating my guts. Staying with them would be like a headache to Ato and I know precisely well that my presence will ruin my sister's relationship. Helena has done more than enough for me. Fending for me for about a decade was not easy and I can testify to that. She would most times skip school to work as porter and sometimes had to run long errands to be given few cedis and some food. And in all that, she never complained even for once. She would skip breakfast and sometimes had to fast to make sure that I got enough to eat. And it is about time that I find my own way to live and work to further my education. This is a battle that I need to fight alone and to do whatever it takes to succeed.