Agnes clung to Moose’s leg, her fingers digging desperately into the rough fabric of his trousers. Taz streamed down her face as she shook her head violently, her whole body trembling.

Please, Musa, don’t do this,” she  begged, her voice breaking.

“Think about the children. What about our 10 years together?” Musa’s face twisted with anger. He tried to pull away, but Agnes held on tighter, as though letting go would mean losing everything. His hand curled into a fist.

His body shook with rage. “If you don’t let go of me, Agnes,”  he snapped. “I swear I’ll push you right here.” At that moment, the twins, Juliet and Michael, ran forward, crying. Their small hands clutched their father’s trousers as tears rolled down their cheeks. “Daddy, please don’t leave us.” Michael  sobbed, struggling to speak through his tears. Julia could only cry out. “Daddy, no!”  her tiny voice shaking with fear. Moose’s jaw tightened as he looked down at his children. For a brief second, hesitation crossed his face. Then his expression hardened. “These twins are cursed,” he said  coldly. “They are the reason my life has been full of misfortune. All the money I make disappears into their needs, and I am still left with nothing.” Agnes gasped in disbelief. Her heart chattered. She immediately released Moose’s leg and rushed to her children, pulling them close and shielding them with her body as they cried. “That was all Musa needed.” He grabbed his bag and moved toward the door. “I’m done with this,” he said coldly. “I’m leaving.” Before he could take another step, a calm, familiar voice cut through the room.

“No, Musa,” the voice said. “You’re not the one leaving.” Another shadow filled the doorway. It was Mema Grace Moose’s mother. She stepped inside slowly, her

shop eyes sweeping across the poor worn out house as though confirming her judgment. Behind her stood two men,  silent and watchful. Musa stopped. He lowered his bag. Without a word, he stepped back and stood behind his mother. His face turned way.  So, my son has finally come to his senses. Mray sneered. I warned him about you. All you have brought this family is bad luck.  Agnes felt the room spin. This was not just Musa walking away. This was her entire life collapsing. She fell to her knees. “Mama, please,” she cried, her voice shaking. “I have nowhere to go.” Mama Gray scoffed. “That is not my concern. My son is a free man now. I have found him a beautiful, wealthy  woman who will give him the life he deserves.” She looked Agnes up and down with contempt. You are only a burden. She turned sharply to the security guards and snapped. Make sure she leaves. Immediately before Agnes could gather her thoughts, the men moved in, blocking the doorway as she cried out, “Please,” Agnes begged. “Don’t throw us out.” Juliet and Michael cried out, stretching their hands toward their mother as fear overwhelmed them.

ignoring her cries, the men forced Agnes outside. The door slammed shut behind her as cold rain poured down, soaking her clothes within seconds. The last thing Agnes saw through the closing door was Musa standing behind his mother, silent, unmoved. He didn’t say a word.

 He didn’t look back. And just like that, Agnes and her children were abandoned on the streets of Lagos. The rain fell endlessly as Agnes pulled Juliet and Michael close, wrapping her arms around their small, trembling bodies. She untied her wrapper and covered them properly, pressing them to her chest. With nowhere to go,  with nothing left except her children, Agnes wandered through the dark streets of Lagos, her feet heavy with exhaustion as rainwater soaked the ground beneath them. The city that never slept now felt cold and cruel.  Each step felt harder than the last. Juliet and Michael clung to a rapper, shivering as the rain finally softened into a weak drizzle.

Agnes scanned the streets desperately, searching for anything, anything at all that could offer shelter. By the time they reached a quiet corner near the market, she noticed an abandoned wooden stall, one the traders no longer used at night. The roof was broken, the space small, but it was dry. It would have to do. “Come, my loves,” she whispered gently, guiding them inside.  The children curled up beside her almost immediately, their small bodies trembling from cold and exhaustion.

Agnes pulled them closer, using her wrapper to shield them as best as she could. She stroked their damp hair slowly, biting  her lip to keep from breaking down. She had nothing, no money, no food, no family left to turn to. Yet she still had them, and for them she would fight. As the rain tapped softly against the wooden roof, painful memories flooded her mind. How blind had she been?  Moose’s change in behavior, his growing coldness, the late nights, the silence, it all made sense now. But never, in her wos viz, had she imagined he would throw even his own children onto the streets. TZ finally slipped down her cheeks, but she wiped them away quickly.  Her children needed strength, not weakness. It will be all right,” she whispered more to herself than to them. “As long as God lives,  we will survive,” she held Juliet and Michael tightly against her chest, staring into the darkness ahead. [clears throat] She didn’t know how tomorrow would come.  She didn’t know where help would come from, but she knew one thing. She would not give up. The sun rose the next morning, casting a golden light over the marketplace. The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling accara traders calling out prices as the city slowly came alive.

But for Agnes and her children, morning brought no relief.  They had nothing to eat.

>> “Mommy, I’m hungry.” >> Juliet whimpered softly, clutching her stomach. Agnes’s heart achd.  She knelt beside her children, forcing a weak smile she did not feel.  She knew they could not stay hidden in the stall forever. If she did nothing, her children would starve. “Come,” she said quietly, taking their hands. They wandered through the market, stopping at stall after stall. Agnes begged with humility, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please,  madam, just a little food for my children.” Some vendors waved them away impatiently.

Others ignored them completely. At a fruit stall, Agnes tried again. The woman scoffed. “If I give you food today, you’ll come back tomorrow. I’m running a business, not a charity.”  Tears welled in Agnes’ eyes as she led Juliet and Michael away. By noon, the children were weak from hunger. Agnes herself felt dizzy, but she pushed forward, refusing to collapse in front of them. Just as hope began to fade, a gentle voice called out, “Hey, take this.” Agnes turned and saw a middle-aged woman standing behind a food stall. She held out three pieces of bread. Agnes hesitated. Pride fought desperation, but when she saw her children’s eager eyes, she accepted it.

“Thank you, Ma. God bless you,” she whispered. The woman watched quietly as Juliet and Michael ate hungrily.  “You’re new to these streets,” she observed. “What happened?” Agnes swallowed hard. “My husband left us. His mother threw us out.  We have nowhere to go. The woman sighed softly.

I see. She pointed toward the wooden shelter nearby. I own that store. I’ve seen you and your children sleeping there. Agnes froze. I I’m sorry, Ma. We had nowhere else. The woman waved her hand gently. Relax. I’m not here to chase you away. She smiled faintly. My name is Meister. I run this food stall.

She gestured behind her. I need a hardworking woman. Can you work? Agnes’s eyes widened.  Yes, ma. Yes, I’ll do anything. Mimi Esther nodded.  You’ll save customers and help with deliveries. In return, you and your children can stay at the back of the store. At least you won’t sleep on the streets.  Agnes dropped to her knees, overwhelmed. Thank you, Ma. God bless  you. Mama Esther quickly pulled her up. Enough kneeling. Get to work. Your new life starts today. Agnes felt a small sense of relief. Later that afternoon,  Agnes bounced a tray of steaming fried rice and chicken carefully on her head as she hurried through the busy street. The sun burned overhead, sweat trickling down her back,  but she did not slow down. She had just finished delivering lunch to Mr. Obi, Mama Esther’s husband, a security guard at a large oil company.

Lost in thought, Agnes stepped forward.

She didn’t see the sleek black SUV speeding around the corner until it was too late. A sharp screech, a hard thud,  pain shot through her body as she hit the ground. The tray flew from her head, food scattering across the pavement. Oh no! A deep  panic voice rang out. Dazed, Agnes looked up to see a tall man rushing toward her. He had smooth, dark skin, piercing brown eyes, and wore a tailored blue suit.

 His wristwatch glinted in the sun. I’m so sorry, he said urgently, crouching beside her. I didn’t see you.

Are you okay? Agnes groaned, clutching her arm. I I think so. You’re bleeding, he said.  Please, let me take you to the hospital.

Agnes shook her head, struggling to sit up. “No,  I’m fine. It’s just a scratch. At least let me drop you home,” he insisted.  Agnes hesitated. “Home? The market stall was not a home, just a place to lie down at night.” “Just take me to the market,” she murmured. The man frowned slightly.

“The market?” “Yes,”  she replied quickly. A shadow crossed his face, but he said nothing. The ride was quiet. He tried to make conversation, but Agnes remained silent, staring out the window.

The only thing she clearly heard was his name when he introduced himself. Henry.

 When the car stopped at the market entrance, Agnes stepped down carefully. She limped slightly as she walked away, disappearing into the crowd without looking back. Henry watched her go,  troubled. He didn’t know why, but he knew their paths would cross again.  The next afternoon, Agnes returned to Evergreen Petroleum Company to deliver food again. This  time, she was more careful while crossing the street. As she turned corner, she bumped into a familiar figure. “Wo!” Henry caught her shoulders before she fell, studying her face.

 “We meet again,” he said. Agnes stepped back quickly. “Excuse me,” she muttered, trying to walk past him. But Henry didn’t let her go that easily. I couldn’t stop thinking about you after yesterday, he admitted. Why are you living in the market?  Where is your family? Agnes’s chest tightened.

She hadn’t expected the question. I don’t owe you an explanation, she said.

 You don’t, Henry agreed. But I want to help. I don’t need your help, she  snapped. Henry stuttered her for a long moment, then sighed. If you don’t want charity, he said, then let me offer you a job. My company needs a cleaner for the executive lounge. It pays well and it’s a stable income.

Agnes stiffened. A rich man offering her a job. It reminded her too much of Musa who had abandoned her for a wealthy woman. Men like Henry always had an agenda.  No, she said firmly.

Henry ran a hand through his hair. At least think about it. That  night, Agnes lay on the hard wooden floor of the market stall, staring up at the open sky. Beside her, Juliet coughed weakly. Michael shivered in his sleep.

Agnes’ heart clenched. The cold air was harsh on their small bodies, and she had no blankets to keep them warm. Since Musa left, her children had stopped going to school. Michael, once bright and hopeful, barely smiled anymore.

Juliet was just as affected, confused by the sudden change.  She only knew that their lives were no longer the same. Agnes called closer to them, her mind spinning. Maybe, maybe she was being foolish. Maybe she was letting pride stand in the way of her children’s future. Maybe this was a chance, but she was afraid. The next morning, Agnes woke up before dawn. Her mind was made up.

She could no longer let pride stand in the way of giving her children a better life. She prepared herself hurriedly, wearing the only decent outfit she owned and headed to Evergreen Petroleum Company. As Agnes stepped into Henry’s office, her heart nearly stopped. Henry was seated behind his desk, calm and composed, watching her with a faint smile. “I see you’ve made up your mind,” he  said. Agnes exhaled and crossed her arms. “Yes, but only under one condition. No strings attached, no hidden agendas.  I don’t want to be taken advantage of. Henry leaned back slightly, a wide smile spreading across his face.  You drive a hard bargain, Agnes, he said. And for the record, none of those thoughts are in my head.  But deal. And just like that, her life took a new turn. Months later, Agnes stepped out of a taxi, adjusting her neatly pressed office skirt. It had been several months since she started working at Evergreen Petroleum Company, and her life had changed drastically.  At first, the transition from a struggling waitress to an office cleaner, and later to a junior administrative assistant was overwhelming. She had no experience with computers, made frequent mistakes with paperwork, and often felt out of place among the educated staff.  But she refused to give up. With time, she learned slowly but steadily, mostly with Henry’s guidance. Her confidence grew.

She earned the respect of her colleagues.  Agnes was no longer the woman begging on the streets. She was now a valued staff member. Her salary, though modest,  was enough to rent a small one room apartment for herself and her children.

 It wasn’t much, but it was theirs. She bought new clothes for Juliet and Michael, proper school books, and enough food to eat without worrying about the next meal. Her children were happier. They no longer asked about their father. Agnes had become both mother and father to them.  At work, Agnes began to notice something.

Henry treated her differently.  He was patient with her mistakes. He guided her when she struggled. Some employees whispered in the hallways,  “Why does the boss care so much about her? Do you think there’s something between them? Agnes ignored the gossip. She had no time for distractions. So far, Henry had been kind and professional. He had even befriended her children, occasionally visiting and spending time with them.

Juliet  and Michael had grown fond of him. At first, Agnes had been cautious, but over time, she felt at ease. She had never noticed any strange or unprofessional behavior. One evening,  as Agnes prepared to leave the office, Henry asked her to come into his office.

She stood outside the door for a moment, her heart beating fast. The cool evening air she had felt moments earlier seemed to disappear, replaced by a strange tension. She knocked softly and stepped inside. Henry sat behind his large wooden desk, his expression unreadable.

He gestured for her to sit. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Finally,  Henry broke the silence. “Agnes, I’ve been watching your progress these past few months,” he said  calmly. “You work harder than anyone here. Your dedication, your ability to adapt. It’s impressive.” Agnes shifted slightly. “She wasn’t sure where this was leading.  I want to offer you a more permanent role,” Henry continued.

“Something that brings more stability and better pay.” Agnes’s eyes widened.