Ella's POV

“Ella I am hungry.” Brian said. He is my younger brother, he was always hungry. I did not know where to find food for him. I am the eldest so he sees me as his provider. My life and my brothers were perfect before this.

We used to have a home, ate good food and went to good school on top of that our parents were always there for us. It was beautiful for us. Our family was always happy and contented. I wondered what went wrong to change our lives forever. We now lived on the street just begging for food, no school for us. I had to take care of my brother. He was the only family member I was left with.

It all started like a dream. My story is full of tears. As I look back I can only imagine how beautiful our lives would have been if my whole family was here. We are so lonely and it’s cold out here. When I look at Brian he is shaking because of hunger and cold that is out here. My poor brother is too young to be suffering like this. I wished I could change all that for him. He deserves a better life. A life where he will be protected and taken good care of, not here in the streets.

“Stay here Brian, let me see what I can find.” I say to him. He has always been an obedient child. That’s why I loved him so much. “Hurry Ella, I am so hungry.” He said.

I left and I headed to a restaurant that was near. I had a friend there and she always kept food for me when it was her shift. Today I hoped that she was there. I went straight to the kitchen and I saw her.

“Hey, Hope I have come. Is there anything for me?” I asked her. She immediately gave me a black polythene bag with food inside. I thanked her and left immediately. She had warned me that her supervisor was a strict man so I was always careful whenever I went there.

There were other street children too, some were bullies and others were polite. The bullies were those who had spent their entire life on the street. We had to be careful of them otherwise we would end up dead. I found Brian freezing. I decided to give him my sweater, was he getting sick.” I could not afford him being sick right now. I gave him the food and we started eating together. At least we ate some good food once in a while thanks to hope. She was always kind hearted. Brian ate hungrily he always maintained his appetite.

I sit at the corner of a tall building watching Brian sleep and I don't know how I fell asleep. It had been long since I slept and immediately I started dreaming about my past life.

***

Ella’s Flashback

"Ella breakfast is ready." I hear the voice of my beautiful mother calling me from the kitchen. Her name was Monica, she was a beautiful and courageous woman. Her eyes were so beautiful and she had long black hair. while my dad's name was philip. He was a really strong man and to top it all he always smelled so nice.

I was in my room preparing for school. "I'm coming mommy." I replied as I hurriedly came out of my room.

I found my brother Brian already seated at the table. Seriously, this boy had a really big appetite. He was the first one to sit on the dining table each and every day.

He was really handsome from a young age. I mean he was only 10 years old and on the other hand I was 14.

We lived with our mother in the village since my dad was working in the city. He was a businessman who owned several businesses. He only came home once in a while. He was not perfect but he was the best. And he loved us very much I guess and we could not imagine our lives without him.

Mummy was the one who woke up every day to prepare breakfast for us. She was the best mum ever and we loved her very much."We are going mom" I said as I finished my breakfast. Our school was only five minutes away from home. I was in my final year in primary school and I was going to sit for my exams by the end of the year. I only had to study hard to pass my exams. I was sure I was going to pass really well. Brian was in class four but he was really mature for his age. He was a really quiet boy and an observer. I really loved him

"Bye Ella, have a nice day." Brian told me as he ran for his class. "Nice day too." I shouted back at him. Oh that boy, he really loves school. He always said he wants to be Doctor when he grows up. We just don't know what the future may bring but it was good to have plans and dreams for the future.

Time in school passed really fast and it was time to go home. Brian always waited for me to go home together and I was really grateful for that.

"Mother we are home” I said she was in the kitchen. She had a small salon in the village but she usually closed early when she had no more clients to plaint. "Ooh I missed you my babies" she said smiling ``there is food here go change then come eat" she added. "Your father will be coming this weekend,'' she said.

We were all excited when we heard that. My dad usually brought things for us from the city each time he came home he was the best anyway. I noticed that mum wasn’t excited at all but I didn’t think about that now. I just wanted the week to end so I could see him again. I missed him dearly

“Ella you will prepare dinner for us”, mom then said suddenly cutting my thoughts off “I am going to bed I’m so tired today” She added then she left. I wondered what had upset her so much while Brian and I were so happy. I wanted to go ask her but I recoiled myself. I wasn’t supposed to interfere with mom’s business anyway. After I finished preparing dinner I called my mother and we all had our supper. We prayed and we went to bed.

I had noticed that mom didn’t call dad too often and she was not always excited when we asked her questions about their past life together before we were born. I had always wanted to know how they met, how they started their romantic story together and how they got married. Anyway I was just over thinking I know mum and dad love each other so much that’s why they have been together all this time and taking good care of us since childhood.

I don’t know how I fell asleep but when I opened my eyes it was already morning.

Monica's POV

My phone rings and I check if it was Philip calling. Actually we have not been on good terms lately, I love him but I know his love for me is over for a long time now. I really wonder what happened to him to change this much, I mean we have everything: a good life, healthy children and me a good wife but in return I don’t get the love and attention from my husband. The only man I have only been with all these years. He was the love of my life and I prayed to the heavens each and every day for him to change. I don’t know if it will take forever or not but I will hope for the best.

“Hello Philip” I answered. “Hello I am calling to tell you I will come home at the end of this week” He said then he hung up. He did not even ask how I had been or if he had missed us because that’s what I wanted to hear, that he had missed me or something. I don’t know what I did for Philip to hate me this much. I was the mother of his kids. At least he could have respected me like that. I felt really sick.

“Mother we are home” Ella’s voice interrupted me. The only reason I was still strong was because of these two otherwise I don’t how I could have managed. They are everything I need in this life. Today they were lucky that I finished work early and I had bought something for them to eat before supper. I own a small salon and that is where I spend my day. Actually it’s better than staying at home doing nothing. “Ooh I missed you my babies” I say to them smiling. I never wanted my children to see my sad side but sometimes it’s really hard to control myself from all the disappointment I get from their father. I tell them to go change and come to eat the food I had carried for them. “Your father will be coming home this weekend” I finally said and my mood changed suddenly. I realized how tired I was. I could not even have the strength to prepare supper. I decided to tell Ella to do it before I went straight to bed.