Patricia was a carefree young girl. She had got many friends in school. She was a teacher’s favorite as she excelled in her studies. Endowed with long black hair, an enchanting smile, fair skin, she was a beauty to behold. When God showered talents and beauty, it seemed untrue to His nature He turned partial as all went to Patricia. Her beauty and brains drew all the guys to her like treacle did to the flies. But she remained simple barrio lass, humble, and always true to herself.
She had great dreams, she wished to achieve. Though she always had fun walking home by foot, rain or shine, she also dreamt of becoming somebody someday, and drive her own car, give her parents a decent home and life after all the hardships they have undergone while sending her to school.
She had great dreams, she wished to achieve. Though she always had fun walking home by foot, rain or shine, she also dreamt of becoming somebody someday, and drive her own car, give her parents a decent home and life after all the hardships they have undergone while sending her to school.
One day, she met a guy in school, one year her senior. Rich, tall, dusky and handsome. He befriended her, sent her flowers and chocolates as rich guys always do to a loved one. He had a car and more often than not, would drop her home despite her protests especially on rainy days when the road turned slushy and sometimes impassable .The car would get muddied but this did not deter Joshua from dropping her. He loved her a lot and was sure that this was the girl he wished to have as his lifetime partner. Aside from being so humble, she being so beautiful and intelligent, he was confident that his parents would stand by his choice. The fact that they were also from rags to riches background stood only to his advantage.
“Hey Joshua, wow…seems you’re hooked with a rags?” Beatrix said mockingly and within earshot of Patricia.
“Beatrix, will you stop being rude? Your being a spoilt brat doesn’t give you the right to belittle others, especially my dear Patricia,” Joshua shot back almost angrily.
“Aha, so this is the girl you were bragging about to me since last month? She is pretty no doubt, but her being dirt poor could not be hidden. Look at her, Yaaikks……Poverty is written all over.! Clever of you Patricia, trying to hook a big fish by flaunting shamelessly your face and figure, ha?”
Patricia was almost in tears. She ran under a big tree, sat in a bench there and sobbed unable to contain her tears. Joshua followed her, sat beside her and took her hands in his. “Shhh…don’t cry, Pat. From now on, I will not allow that brat to hurt you again. She’s jealous and just mad because I dumped her for you" Joshua pacified her.
But Patricia was too hurt to be mollified by such words. She believed she was not destined to love a rich guy. If she continued to love him, it will only hurt her more because she was just dirt poor and no match for the rich Joshua as Beatrix had emphasized.
“I know what you’re thinking my dear, but please, believe me, I really love you very much. Do you know that we are both rich? I am rich as I have your abundant love and you are richer than me as you have both my love and my riches. Please ignore that jealous girl,” Joshua pleaded in a hushed tone. She continued to sob, but she knew clearly what she would do now.
“Joshua, I know this is unfair, but I am also sure, we’re not meant for each other. See, a rich is for the rich, and a poor one like me is just meant for someone poor like me, too. There is an element of truth in what Beatrix has said. We are still young, and I know you will meet more deserving and rich girls for you, unlike me. Please allow me to move away from you. That is my fate. I am giving you up Joshua. Please do not pursue me”, said Patricia with a finality in her tone.
She ran outside the school compound without turning back once, trekked the muddy road back home alone as tears rolled down her cheeks. The dark clouds that had gathered broke into a heavy rain.
She was at peace with herself, as the rain drenched her totally as if to cool her ruffled mind. She felt relieved though she was really hurting inside but she promised to herself in the presence of the dark heavens and the muddy road that she would someday tread this same road, not as the dirt poor girl but a self-made and rich Patricia. And a smile settled on her lips.
