It was Saturday morning, Esther was not scheduled for work but she was up before sunrise. She sat on her bed with both knees pulled up to her chest. Thinking about how much her life had changed in the past few years, tears fell from her eyes but she was unsure of what emotion she was feeling. Growing up very poor, she had grown accustomed to hardships. But, after losing hope and being unemployed for almost four years, things finally started to turn in her favor.

Even though She had been doing something that made her happy for three years now, she was secretly waiting for life to come crashing down on her. Every time something good happened she kept it to herself as to not jinx it. Whenever something good happened, memories of hard times would flood her mind. This episode of memory lane was a result of a text from her bank alerting her that her business account had reached 1 billion BSD$. Now she sat on her bed thinking about her childhood. She had her first job at the age of 7, working on a farm every weekend just to have money to help her mother who was left by her father after her little sister was born.

Child labour was illegal before then so she took whatever money she could earn and never spoke of having a job. She had several jobs throughout her childhood but mostly domestic work. She started by washing clothes by hand an ironing for relatives and persons in her neighborhood. She remembered going to a public pump to fetch water for washing as to not increase her mother's utility bills any more.

As soon as she turned 18 she applied for a clerk position at a company near her neighborhood. Though she was in her senior year of highschool, working on senior projects and coursework, she was determined to get a job and save to pay for college. Because she was always a hard worker Esther did not have a childhood. Consequently, she did not make friends easily, nor was she able to keep those that she managed to form relationships with. She did not even have a close relationship with any of her family members as she always felt that she was the black sheep. They were not cruel to her but they never made her feel loved or even accepted.

Several weeks after her 19th birthday Esther sat her mother down to express how she felt.

Esther: [Mommy, maybe it's just me but I feel like an outcast. Like I don't belong to this family.]

Her mother stared at her blankly for a while before speaking.

Ms. Miller: [What do you mean? How can you say that?]

Esther: [I don't feel connected to anyone. I don't feel loved, respected or appreciated for my contributions.]

Esther's mother was offended and it showed on her face. The sour look on Ms. Miller's face and every silent moment made Esther feel grief in her heart bitterly as she waited for a response.

Ms. Miller: [I did my best. I'm not going to entertain this conversation with you...]

Ms. Miller briskly got up to walk away but Esther still wanted to talk to her mother. Tears formed in Esther's eyes as she cried out.

Esther: [How am I supposed to feel loved when you don't even care to have a conversation with me?]

Hearing these words, Esther's mother turned around and slapped her face and started shouting at her.

Ms. Miller: [I've never asked you to contribute anything!!! You were stubborn since birth! Your pa left and never looked back, it's only me!!! Nobody helped me with y'all!!! I work hard to take care of y'all and I never left!!! I didn't have a choice, I didn't get to leave! I never got a break!!! How dare you?!!! I indulged you by allowing you to work as a means to keep you out of trouble, now you feel that we are equals and I must 'RESPECT' you?!!! It's not like you contribute anything substantial anyway! You keep most of your money!!! You can leave at any time, 'cause there can be only one woman in this house! Let's see how you survive 'woman'! Get out of my face!!! I don't even want to see you anymore!]

Esther was sitting there wide mouthed, holding her burning face and barely able to see through her tears. Every word that left her mother's mouth stabbed her heart violently. Her mother looked at her with disgust in her eyes, kissed her teeth and walked off. Esther stood up with the intention of speaking but not one word could escape her. She was speechless. Did that really just happen? Did her mother really say those things?

Experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, Esther's mind exploded. What was she to do? Esther went to the room she shared with her sister and started packing when her mother walked passed and shouted.

Ms. Miller: [... and don't take anything out of this house that you didn't buy!!!!]

As if her mother hadn't hurt her enough. She came to serve another emotional blow. Thinking of how most of her belongings were not purchased by her mother she could take almost everything she owned. However, Esther decided to take only what was important to her.

Esther took out her cell and called her bestfriend Christine.

Christine: [Hello?...]

Esther: [Hey Crishy, this is Esther.]

Christine: [Hey Crishy this is Esther and I need to unblock my number so that people will know it's me calling.]

Esther: [HA HA HA. You're so funny. Are you done?]

Christine: [When are you going to stop chopping and swapping the letters in my name? That was cute in highschool but it's time to let it go hun, please!!! And don't tell me that you're bailing on me again.]

Esther: [Oh thee of little faith... I'm actually calling to ask if I can stay the weekend since we're both off.]

Christine: [Oh Lord, the end is near. Father forgive me of my sins.]

Esther: [I'm serious, quit playing.]

Christine: [Ofcourse don't be silly. Call me back when you're ready.]

Esther: [I'm ready now.]

Michelle: [Now I feel like you're playing a cruel joke on me but I'll be there in 10 minutes.]

Esther hung up the phone and packed the last of what she was taking then went outside without saying anything to anyone. She knew that she needed to find a place of her own but she had just quit her job in Hope's of starting college. How long would the money that she saved over the years last her under these new circumstances?

Esther's phone rang snapping her back to reality. Sitting on her bed, overwhelmed by being the newest member of the Billionaire's Club; if that were a thing. The message was from her bestfriend Christine. She thought about telling Christine about the text from the bank but she decided that she wouldn't. Instead they arranged their usual Saturday brunch date.