Even as the days dragged on and her back ached from endless chores, Zaria's mind remained focused on something far beyond the four walls of the house that showed her no love—her future. With every passing day, her determination to keep studying grew stronger, watered by quiet acts of kindness and powered by an unbreakable will.
Every evening, she met Linda near the forest trail where she collected firewood. It had become their secret classroom. Sometimes, Teacher Lilian would also join them, bringing learning materials, small treats, and, most importantly, encouragement. Zaria read whenever she could—at the firewood spot, while waiting for water to boil, and late at night in the storeroom where she slept, huddled under a thin blanket. A small torch, gifted by Linda, became her most valuable possession. With it, she read in whispers of light, careful not to alert her stepmother or stepsisters.
By now, Teacher Lilian was no longer helping alone. She had quietly spoken to other teachers at the school, explaining Zaria's situation without revealing her name. "There's a girl," she said, "bright as lightning but trapped in darkness. She needs us." The response was immediate and heartfelt. Teachers from every subject offered to help. They wrote summaries, prepared quizzes, and even agreed to set real end-of-term exams—just for Zaria.
One evening, just as the sun began to disappear behind the hills and the wind grew cooler, Zaria heard the familiar rustle behind the shrubs. It was Linda, and behind her came Teacher Lilian with a small satchel over her shoulder.
Zaria quickly cleared a spot beneath a tall fig tree and welcomed them with a warm but tired smile.
"Zaria," Teacher Lilian began, kneeling beside her, "we're closing school in two weeks, which means exams begin this coming Monday."
Zaria's eyes widened. "So soon?"
"Yes," Teacher Lilian nodded. "But don't worry—we've 8already prepared the exams for you. The other teachers helped set the papers. I spoke to them all, and they believe in you."
Zaria's heart warmed. It was hard to believe that people she had never even spoken to cared about her enough to prepare exams for her.
Teacher Lilian continued, "The only thing we need to know is—do you think you can get at least two uninterrupted hours to sit the exams?"
Zaria thought carefully. Her days were packed with chores, and there were always eyes watching her movements. But then she remembered something. "Yes, Teacher," she said with a hopeful spark in her eyes. "My mother—Sarah—is traveling to Senko village to see her sick mother. She'll leave tomorrow and be gone for a few days. My step-sisters usually come home from school late, so I will be alone for some time in the afternoons."
Teacher Lilian smiled. "That's perfect. We'll give you two sets of exams, one for each day. You'll do them after your housework is done, and Linda will bring the completed papers back to me."
Zaria nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Teacher. I promise to give it my best."
Linda, who had been quiet, gently touched Zaria's hand. "I'll help you however I can. I'll come to check on you, and I'll make sure no one finds out. We'll protect your secret."
Zaria looked at the two of them—her teacher and her friend—and felt something stir in her chest. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope.
---
The next few days moved swiftly. As promised, Sarah packed her bags and left for Senko village, leaving Zaria in charge of the entire household. It wasn't unusual—Zaria had become the unpaid maid of the home long ago—but this time, the absence felt like a gift. A stolen window of time in which she could breathe and focus.
On Monday afternoon, Linda arrived at the back fence with a cloth-wrapped bundle. Inside were two sets of exams: English and Math for Day One, and Science and Social Studies for Day Two. Each paper had Zaria's name already written at the top in Teacher Lilian's tidy handwriting.
Zaria had already cleaned the compound, washed the dishes, and prepared the evening meal. She rushed to her tiny storeroom, set up her small wooden stool, laid a mat over a flat basin, and placed a worn pencil beside her torch.
For the next two hours, she entered a different world—one where her mind could soar.
The English exam included reading comprehension and writing a short story. Zaria wrote about a bird that had been locked in a cage for years but eventually escaped to find freedom in a new land. The Math paper challenged her, but she remembered the methods Mr. Baluku had explained in the worksheets Teacher Lilian gave her.
When she finished, her hand was sore, and her neck stiff, but her heart beat fast with pride.
Linda came to collect the papers before the stepsisters returned. "How was it?" she asked.
"Hard," Zaria smiled, "but fair. I feel good."
---
Day Two followed the same pattern. Zaria worked like lightning to complete her chores, then rushed to her little space and opened the new exams. Science was her favorite—she loved learning how the world worked—and Social Studies allowed her to talk about her country, its history, and culture. She answered every question with care.
When Linda returned that evening, she found Zaria seated outside the storeroom, her hands covered in soot from making the fire, but her eyes glowing.
"I'm done," she said. "And I think I did well."
Linda smiled and hugged her gently. "I know you did."
---
Later that week, Teacher Lilian and her fellow teachers gathered in the staffroom to mark Zaria's papers. They whispered in admiration as they saw her answers—accurate, thoughtful, and well-written.
"She's a natural," said Miss Namata. "Her composition in English brought tears to my eyes."
"She has potential," Mr. Okello added. "All she needs is a chance."
Teacher Lilian looked at the final marks and smiled. "And we're going to give her one."
---
When she next met Zaria in the forest, she carried the marked papers in a neat file.
"You passed, Zaria," she said with tears in her eyes. "You didn't just pass—you did better than most of your classmates at school."
Zaria couldn't believe it. She held the papers close to her chest, blinking rapidly. "Thank you, Teacher. Thank you for believing in me."
"You're the one who believed in yourself," Lilian said. "We're just here to make sure the world doesn't miss what's inside you."
Zaria smiled, and for a brief moment, the forest didn't feel like a hiding place—it felt like the beginning of something beautiful.