You Are a Star
In a quiet town, there lived a girl named Rejoice Christie. She was stunning—her beauty was the kind that turned heads, even from a young age. Many suitors came to ask for her hand in marriage, but her heart was focused elsewhere.
When Rejoice was just ten years old, tragedy struck. Her beloved mother died in a car accident. It was a devastating time for both her and her father, but even in the darkness, Rejoice held on to her mother's last words:
> "Remember, my child, you are a star — and one day, you will change the world."
Those words became her anchor. Whenever life got hard, she repeated them to herself. They awakened something deep in her spirit and gave her the strength to believe that one day, everything would be okay.
For years, Rejoice and her father lived alone. They were close—more like best friends than just father and daughter. But time moved on, and eventually, her father felt the need to remarry. Rejoice didn't take the news well. She thought of ways to talk him out of it, to convince him they didn't need anyone else. But his mind was made up.
> "Look, Rejoice," he said gently one evening. "You'll soon be married, and I'll be left all alone."
Rejoice's voice trembled as she responded, "Father, I will never leave your side—no matter what. Even if I get married, my husband and I can stay here with you. I'll redesign this house to be even more beautiful by then. We'll always be together."
Her father smiled sadly. "You don't understand now, but someday you will. When you're older, you'll see why I need this."
A few months later, he married a woman named Victoria Texas. She was in her mid-forties—slim, dark-skinned, and striking, with natural long hair. The wedding was full of joy. Friends and family cheered, believing the groom had made a wise decision. Life must go on, they said, even after someone you love dies.
But Rejoice was the only one not smiling. Though she tried to hide it, her heart was heavy.
Victoria moved into their home, and at first, things went smoothly. A year later, she gave birth to twins—Born Great and Amazing Grace. Meanwhile, Rejoice blossomed into a graceful young woman. Everyone admired her, complimented her beauty, and spoke highly of her character.
And that admiration stirred jealousy in Victoria's heart.
Victoria had a daughter from a previous relationship—Elizabeth. Though Elizabeth was pretty in her own right, people always noticed Rejoice more. Whether they went to church or the market, Rejoice stood out. Strangers often praised her thick figure and captivating smile, while barely glancing at Elizabeth.
Victoria's envy deepened. She began to resent Rejoice, and so did Elizabeth. They never admitted it out loud, but there was no love lost between them.
Still, Rejoice kept dreaming. Her biggest hope was to attend fashion school and become a designer. But she wasn't sure if that was the path her father would support. One afternoon, she gathered her courage to talk to him.
"Dad," she said, standing outside his room, "can I talk to you in the living room?"
At that moment, her father and stepmother were resting. Victoria opened the door, annoyed. "What's so special that you want to drag your father out of bed for?" she snapped.
Rejoice flinched. Her stepmother's tone always made her feel like a stranger in her own home. But her father's soft voice cut through the tension.
> "It's okay, honey," he said calmly. "She's just a teenager. Sometimes they act out. Let her speak."
What Victoria didn't understand was that Rejoice was the heartbeat of his life—the child he and his late wife had in the middle of a stormy season. That promise he made to never leave her side still echoed in his soul. His love for Rejoice only grew stronger with time.
And that love, more than anything, was what made Victoria burn with jealousy.