🧖♀️MARRIED💞
Episode 13.
©Miriam Edem
I was still very careful and for the first time scared of darkness maybe because I was in another person land or I just escaped from the brick of death.
The place was so very dry that I saw no humans but only dogs that will bark at me, but at a distance I thought I saw a shadow that didn’t look like mine behind me and I increased my speed breathing hard,
“Hey! I heard a voice stopped me and I stood still like a statue afraid to look back to see who it was. The person came closer and pointed a torch on my face and I closed my eyes,
“What are you doing out here by this time? The voice asked and with the tone of the voice I felt safe and opened my eyes,
“Please help me I’m lost, I replied.
“You’re lost? But you can’t continue this night its very risky, he said.
“I know that’s why I said you should help me, I said.
“Okay but I’m a laborer and I won’t be able to help you that much but will you be safe to stay with the guys? He asked and at the mention of guys I shook my head,
“Sorry, I’ll continue then, thank you, I replied.
“But they won’t harm you and you’re injured, the guy said. Guys won’t harm me? How is that possible when I just escaped one, obviously he didn’t know what he was saying.
“Please thank you I’ll just continue walking, don’t worry I’ll be fine, I said.
“But you said you’re lost, how will you catch up this night? Okay since you insist take this, he said going through his pocket and brought out 500 naira.
“That’s all I have with me, he said and I took it.
“Thank you, I said feeling so rich because that was the only cash with me.
“And your leg, let me see, he said and bent down and with just mere touching of my ankle, I cried out because of the pains.
“Its broken, he said standing up.
“I know, don’t worry about me and thanks again, I said and turned to leave.
“Its also dangerous here I hope you know that? He asked and I weakly stopped and he faced me again.
“There’s something you’re not telling me but I can assure you that am not a bad person either. If you’re scared of the guys hurting you I can keep you at a corner and when its morning you can continue, the guy said and I began to think. I don’t even know the guys that are there and if I wait till morning before I escape from this environment totally the guys might find me and its still not wise walking alone on the street either, who will I meet out there?.
“Hello, he said waving at my face as I was lost in my own thoughts and I cleaned my tears.
“You don’t understand, I was kidnapped and I escaped which I know the guys are still looking for me, I said.
“Kidnapped? Around this area? He asked.
“Yes and the guys you are talking about do you trust them? Do you know what they do behind? That’s why i can’t stay because they may find me in the morning if I don’t leave this place totally, I replied and he nodded.
“Can you trust me? He asked and I nodded.
“Good, wait for me here, or to be safe go into the bush a little but be careful okay, I’ll meet you here, the guy said tapping my shoulder and I went into the bush and he left.
I saw a kind of van coming and It stopped right where I was,
“Hello its me, the guy said and I came out,
“Get in, he asked coming the door for me and I got in and he drove off.
“Sorry where are we going to? I asked.
“I’m taking you to my aunty to spend the night there, don’t worry she’s a good person, the guy replied and my heart was at peace, but foolish me I slept off without knowing until I heard a tap on my cheek,
“Wake up we are here, he said and a woman came out.
“Jesus Samuel why are you here at this time? The woman asked struggling with her wrapper and I came down with my sleepy eyes and greeted her.
“Morning, who is she? The woman asked.
“I saw her on the road aunty and she’s wounded, he replied.
“And you brought her here? Do I work in the police? She asked and Samuel drew close to her whispering. The tone of her voice was not welcoming but I won’t blame her, how can she accept a total stranger to her place that easily?
“If what she said is true then I insist she should go to the police, I don’t want trouble o, the woman said out loud.
“Okay fine aunty let her have a place to sleep because I have to return the van now before the rest notice and begin to ask questions. I’ll see you in the morning, he said and she looked at him not happy.
“Please aunty, the guy insisted while I just leaned on the van,
“Fine, only for the night, she said.
“Oh thank you, I’ll come back in the morning, the guy said and came to me.
“Can you walk? He asked and I nodded..
“Let’s go in, he said helping me inside.
“I’ll hurry off now okay, see you in the morning, he said when we were inside and ran out leaving me with this woman who was using her eyes to chop me like vegetables. Her eyes ran through my body from my hair down to my legs, if she was able to run through my under wears she would have done same while I sat down very quiet waiting for her to speak up.
“So you were kidnapped and how did you escape? She asked and I looked at her.
“I don’t know, I just escaped, I cut it short because I didn’t have the strength to start narrating all that happened.
“Whatever, Abeg when once its morning carry yourself out o because I don’t want trouble at all. I don’t know what’s wrong with this boy sef as if this place looks like a foundation he will be bringing the less privileged for help, she blurred out and left leaving me alone in the sitting room. I was so shocked, with all her screening didn’t she see I was wounded and very dirty? Not even are you hungry or will you have a bath or even what is your name? Hmmmm Human beings dey sha, and when I looked at the wall clock there it was past 2am. I just carried my dirty self and slept on the floor to avoid “you’ve stained my chair” when the morning comes.
“Its morning o! I heard and when I opened my eyes her big eyes was just on me with her hands on her waist.
“Aunty good morning, I greeted trying to sit up.
“Aunty good morning, shey i look like your mother sister? She asked and I winced as my ankle became unbearable, the pains increased and she clapped her hands.
“Now Samuel will not come and see the work he brought for me o, suddenly I’ve turned to police and doctor to treat girls he will bring from the street, wonderful, she said and left me there.
Hmmmm Sharon has suffered, things i did not see when i was with my mother, things i do hear from my classmates is what i am experiencing one after the other. Shey its Sharon that has turned to street girl? I didn’t have the strength to be angry when something was paining me already. I was putting on a gown and I managed to tear a piece of it and tied it on my legs the way I could manage, and when I tried getting up someone held me and when I looked up it was Samuel. That was when I clearly saw his face,
“So this guy been fine like this?🙈 I asked myself……………..
TBC.
#milove
