ABUSED..
Episode 12
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Life inside the four corners of this building has been hellish😫,
Kate and Ella were my best friend. Life was miserable for them making them resort to steal.
Ella’s parents are dead so she fends for her family as the eldest among six siblings.
Her story is touching; she works as a cashier for a man own deals on motor spare parts. He refused paying her two months salary, with her youngest brother suffering from kidney problem she pleaded to her employer to pay her salary upfront plus what he owed her but he refused. She charted away with his money to treat her brother, he found her out and had her thrown in prison🤦🏻♀️💔.
She later learned her brother died as no money was available for treatment. Ella wept uncontrollably when her immediate brother broke the news to her three weeks ago.
Kate on the other hands survives by stealing from people, She doesn’t talk much about her family.
Anita has been on trial for the past three months with the hope of getting lighter a sentence. She is been aloof this past few weeks; I think the court case hasn’t been going in her favor which makes her sad since her husband family are fighting tooth and nail to make sure she pays for her crime🥺.
Well one won’t totally blame the family for seeking justice for their only son who was murdered by his wife for cheating. Anita has a bad temper, but she is sweet, kind, cheerful and nice😩🤎.
” Ruth whatever you do in life don’t ever act out of anger. Too bad I learned mine in hard way. I love him so much, he not only cheated on me but he did that with my younger sister😭. ”
she told one time.
Looking at pale figure lying on the mat, we rallied around her with Sandra trying to make her feel better and be her cheerful self. She smiled faintly
” We are not the worse of human beings, things happen. No be we worse pass God still love us. Anny e be like say road don close but we know say the same person wey part the sea fit change your case. I no dey like this dulling for my territory. Las las all of us go stand judgement” Sandra spoke trying to encourage Anita
” Na sisters we be for here just zero your mind. Na because of some people we dey here but God no go shame us’😔🤲’
said Kris
She couldn’t bear the emotions anymore as she wept uncontrollably
‘ Next week is the final hearing.’ She cried out😭.
‘ Make we hold hands call Jah for this matter” Kris stated
Pray! I can’t remember when last I did that. Does God truly care about us? I couldn’t pray for Anita because I doubt God can hear us, why did allow us to be here in the first place if He cares. I don’t believe In pray but I joined regardless not wanting to look odd. I could barely mutter Amen. I don’t even attend church service here like some prisoners do I see no need for that.
After what seems like eternity the prayers came to an end. Anita felt relieved, she became her cheerful self again it was as if she gained some strength.
” I heard the priest is coming tomorrow for confession and mass. I need to confess my sins and reconcile with God before I leave😩”
Anita retorted
” Come Anny why you dey talk like this?’ Helen spoke for the first time she herself has been on trial
” She want go heaven” Kate teased
we all laughed😄😆,
‘ who no want go heaven after this hell wey we dey’ Ella queried
We played, teased, sang and discussed different things about life. one thing about being in the penitentiary is that you get to see life on a different dimension and appreciate freedom the more. At night after meals we talk about life outside the walls and how to forge ahead when we regain freedom. Kris plan on being independent from her boss, Ella is still pondering what to do, I thought about where to go from here and concluded I might follow Ella on whatever she decides.
The following day started with chants from Helen, Sandra only nodded. I watched as I laid still on the bed; in the next hour we would be taking to our work field to clean up the prison surroundings; it’s our turn to clean up. I hate such days, but today is different in that we would be having visitors.
After the morning drilling and clean up and breakfast of tasteless tea and crumbs as bread we assembled in the field between the male and female prison. I was reluctant at first when I discovered that our visitors were hosting a program. Anita wanted us all to join at her insistence I followed.
confessions were held then the mass began proper; the priest began with prayers but all the while I couldn’t pray, God doesn’t answer worthless soul like mine🥺….
I felt utterly unease as we progressed I couldn’t wait for the program to end. And as soon as it came to an end I left my sister and headed for our section.
” Sister, wait” I heard someone beckoning on me. It turns out to be the priest I sighed as to why he approached me
” Good day Father” I greeted
‘ God bless you. I saw in the mass, couldn’t help it. you look familiar. Have we met before?’
‘ Certainly not Father’
‘ Ok. What about your parents?’
‘ I have no parent. They are dead’
‘ Oh! I’m sorry. I’m Fr. Anthony😊
I wondered why he was interested in speaking to me, I don’t need any form of sermon now. I have no interest in any religious activities.
‘ I hope you enjoyed the program? ‘
‘ Yes Father’
‘ Your name?’
‘ Ruth’
‘ Ruth?’
‘Williams’
‘I feel I have met you somewhere in Ibadan’
‘ Well, I have never been to Ibadan Father’
‘ Ok then. The Lord bless you child’
‘ Amen. Father’
He looked at me suspiciously like trying to figure out something, I held a smile on my face and turning towards the field he left shaking his head slightly.
I was at peace with my new family not minding the outside world since no one came looking for me. Not that I expected any visitors but deep down in my heart I hoped mother would visit as other inmates had visitors time to time😔😔.
As the day drag by we had new inmates added to our family.
Anita’s final hearing is today which made her to be gloomy since morning. Her eyes are swollen from weeping as she wept heavily with regrets😭.
We all tried to cheer her up with reassuring words of hope.
” No man is worth going through this hell for. My anger consumed me. I truly wish I can turn the hands of time” she howled miserably
I felt her pain, I am going through this shit now because of Reuben and my mother’s refusal to see the truth. I can’t wait to be out of this walls and breathe the fresh air of freedom for the air here is thick with pollution.
” Ruth!!”
I heard my name, it’s the warder, I wonder Why he called
” You have visitors”
‘Visitors? Who are they?’ I murmured to myself as the officers unlocks the door to let me out
‘ Ruth remember us o😩”
Kris yelled
I followed him to where the supposed visitors were kept waiting for me. As he led me to the room I was baffled seeing my new visitors. I couldn’t say a word at first..
To be continued..
