🧖♀️MARRIED💞
Episode 7.
©Miriam Edem
Mary looked at me as I placed my hand on my forehead,
“Hiannn like this are you okay? She asked.
“Do I look like am not okay? Maybe I’m just hungry and I don’t have the appetite either, I replied and breathed out.
“Okay does that make us friends now? I missed us o, Mary said.
“Happy missing please, I said and Mary playfully hit me and I smiled.
We walked home together and the compound was a little bit dry while she passed to hers. I got in and took off my uniform and had water to drink still I was feeling uncomfortable.
I decided to sit outside for fresh air when I saw one of my sisters walked into the compound and I greeted her. Her face wasn’t good as she replied me, then she sat on the pavement there.
“Any problem? I asked.
“Hmm Sharon everyday has always been a problem, she replied.
“What happened na? I asked.
“Hmmmm Sharon, your sister is in prison, she replied. I know the 2 of them works as a cleaner in an organization outside the village, how come the other is in prison? I wondered.
“But how…….”you don’t need to ask how come o, Cecilia broke our big man son head with a bottle. I don’t still understand how it happened because we heard him screaming as if he wanted to die and we ran down there, I saw Cecilia has already been held and dragged out and the oga son was also rushed to the hospital that morning. I have tried to see Cecilia and to know what happened but I can’t, they are keeping me away from her so I came home, She cuts in.
“Sister Cecilia is in prison and you’re sitting down? Let’s do something na, I said getting up.
“Sharon shey you’re seeing the road out of the compound? Just walk like that to the prison and release her okay. So all this English I am speaking here is not entering your ears abi? I said they are keeping her away from me that’s why I came back so we can go with the rest of our eldest sisters, she angrily said.
“Hey they are not at home na and we don’t have that thing they call phone to call Chinenye mother, at least she has it, I worriedly said.
“Now that’s the problem, look I am very tired anytime they come back just let me know, she said getting up.
“But did he die? I asked her.
“I heard he was stitched up and that’s all, she replied and weakly went in while I sat down back. Aghhhh! Trouble always knocking every time, now Cecilia is in prison? That’s one very quiet sister I have and it was her mother who died in the city last month with her body parts missing. Ever since her mother passed on, she has always been extremely quiet and won’t involve herself in anything that happens in the compound, she didn’t even say sorry to me when I was raped. Everyone thinks she is angry that we dumped her mother in the city and I understand that anger, but what would have made her to break someone head at work? I wondered.
My eldest sisters returned and heard about it, and they left to see what happened to her. In the night I was still outside waiting for my mother who joined them when I saw them walked in. I went to Cecilia but she just passed me as jet and went in saying nothing to anybody and I heaved and followed my mother inside.
“What happened mommy? I asked giving her water to drink.
“Sharon the stupid oga son has been molesting her and she has been warning him, but it looks like today he was not lucky at all and he came trying to force himself on her, my mother replied.
“Oh that’s why she used a bottle on him? That serves him right, looks like we should stand up and fight against this rubbish. Anyone who want to dare us again should find himself in the grave that’s a very good attempt, I angrily said and my mom only looked at me saying nothing.
“Have you heard from your sister Mercy? My mom asked and I just left the room outside. I never want to hear that name around me ever since that incident. Though sister Mercy came back crying and pleading to everyone explaining how she was used and brainwashed and threw away her own sweat of about 150,000 naira in the name of deliverance but it wasn’t my concern at all. I hated her name and the fact that she brought this upon me, maybe I believed in her and the prophets so much that I don’t know how to start forgiving her. She swore to my mother she never planned any of that and my mother had to forgive her, but that was different for me because there was no heart to forgive at all and am not ready to do that until I find out I am not carrying any child.
But 3 weeks after that I returned from school with Mary very happy and carefree worried about nothing again at all when I saw blood on my panties and rejoiced it was my menses, that was about a week ago. But that day i noticed my sisters sitting outside.
“No body went to work today kwa? Mary asked when she saw them.
“Oya dey go your house and don’t forget the test tomorrow o, I said waving at her and got into the compound but my sisters faces were not good especially my mother. I dropped my school bag first looking at them and trying to see who is not complete but everyone seemed complete to me,
“What happened again na? I asked because definitely there was bad news as everyone eyes were red.
“Somebody talk to me what happened! I shouted going crazy and Chinenye mother breathed out.
“Sister Mercy is gone, She dropped.
“Sister who? I asked.
“I had a call that she was involved in an accident, she continued.
“What! I said with tears running down my cheeks knowing I didn’t forgive her even though I never wished her that. Last week when she called on phone she wanted talking to me but I just ignored, I wished I did because that was the last time she called home and I suddenly felt like throwing up.
I immediately ran to the side of the compound throwing up and crying at the same time and my mom held me giving me water to rinse my mouth.
“Can’t we pass the age of 50 in this family? Why do we keep dying this way? I cried on my mother.
“Its okay, I think our sisters are dying in the city more than they do in the village, my mom said.
“So we will forever be stuck? We won’t go out is that what you’re saying? If we don’t get raped we die young yet we are not doing anything about it, I said.
“What do you want us to do? No you tell me because the more we try to run away from this, it hits us bad in a more tragic way. Look at Amaka, she thought running away will solve it but she died a shameful death, Chinenye Mother said.
“Don’t talk to my mother like that, Cecilia spoke up.
“Oh just shut up! Chinenye mother shouted.
“No you all should shut up! You abandoned my mother body there and you’re here crying for another person and even asked her body should be brought down to the village. Wow! And you’re telling me to shut up huh? Cecilia shouted back facing her.
“So you expected us to transport a body that was found dead on the street gutter with her parts missing all the way from Ondo state to the village? Who asked her to sleep around there? Chinenye mother asked.
“My mother was not sleeping around! Cecilia shouted and attempted to fight with her.
“Enough! Amaka is dead and she deserve our respect! My mother shouted on them while I only watched.
“Whatever killed Amaka we have no right to discuss it this way, and Cecilia its not what you’re thinking. You know very well we cried for your mother but the situation that time was different, my mother continued.
“You all have nothing to tell me, did you really cried for my mother the way you’re crying for the one who arranged your daughter to be raped? This is just the beginning, Cecilia said and was leaving the compound.
“Cecilia! My sisters shouted on her but she didn’t stop and I bowed my head…………..
The next day I kind of slept late because I forced my self to read despite all that was happening. But I woke up feeling so uncomfortable and quickly ran out to the backyard to throw up. When I was done I cleaned my mouth and turned to see my sisters looking at me,
“What? I innocently asked but my mother came out from no where and dragged me inside……………
Tbc
#milove. 🧖♀️
