Nkechi is just sixteen (16) years old, the first child of a rather single parent ( she has no information about her father, her mother dismisses any issue about her father with a wave of the hand). Her eight siblings make the family size a fairly large one and poverty their next of kin. Anything or anyone that could bring relief was welcomed as the hope of the next meal was as sure as finding water in the desert. Nkechi's life was from one station of the cross to another and it seemed she was on her way to Golgotta. At this station in her life, she had wriggled her way through junior secondary school but the financial challenge of registering for the Senior School Certificate Examination was about to crown her, "A Dropout". The thought of this would make her eyes so generous as to grace her cheeks with an overflow of tears and leave her broken.
Her cousin, Onyema, twenty-one years of age, usually came by Nkechi's house and was always fund of his younger cousin. He became for her Simon of Cyrene or would I rather say, the Big Brother Africa.He would assist both financially and otherwise as much as he could. His shoulders were broad enough for Nkechi to lean on. Her litany of challenges have displaced the wax from his ears, plugged his ear canals and left him with partial acquired deafness so much so that he pays little attention to his personal and immediate family obligations.
As days went by, the deadline for payment /registration for her exam drew nearer and it was more apparent that she may not graduate from high school.
It was Christmas and traditionally there is a confluence of people from different areas to there source/root. It is an opportunity for some people to re-unite with there loved ones, others seize the opportunity to initiate projects locally, attend cultural ceremonies and even find life partner. A selected class solely return, to a show of affluence, with the motive to make people believe that all is well and the impression of being made for life. This last class of persons ( local champions) become the envy and magnetic hub that attract the gullible poverty stricken youths and sundry in the remote areas.
Henry belonged to the latest class. He came in from Ghana. Onye ma's eagerness to get rich became a centripetal force that brought him to Henry. He was practically an errand boy to him. The promise of taking him to Ghana made him more submissive and practically a slave. He literally lived with Henry, doing all his bidding.
Onyema mentioned Nkechi's predicament to Henry who without blinking an eye promised to help her with her exam fee and even much more than was requested. He quickly asked Onyema to invite her to his house.
Her first visit was memorable. She was treated like a queen with foods, drinks and some cash to greeze her palms as transport fare. Her mouth was all full of laughter, her heart dancing to the sweet melody her life has been engulfed with recently. She repeated the visit, all, in the company of her cousin and it was always rewarding.
The ultimate gift which Nkechi desired most (Exam fee) was promised to her on the 5th of February which was the same departure date for Henry. She had gone as usual in the company of Onyema but this last visit changed the story of her life.
After she had sat down for about ten minutes, the once friendly Henry turned into a beast, seized Nkechi and started planting unholy kisses all over her body. As she tried to resist, Onyema and Uche ( Henry's close friend) grabbed her, sealed her mouth with a handkerchief, while the two of them took there turn to rape her. She tried severally to call on Onyema, her cousin, to assist her but she was devastated when he took his turn to rape her. They stole her virginity in a most gruesome manner. It was more traumatising than the blow of a hammer to the head.
After they were satisfied, they bundled her out of the house and zoomed off. She never set her eyes on any of them till date.
The matter was never reported to the police because her cousin was involved rather it was treated as a family issue. Nkechi became pregnant following the rape and had an abortion after four months.
Today she complains of a continuous virginal discharge which reminds her of her ugly past, which she could pay anything, for the memory to be erased completely.
Thank you for reading!!!
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