'Into The Furnace Of Life'

EVERYTHING THAT went from bad to worse started last four weeks ago, the week I was offered admission into college. It was a dream coming true for me; except that it wasn't. On that Monday of the second week, my mum came to me; "Sheila dear, get dressed up. You need to resume today remember?"

"Mum, please! I'm not sure I want to do this; I need time to think this through." I was to become a cleaner in the Johnson's mansion. Mummy Aquila was a respected elder in the community and mum said she had agreed to help with my college fee and the price would be that I offered my service. It was a good offer, but at first, I had my reservation. This was something I never told my mum and it was that mummy Aquila's son had tried to make advances on me. On that day, he came to me and was like; “You are a very beautiful girl, Sheila. You have it all; we can become close friends you know.’' He said 'close' in a tone that suggested companionship. Ever since that day, I had often tried to avoid him.

"I know dear, it's shameful. You don't have to go through this.'' My mum looked at me and I saw in her eyes the deep motherly care and affection. ''Do this for your future dear, and us.'' And that was how I had accepted to work for the Johnson's. My first three days were not bad; mummy Aquila had been nice and treated me like her daughter. "Feel at home sweetheart, and when you need anything, just let me know.” Even Ephraim her son, had been nice to me. He would often help me with some chores and had offered to be my mentor. So I thought that perhaps, I had been wrong about him. “He couldn’t possibly hurt you, he’s been nice to you.” My mind would often say each time I suspected a thing. Unknown to me, it was the beginning of the worst.

***EPHRAIM TRIED TO LURE me into sex. It was on Friday, I was in the garden after I had finished my chores for the day. I looked up and saw Ephraim coming towards me. He smiled as he came and sat close to me. He was so close that I could smell the cologne on him. The butterflies in my stomach, bubbled.

"Do you think you will go to college?" of all questions he could have asked, why this? "Yes sir, I want to believe so.” 

He laughed. "You are poor, you own nothing of value, and no one to support you to school. And you still have faith?” Sorrow filled my heart. I had just been reminded of my poor fate. My eyes betrayed me as tears began to flow.

" Oh no, please don't cry, it was never my intention." He moved closer to me, and placed his hand over my shoulders. My emotions were in control at that moment and so I had relaxed under his touch and like a kindergartener, soaked in his consolations. "I can help you." He whispered so thinly. His lips grazed the foreskin of my ear and I felt the sensation. I never understood what was happening, until I felt his hand inside my thigh moving towards my pant. It was then my instinct kicked in. With great power, I pulled out his hand and stood up immediately- "No you won't." I shouted.

"Oh come on," he shrugged. "Let's not pretend now. I know you like me, Sheila."

"You are a fool," I told him.

"Don't get me angry," He said and started moving towards me. I moved back, away from him. "Leave me alone or I will tell your mum." I threatened. He stopped on his tracks, his eyes red with anger. "You poor thing," he said. I was ready to give you the money for your college if you had just allowed me do the thing." 

"You are a stupid girl." He spitted at me and left. I watched as he walked out of the garden, and into the mansion. For the rest of that day, I was not myself. Fear was upon me, I didn't know what to do. Mummy Aquila saw my countenance.

"Are you alright, dear?" She asked when we sat down for dinner. "Yes ma" I replied. How could I have begun telling her that Ephraim tried to force himself on me? For two days, Ephraim avoided me and pretended as if nothing had happened. But I was unfazed. I knew that it was only a matter of time before he came again.

  ⁂ AND I WAS RIGHT. Ephraim came to me again, but this time, it was at night. I had already started fallen asleep. At first, it was like a dream. I felt a hand moving inside of me as if trying to shift my under wear. I didn't know what woke me up but maybe the touch felt odd to be a dream. I tried to fight his grip on me but he was strong. “Rape!!!.” I shouted. “Help me.” I kept shouting and struggling to keep him off; He was growing stronger. And so I did what came to my mind; I kicked him hard in between his thigh. He fell to the ground, and groaned in pain. That was my chance, I opened the door and ran out. I kept running until I got out of the mansion and into the streets. I didn’t care what time it was; I had had enough. Being free from his harassment and assault was most important to me. Mum was shocked to see me that night and in my night wear. She saw the bruises I had sustained and asked what happened. I told her everything that happened. My mum cried. “I’m sorry I had pushed you into this; forgive me dear.” 

“It’s fine mum, I’m free now.”

Mum hugged me and I felt like a baby again. I relaxed in her arms and forgot all my fears. “We will be together now honey.” ‘We would be together', my mum had said. It was all that mattered to me.

****SADLY, WE DID'NT end up together. It was three weeks left for me to go to college and nothing had been done yet about my school fees. I was unhappy and refused to eat. The thought of having to forfeit the admission made me sick with depression. I had remained in a sullen state for much of the week until on Saturday afternoon. Mum came to me and told me she was never going to watch me forfeit my admission. “I will do all in my power to see you go into college, I promise you dear.” I hugged her, and told her I loved her so much. She told me she was coming, and left. I had waited for her return but she never came. It was getter dark, and I was getting worried. “Oh no!” “God, please preserve my mum.” I waited until midnight, then I slept off.

I woked up that that morning hoping to find her around; But she hadn’t come. My heart began pounding hard. Negative thoughts of fear washed through me. I had just opened the door determined to go look for her when I saw two men walking towards our home. They dressed in a way that showed they were state officials. For a micro second, I saw my soul jumped out of me.

“Good morning Miss.” 

“Are you Sheila Peters?” My body turned paled as if I were dead. I stared at them. “Where’s my mum?”

“Calm down child.” The other man said.

“Come with us, please.” How I followed them, I had no idea. They brought me to a hospital and took me to the emergency room. And right there on it was the woman who had given birth to me lying helpless. 

“No!!!” I shouted 

I ran towards her and began to shook her. “Wake up mum, you can’t leave me.”

“You promised we would be together.” I cried and rolled, and shouted. But all my crying couldn’t raise her. Mum remained stiffed and breathless; she was gone for good. I got to know she had been hit by a speeding car while she had attempted to cross an express road. Now I was alone, no father and no mother. Alone in this cruel and wicked world. 'What a life we live in,' I pondered. Only the strong may be able to overcome. I hoped to be strong, to face what could come ahead.