MISTAKE OF A LIFETIME

It was the last days at Springfield High School, birds were chirping in the trees, the sun was smiling, the environment was festive. Students scattered all over the premises, the merriest of them all were the Seniors, it was few days before Prom and also graduation was around the corner. The seniors could be seen gallivanting around the School in all excitement. Rachael and her friend, Jane sat on the fields exchanging thoughts about the upcoming Prom.

“Kelvin finally asked me to Prom,” Jane said sharply.

“That's great” Rachael replied. “He really likes you, I won't be surprised if you became his girlfriend before graduation.”

“Baby steps' girl! What about you?”

“C'mon, you know I don't fancy parties, am more excited about us leaving High School.”

“But Prom is one of the most important nights of a girl's life, why did you refuse Jake when he asked you to the Prom?”

“Like I said, am more concerned about graduating and of course my valedictory speech.”

“Don't be silly,” Jane sneered. “You're hoping your forever crush, Chris asks you to Prom!”

“No, am not!” Rachael laughed.

“Yes, you are. Why don't you tell him how you feel, am sure he's gonna recipro...”

“No way! Chris only sees me as a friend and besides, he said it himself, he doesn't date black girls not to mention a Nigerian like me. Telling him would be a complete debacle.”

“But you grew up here in America, just tell him how you feel, am certain he would recipro...”

“And risk our friendship!” Rachael interrupted, “No way! Shhh! Here he comes.”

   “Hello ladies,” Chris beamed.

“Hi, Chris!” Jane replied enthusiastically.

Rachael shrugged, “Hi!”

“Are you ok?” Chris asked as he sat close to Rachael.

“Am fine.”

“How's the valedictory Speech coming along?”

“Am also done, wanna see?”

“Yeah!”

“ummm... Guys, I have to go.” Jane interrupted, “I just remembered I have to meet up with Kelvin.”

“Alright, see you later” Chris replied as the glanced through Rachael's book.

“See ya later.” Rachael waved as Jane walked away.

“You seem rather happy today, what's up?”

“Well, I asked Vanessa to the Prom,” Chris laughed. “And she agreed, am gonna ask her to be my girlfriend at the Prom.”

“Oh! That's great,” Rachael replied gloomily.

“Are you sure you're fine?”

“Yeah! Am good.”

“Ok! If you say so. Do you have a date now? I heard Jake asked you.”

“Nope.” She said sluggishly.

“What! Why'd you refuse Jake?”

“I... Umm... Well I have a lot to do, Prom is the last thing on my mind.”

“Alright, if you say so. But, you're still coming, right?”

“Yeah! My mom won't let me stay home on Prom night.”

“Come with us, we're gonna lease a Limo.”

“Us?” She replied looking flustered.

“I mean, I, Vanessa and the guys”

“No way! Am not going to Prom with your wayward friends!”

“C'mon! It's gonna be fun.”

“No, I'll just go with Jane. Why don't you quit hanging out with those guys? They're bad for you”

“They're really cool, get to know them, you'll see they're fun to be with.”

“Whatever!” She snickered.

“I have to go, am meeting up with Vanessa. Make sure you wear something pretty to the Prom” He smirked.

 “Ah! You're unbelievable Chris” She barked.

 “Well, you're adorable,” He chuckled. “Am sure you'll look good in whatever you wear.” He ran his slender fingers through her dark thick hair which cluttered her oval face and walked off

Rachael couldn't help but blush over the words of Chris, he called her adorable, and that was the sweetest thing she's ever heard.

   Finally, it was Prom night, the hall was filled with music and dimming lights. Students walked around in gorgeous outfits, the smell of different cologne filled the air. Rachael and Jane had arrived, they sat by the punch table. Rachael eyes traveled around the room, she eagerly waited for Chris to arrive, she wanted to see him in his outfit, of course he would look absolutely cute as always. The wait was finally over as Chris entered the room his date, Vanessa. Rachael felt a Pang of jealousy immediately she saw them. She regretted refusing Jake, now she was all alone, even Jane has left her to be with her date. Rachael waited for an opportunity to approach Chris to say Hi, but he was always with Vanessa, she didn't want to intrude or become a third wheel. After some minutes Chris and Vanessa disappeared, she surveyed the whole hall with her eyes, but she couldn't find them. One thought ran through her mind, they were probably making out. They had been gone for 40 minutes, and she couldn't take it anymore. So, she decided to go home.

   Rachael left the hall, and was headed home. After walking a block, it started to rain heavily, she ran into a dark alley for shelter. After staying for few minutes, she felt uneasy, it was dark and quiet. Leaving was the only thing on her mind. On her way out, she heard footsteps, her hand clenched her purse. “Who's there?” She shrieked, but there was no reply, she tried to stealthily walk out of the alley, but she was blocked by a masculine figure. “Please, don't hurt me,” She said shaking. The person walked closer and tugged her to the cold wet ground. Rachael knew it was a man that had touched her, “Please, let me go” She entreated while crawling farther away from him. He dashed towards her and ripped her gown open without a word. She screamed, “Help! Somebody, help me!” But all in vain, the rain was too loud and no one could hear her. “Please! Don't do this, I beg you,” She cried. He gagged her with a tie to foil further screaming and pinned her to the ground. She squinted her eyes to see his face but it was too dark, she could only perceive alcohol. After much struggling, he was able to have his way with her.

   It was 2 weeks after the incident, the seniors had graduated. Everyone in School had heard what happened to Rachael. Students had gone to visit the victim. But, it didn't in any way make her feel better. Ever since the incident, she had incessant nightmare about it, and whenever she is about to see the face of the rapist, she wakes up. Jane efforts to help her friend move on was futile. Rachael sat in her room all day long, crying till she fell asleep and woke up again when the nightmares began. For her life was now ruined.

Chris paid Rachael a visit, she was looking disheveled, her eye bags had swollen from too much crying.

“How are you feeling?” Chris asked curiously

“The same,” she murmured.

“Rachael!” He leaned closer to her and touched her hand. “Am really sorry this had to happen to you, I may not know how you are feeling right now but I want you to know that I will always be here for you.”

“Chris! I was raped!” She sobbed.

“I know. But I promise you, everything will be fine, you'll be fine.”

She gazed at him for some seconds, but he looked away. She planted her head on his Shoulders, tears propelled down her cheeks, but she felt comforted by Chris.

   Hours later, Chris left Rachael house and went straight home looking all gloomy. He went straight to his room and found his friend, Tony there. He burst out into tears immediately he saw him.

“Dude, why're crying?” Tony asked as he led him to his bed.

“Tony! I did it” He muttered.

“You did what?”

“I raped Rachael”

“What!!!” Tony barked. “I...umm... I don't understand, you did what? I thought she was your friend dude! That's messed up.”

“It was an accident, I... I didn't mean to. I was drunk.” He sobbed. “I was mad at Vanessa when I saw her kissing Connor at the Prom, I went into the limo, I was angry, so I drank all the alcohol. I felt dizzy, I found myself in that alley when it started to rain, and she just walked in, I didn't know what to do, I just did it, I don't know how, but I just did it.”

“Bro! That's a huge mistake.”

“What do I do, Tony? I can't take the guilt anymore, I have to tell her”

“No bro! Let her cool off first, if you tell her then kiss your friendship goodbye.”

“I can't keep it anymore, I can't even look her in the eye, you needed to see her, Tony. She's wasn't herself and I made her that way! Am so stupid” He banged his head.

“Let her cool bro.” Tony insisted as he tried to console Chris.

   As time went by, Rachael was gradually becoming herself again with Chris by her side, giving her reason to smile again yet having no idea who he truly is. When all seemed to be fine the worst happened, Rachael was pregnant. The words of the Doctor reechoed in her head over and over again. “Miss Rachael Osifo, you are 6weeks pregnant.” Life was unbearable to her, she was going to have a baby at 18. Her mother had convinced her to keep the child and honestly, she didn't want to get rid of the Baby, she didn't have the heart to do so. Chris' guilt increased when he heard about it, he couldn't believe the fact that he was going to have a baby but yet he stayed with her all through. Rachael felt lucky to have someone like Chris by her side, his actions made her love him more. Months later, Rachael delivered twins, a boy and a girl, she couldn't explain the joy she felt when she saw her babies, after all the pain, she concluded that they were worth it. Chris could hold his joy when he said them, they were like little angels he said. He couldn't help but feel guilty too. He waited and planned how to tell Rachael the truth, but he failed.

   It was five years after the twins birth. Rachael and Chris grew closer by the year, despite the fact that Chris went to college, he still made time for Rachael and the kids. Chris fell in love with Rachael, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and the kids, but he didn't want to live a lie. One fateful day, he told Rachael the secret he had kept for 5 good years.

Rachael was flustered. “I don't understand what you are saying Chris, Is this a joke?” She yelled.

“No” He sobbed. “Rachael please forgive me, I didn't mean to, it was an accident”

Rachael couldn't believe her eyes. “You!” She muttered, “You raped me! And you keep it in for five years???? How callous can you be?”

“Am sorry, it was a mistake”

“Mistake! I vividly remember that night, I begged you not to do it” She cried. “I begged! Yet you raped me, you're a monster. Stay away from me and my kids!” Rachael walked out angrily leaving Chris in his tears.

   Few months later, the twins interrogated their mother on the whereabouts of Chris. She either ignored them or changed the topic. Rachael missed Chris, even though she didn't admit it. But, she was still angry. Everyone had pleaded with her to forgive, even Jane, but she refused. Her mother walked up to her one day.

“Rachael, Chris has been calling, he misses you and the kids, he hasn't seen his children from months now, please don't deny them a father.”

“His kids! Mom, they are my children and I won't let that monster close to them.”

“Rachael, forgive Chris. He made a mistake, yes. I know how you feel, but he is remorseful and willing to make amends. For five good years he has been here, he didn't neglect the kids, they practically see him as their father already.”

“But Mom, he raped me!”

“I know! But, he is sorry, he regrets his actions. Do you know what we do when people are remorseful?”

“No.”

“We forgive Rachael. We forgive. You grew up without a Dad, don't make your kids experience such too”

“But mom, he raped me.”

“Do you still love him?”

Rachael looked at her Mom for some seconds before she replied, “Very much, Mom.”

“There's your answer.” Her mom walked out.

   Rachael had called Chris and reconciled with him. A year later they got married and nurtured their beautiful family. Mistakes are common in our lives. But, when you make a mistake, try to make amends.

Just like Chris, his didn't run away from his mistake, he faced it.