"Which part inside mainland?", he asked in pidgin English. She knew nowhere on the mainland having had no reason to be on this side of the city except to & fro the Airport. "Anywhere far from here.", she replied. "Take me to any good hotel anywhere safe. I need to be far from here. I need a pharmacy, food, & new clothes.", she added. He looked at her through the mirror. "Okay Ma.", he responded. She fell asleep after that and slept through the ride. She woke with a start when he tapped her to wake her up. He was parked in front of a pharmacy. "Wetin you want buy make I go buy am? Because if them see you like this, na Police them go call.", he said. She adjusted her shirt that had slipped, exposing her scars. "Na man do you this thing? Na him make you dey run? E no go beta for am! No worry, I go carry you anywhere you want. Him no go fit find you. I go go buy everything wey you want for you. Na God go punish that man! Him be animal! Him no get...", he was saying emotionally when she cut him off. She was too tired. She needed to sleep. "Thank you Sir.", she said. "Please buy Vaseline, any good bathing soap, and Panadol tablets. Thank you.", she added.
He took the money she gave him and went into the pharmacy. Barely four minutes later, he was back with everything including a pack of bottled water. He took her to a store where she bought clothes and underwears, and then to the hotel. He came to the hotel daily to go buy food and other things she needed. By the third week, the scars were barely visible. She was getting stronger both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Mr. Dele, the taxi driver, had helped her withdraw money from her accounts daily since the day after he had dropped her at the hotel using her ATM cards to the daily maximum on each. Her plans were materializing. She still woke up with nightmares sometimes. But it is okay. It was all a test she believed. A test not to show her weaknesses, but for her to discover her strengths. And though the future looks bleak, she can't wait to see what is in store for her.
She has called her family, informed them of all that had happened in the past, letting them know that she was safe and comfortable where she was. She needs to get through this without them present and breathing down her neck. This is her fight, and she will fight it herself.
This is not the end...
- The Lady
“Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and
might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”
1 Chronicles 29:12
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