The silence after Jim had left was so loud, Tonye could hear the wheels in Emeka's head spinning. She can't do this anymore. It has got to stop. "What's happening Tonye?", Emeka inquired. She opened her eyes. "Are you I'll? Is there something you want to tell me? I know you don't know Jim as lived in Edo State and has only got back from the USA.", Emeka asked. Where will she start from? "It was my first year in school, back in Benin", Tonye began, "and I had gone out with a group of friends to have a few drinks. We were joined by some guys who met us at the bar. We all had a couple bottles of drinks. We must have had too much to drink as a fight broke out and we were all moved out of the bar. Unbothered about that, we went to a different club. Two of my friends had hooked up with two of the guys so we practically partied together that night. At about 2am, I had begun feeling tipsy so I stopped drinking. Sometime later, we left. One of the guys had a house close to the club we were at. So we went to the house to sleep. At the house, I asked one of the guys to help me with water. I took the water he brought to me, and went into the room I was meant to sleep in. I remember feeling weak suddenly and I fell. I knew what was happening around me, but I could not move. I saw when the guy that had given me water came into the room, picked me from the floor, put me on the bed, went back to lock the door, and came back into the room. I tried to talk but no words came out. He took my clothes off, then his, and then he...".
"He did what?!", asked Emeka, who was already on his feet. "You know what he did.", Tonye replied. "No, I don't!", Emeka shouted. "I was not there. I can't jump to conclusions. I can only know what you tell me!". "Fine!", Tonye screamed, "He raped me! You are happy now?! He raped me! And I begged him, and cried, but he did not stop. And when he was done, he did it again. And again. And all I did was scream and cry in my head. I could not move or make a sound! When he was done, he flung my clothes on me, wore his own, and left the room. That was the last time I saw him, but I never forgot his face. Or the face of the doctor who told me four months later that I had miscarried the child of that scum of the Earth! I had to drop out of school, travel, and when I thought that I could, apply to go to a different university. That devil ruined my life! When I was beginning to live again, he came back to remind me. That Jim! That rapist!! And he's your brother?!" "No, he's my late friend's brother. He came yesterday to tell me that his brother had died.", Emeka replied. He was fuming. How can this be? She was raped? And impregnated? And she never told him? What if Jim had not come around? "This is all too much for me, Emeka said, I can't deal with all these. I will take care of the hospital bills. Do take care of yourself.". With that, he left.
She has known pain,of the rape, the shame and embarrassment that had followed, the fear, and self-torture that had followed, but what she felt then was nothing compared to what she felt now. It was nothing short of death. She knew that this would happen if she told him. She knew that he would leave her and want nothing to do with her. Nobody wants to deal with anything damaged. She expected it to ruin the relationship. But the reality was horrible. She has lost everything all over again. She was there crying when the doctor came in and the process for her to be discharged was handled. She went home and slowly got back to her normal routine...without Emeka. She dedicated herself to her work and church activities. In time, she got the courage to begin therapy with an organisation the doctor had advised her to contact.
Three months into therapy, the head Psychologist at the organisation asked to see her. He commended her progress and recovery. He asked her if she could volunteer to tell her story, and if she had forgiven everyone who was part of her story. She said 'yes' to both questions. She was a grown woman now, in charge of her life and her feelings. She had fought and won. She IS a survivor.
EPILOGUE:
Six months later, at a fundraiser for the organisation, Tonye, who had become an active part of the organisation, gave a provocative speech about rape and its resultant effects on the victims and the society. The speech moved a lot of dignitaries to donate funds and materials in support of the fight against rape and the rehabilitation of rape victims. While at her seat after giving the speech, a man came from behind her, held her shoulders, and whispered into her ears, "I'm proud of you.". She didn't have to turn to know who it was. Emeka Nnaji. He took her by the hand and walked out to the balcony. "I'm sorry I was not there for you," he began, "I had to take care of my friend's funeral and go out of the country for business. I'm glad you took the doctor's advice. I'm sorry I told him what you were going through and asked him to help you. I just needed time to deal with all that information and I wanted you to be strong for you, for us. I hope you understand Tonye. I love you, and want you to be as strong as I want to be for you. So will you now give me an answer to my question?". She was crying but managed to ask, "What question?". "Will you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?", he asked. "Yes.", she whispered.
- The Lady
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1
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