As scared as I was, I told the truth. I told her from the
beginning to the end. The first time I was raped by uncle
cheatmaster to what had been going on between us. She
couldn’t believe her ears after I stopped talking.
“Mesomma, tell me this is not true. Ewo oooo. Ewo ooo. Àrù
(abomination in igbo language). How can cheatmaster do
this? Ahh cheatmaster! ị na-adịghị egwu Chineke
(cheatmaster, you don’t have the fear of God in igbo
language)” I watched as my aunt cried while lamenting. She
was an older sister to uncle cheatmaster who were both
from my paternal side. My mum had no sibling so I had no
aunts or uncles from my maternal side.
My aunt could only shed tears. Now that uncle cheatmaster
was dead, it was too late. Too late to prevent all that already
happened. I kept mute and watch my aunt cry in pain.
The next minute, aunty Jennifer walked in. She entered and
met aunty Mary crying so she asked what happened.
Nothing could come out of our mouths. Aunty Mary
suddenly stopped crying, looked up at aunty Jennifer and
said;
“cheatmaster is responsible for Meso’s pregnancy.”
“Which cheatmaster?” She asked looking confused and
when none of us could speak, she got very angry.
“You’re telling me because, my husband, impregnated
Mesomma ehh aunty?” She said looking at aunty Mary, then
glanced at me before bursting into tears. She immediately
left the room and aunty Mary followed her behind I guess
trying to calm her down. My heart was racing; I don’t know
why. I wanted to just be dead that moment. Things were
going to get worse, I knew that for sure.
A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. Aunty
Mary had spoken to me concerning my pregnancy and
moving to Port Harcourt with her. Nobody spoke plenty
about my pregnancy even relatives that visited me during
my stay at the hospital. There were times they spoke to me
about certain things and spoke in private amongst
themselves but nobody ever mentioned uncle cheatmaster. I
didn’t even see aunty Jennifer after that day at the hospital.
Everyone now knew that uncle cheatmaster was the father
of my unborn child which was regarded as foul, an
abominable act. Many couldn’t believe it and some even
denied him as a relative and friend. You could tell from their
faces and behavior that they were all disappointed in both of
us. I saw it coming so I always tried to hide my face from
the shame. I was never beaten or anything but I was
counselled several times. Things were definitely not the
same again.
A month after, I was already in Port Harcourt with my aunt,
her family, and Esther. One night, she called me and spoke
to me concerning everything that had and was happening.
She said she knew nobody spoke about uncle cheatmaster
because of what he did and that she was very disappointed
in him but she was disappointed in me too. She said she
wasn’t saying it to make me feel bad but to know how she
really feels because I could have prevented a lot of things.
She looks at my tummy and says;
“Meso, this wouldn’t have been so. You are just a baby
having baby. It’s not right and as much as I don’t want to
mention this, your parents would have wanted better.
There’s no need to start feeling guilty or sad hmm Meso! ị
na- ege ntị?(are you listening in igbo language).” I nod when
she says this even though tears were already appearing in
my eyes before she continues. “…Life has to move on. Ama
m na ị nwere isi (I know that you have sense in igbo
language) but my dear you have to be careful. You’re just a
fourteen years old, a child. I know that things will change
and become different. People will talk and say what is more
than their mouth. You will see things differently but all is not
what it seems. Always remember that you have an elder
sister who looks up to you. You are older than Chinyere and
Ijeoma (two of my cousins who are her children) who also
look up to you as an older sister. Please, Meso. Try to do
what is best. Confide in me if you need help and I’ll always
be there for you. ị nugo (Have you heard?)” These words
stuck to my head like a magnet.
After we spoke for a while, we heard the bell ring. I thanked
my aunt before going to see who was at the door. “Good
evening sir,” I said, opening the door to pastor Francis. He
was the pastor from the church my aunt attended. He was
told about my situation and I had been counselled by him
several times. He opened my eyes to the things I wished I
had seen earlier. He told me that God had forgiven me as
long as my heart was fully repented. I used to feel different
and ashamed to do anything or even go to church with my
aunt and her family but later on, it became theleast of my
problem. Pastor Francis counselled me that day as usual
and asked about my well being before leaving.
After about 7 months of ups and downs, I gave birth to my
babies. The night of my labor was not a good one for me. I
had just gotten dressed after taking a bath when my water
broke. Luckily, everyone was at home that day so they
managed to rush me to the nearest hospital. For two and a
half hours, I was in labor. The most painful state I had ever
been. I almost gave up because I couldn’t bear the pain
neither could I breathe properly. I managed to survive the
whole process and delivered my twin boys. They looked very
adorable but I felt a bit sad. I hadn’t planned to have
children for my uncle neither did I plan on being a mother at
fourteen but even with all the sadness, my babies gave me
happiness because they were innocent. With the days and
times that past, my relatives, especially my aunt helped me
with all they could. I was helped in looking after the babies
and assisted in doing a lot of things. I even started school a
few months later. It wasn’t very easy with my babies but I
managed. Sometimes, I looked at Esther and thought of
what she might think of me and the stigma that I may have
caused but because she only showed me love and care, I
could only try to be happy. I promised myself to be a better
person. To try my possible best to give good examples and
slowly erase the bad even though damage had already been
done. Many a times, I heard gossips about me but ignored it
as much as I could. My aunt was a very strong pillar in my
life. A woman of virtue who taught me about the things I
now know. She went through a lot because of me and I just
couldn’t thank her enough. Life moved on and I lived
everyday with the way it was presented.
To be continued
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