FORBIDDEN LOVE 18

The next day at school, the siren went off for our morning
assembly. I was certain that assembly was going to be long as it
was the last day of school and the incident that happened last night
was going to be talked about. After our normal activity on the
assembly, the principal walked to the front on of the students for
the usual announcement but with a very stern look. She cleared her
throat before speaking and then brought up the incident that
happened the night before. She said basically everything the house
master had said that night and said the boys were not going to go
scot free. I wasn’t mentioned because I was just a victim but they
did mention that a girl was almost raped by them. Senior Daniel
unluckily wasn’t going to go unpunished either for beating up
someone to an unconscious state. The three boys who had almost
raped me were expelled while senior Daniel was suspended. They
were all called out by the angry principal and flogged by the
strictest teacher in our school, Mr. Alabi.
Assembly that morning got some looking very excited, some looking
very serious and the rest unhappy. The principal made mention that
anyone who committed an offence like them or even close would also
not go unpunished. I was so sad for senior Daniel because I knew it
was all because of me. I started feeling very guilty. If only he had
just left the boy when he was still very much okay, this wouldn’t
happen. I needed to talk to him but I couldn’t get hold of him
because they were all taken to the principal’s office after. The
drums began for us to match back to our classes.
Later that day, Anabelle left school for her house as her parents’
driver had come to pick her up and a few minutes later, I was told
that my uncle was waiting to pick me up. I was actually expecting
my parents to come for me but anyway, I was happy I was finally
going home. Even though I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would
be, because of the case of senior Daniel, there was nothing I could
do. The principal had called me earlier and spoken to me about the
whole situation, consoling me and being thankful to God that senior
Daniel came on time even though he still ended up doing something
wrong. I was pushed to say that senior Daniel be left alone since he
was only trying to help but I couldn’t because he wasn’t supposed
to overly react and beat someone almost to death.
Anyway, I went to meet uncle Sam who was waiting for me at the
hostel gate. He smiled when he saw me even though I felt it didn’t
look genuine, He hugged me and told me to go bring my luggage.
After I was down with my luggage, I signed out of the hostel and
drove off with uncle Sam. The uncle Sam I knew didn’t say much
while we were in the car. I was tempted to tell him all that had
happened but I kept quiet as the atmosphere didn’t seem like it
was convenient enough. When we got to my house, excited to see
Esther and my parents (that is, if they would have been back from
work), I jumped out of the car. I went to bring out my luggage
from the car when uncle Sam told me not to worry as he would help
me with it. I skipped happily into the house shouting Esther’s name.
I saw Frank who didn’t look so bright but greeted him as he opened
the door for me to enter. As I got in, I saw a lot of shoes at the
end of the corridor. My parents and visitors! What are they
celebrating this time around? or do they want to welcome me from
my first come back from the boarding house? I thought to myself.
When I entered the sitting room, I saw a lot of my relatives,
including the ones I barely see all looking like a bad omen was in the
air. They did not look bright at all. I greeted all of them, looking
around looking for Esther and my parents who were not in sight at
all. At this point, my smile was beginning to turn into a frown. I
looked at uncle Sam who came up behind me and asked him for
Esther. He swallowed hard and told me that Esther was in the room.
Without even waiting for anything, I slowly left them in the sitting
room and walked into the room to meet Esther with aunty Mary
who was holding and consoling crying Esther. I went up to them
very quickly and confused asking the reason why she was crying.
Esther who had been crying looked up at me and hugged me
immediately. I hugged her back very tight and asked why she was
crying.
I got to find out that my parents had an accident on their way
back from the village where they went for my cousin’s wedding.
They had passed on even after they were rushed to the hospital. I
couldn’t believe my ears when I heard all of it. I kept screaming to
be woken up from a bad dream. Why must I, at that young age
face such? I just didn’t know what to do. I was about to run mad.
My eyes became very watered and sore as I cried non-stop. I kept
on crying, not listening to my aunties and uncles who were trying to
console me. I kept telling them to go and bring my daddy and
mummy home. I was not ready to settle with the news I had just
heard. Why would so many things happen within a short period on
the day I was finally coming home. After counting down days to go
home with Anabelle, after senior Daniel had been expelled, another
horrible news. There was no way I was going to settle for less. I
kept trying to leave the house but they kept pulling me back.
Uncle Sam finally took me away from everyone so he could talk to
me in private. He held me close and consoled me. He told me to be
strong for my sister, Esther, as she needed me to be as strong as I
could be. I kept asking him what I did wrong for my parents to
leave us behind. I was now an orphan, barely gone anywhere in life.
My parents hadn’t seen me graduate yet. My mum hadn’t danced at
my wedding like she promised she would in future. Everything just
didn’t seem right. I mean, I did hear of deaths from other close
family members. My parents even helped in any way they could to
support them but I didn’t think their turn was going to come this
soon. I was just twelve years old and my sister still eight. It was a
lie, it’s not even possible, they were still alive, I kept telling myself.
I came to accept it later on and decided to be the strong senior
sister for my younger one, Esther. Life I thought, was useless
without my parents.
To be continued….