_Dedicated to all Breakthrough Academy students reading this book_!💛 Thanks guysss!!😙
The two officers looked intently at the young and vulnerable girl in front of them as she ate the last spoon of food given to her earlier after she woke up. She gulped the bottle of water and gave a short 'ahhh' to indicate satisfaction.
"Thank you for the food so let's delve right back into the story." She said with a calm composure.
"My stepfather barely came home again and it was impossible to guess when he would be home. Sometimes when he did,he would bring a mistress to the house and if he did not ,he would have his way with me.This went on for months and I kept dying inside as time passes." She sighed deeply.
" I didn't even know how to fight again so I just put up with the pain because I had no hope or support system. I was filled with a lot of bitterness against him and my mother. I was a hopeless little little girl one day, a ray of hope came forth."
*FLASHBACK*
EIGHT DAYS AGO
It was a Friday afternoon and the bell rang signalling the end of break time. Graceland Academy was a school that upheld morals and maintained discipline. A two story building painted with the shade of dark green with a reasonable amount of space,it could pass off as a beautiful school.
Students in the senior classes started fetching for their jotters and pen to attend the seminar that the school had announced earlier would hold in the hall.
As usual,some students did not bother holding any writing materials because they didn't have any interest whatsoever in what was going to be said at the seminar.
Mimi took her pen and book in her hand while she walked slowly to the hall which was on the second floor of the building. She was sure her best friend,Jessica would have reserved a seat for her so she didn't have to run and hurry like the other students were.
She walked absent-mindedly into the hall and gave a weak smile to Jessica who frantically waved for her to come and sit beside her. She sat beside the window and rested her head on the railings and closed her eyes.
The hall was very rowdy as students were shouting and moving about since the seminar had not started. The vice principal, Mr Victor,a short,fair man walked in angrily due to the noise.
"Can you all stop talking? He shouted with his loudest voice. Some stopped talking but many ignored him and continued with their chit-chat.
"If I hear any noise from anyone,you would be made to kneel in the quadrangle!" This got the attention of the students and the talking died down,because nobody wanted to get punished in the quadrangle.
The school was built in a rectangle-like structure so the quadrangle was an empty space in the middle of the school. Anyone standing there could be easily seen by people on every floor and it could be quite embarrasing to serve punishments there.
"Thank you all. Today we have invited important guests from outside the school to come and talk to us on sensitive matters. I would implore you all to please listen attentively and take notes during the lesson."
Mimi opened her eyes and decided to pay attention on what was going to be said. The first speaker came up and greeted all the students and they responded appropriately.
"Today, we're going to be talking on SEX education."
Some of the students started making sounds like "ohhhhhh", "ahhhhh", "maddddd", "cheeee", and some started laughing because of the topic mentioned especially the senior boys sitted at the back. The teachers cautioned them while the speaker continued with her teaching.
The mention of that topic alarmed Mimi and she doubled her concentration on whatever was going to be said.
"Many people face different forms of sexual harassment and it has been constantly neglected by all. Today we're going to talk about the different types of sexual harassment and how to curb it.
🖤🌺
An hour and half into the seminar,many students had left the hall in the disguise of using the toilet or getting pen.
" Learn to speak out if you're facing any form of sexual harassment. It would help you rather than letting it eat you inside. It is a major step in curbing and putting a stop to sexual assault." The third speaker was rounding up.
"Oya,say to yourself,I will speak up." She gestured to the students.
Mimi could not bring herself to repeat the statement. Tears were brimming her eyes and she wanted to cry her eyes out because it felt like the seminar was talking to her directly.
She dropped her book and rushed out of the hall to use the toilet. The guidance counselor noticed her behavior and went after her. Mimi entered the toilet and cried. She screamed and cried because she could no longer hold it.
She was broken, tormented, in constant torture and she was losing her reason for existence.
She walked out slowly from the toilet and found her guidance counselor looking at her with a mixture of pitiful and questioning eyes. She pulled Mimi into a hug and pat her back while Mimi gave sobs in between.
Miss Essy,the counselor was a dark,short and plum woman. She was in her mid-forties but she wears glasses most of the day.
She held Mimi's hands and took her to her office. It was a small office that consisted of a shelf which was filled with inspirational books on the side and a table in the middle with one chair on one side for the counselor and two chairs on the other side. They walked in while the woman locked the door to assure Mimi of privacy.
"Look Mariam, I have been noticing your behaviors for months now and I must say it's very disturbing. You no longer play like you used to,no longer smile and you're not as vibrant as you were. Your grades have even dropped terribly and it's been very alarming.
I want you to confide in me and tell me what's wrong with you. It's good to speak out when you're facing problems. It would be easier to tackle.
Mimi listened carefully to her words and pondered on it. She decided that there would be nothing to lose if she finally spoke up. What was the worst that could happen, anyway?
She hesitated a bit before she relayed her story to the counselor. She mentioned everything that has been going on in her life for the past eleven months without missing a single detail. Mid-story,the counselor is so moved that she starts shedding tears with Mimi.
She had heard of several problems but this was the height. The assault,coupled with both physical and verbal abuse was sure to leave any human scarred for life. She felt great pity for Mimi and assured her they were going to deal with the problem together.
Mimi felt a ray of hope had come into her life and she could smile a little. The counselor decided that the matter was a legal matter and would have to be dealt with the law. They decided at that moment to visit the police station and Mimi agreed anyways.
The counselor packed her bags and gestured to Mimi:
"Let's go get the justice you deserve!"
A/N
Yayyyyyyy!!!! A new chapter 😙🌺
This chapter brought a lot of memories from high school while writing 😂 and I really enjoyed writing it.
Please put a smile on my face by voting 🥺🥺... recommend this story to your friends as well. I'll upload faster if the reads and the amount of votes are encouraging 🙂
I love you guysssss....🌺😙
YOU ARE READING
36!!!
Short Story"Miss Mariam Benson went through a of violence, physical and sexual assault which was detrimental to her health and her psychological state. The act with which she carried was out of self-defense and to guard her sister from her ordeal. But the fac...
