CHIDINMA'S STORY

Part 9

9

The movie I saw today made me cry so much. The fact is that I relate so much to it and how she felt. Ovy's Voice was a fantastic film, and Bisola Aiyeola is a fantastic actress. The movie gave me flashbacks. On the first night of being completely free, I didn't feel as free as I thought I would. Instead, I was scared, alone, confused, lost, and I had no where to go. The night was cold and the air was breezy. As I dragged my big luggage with me in the cold, almost dark, empty street, my luggage felt more like an object of inconvenience than one of necessity for me. I had not yet sheltered myself, not to mention thinking of where I'd keep my luggage.
 
I strolled into an estate many streets away from my school. I sat down in front of a gate, and that was where I stayed until dark. Although I despised men and thought so little of them. I wished for a Nigerian movie kind of fate for myself, where one amazing good samaritan would save me and maybe bring me that eternal hope I had longed so much for. But it didn't happen.

Around 1am, the gateman of the compound where I was seated in front of came out and told me to leave. He said he didn't want a problem. If I was looking for a place to die, it shouldn't be in front of his Oga's house. I find it funny now, but I didn't find it funny at all then. I felt angry, hungry, and lonely. And once again, a human being was being totally inconsiderate towards me.

 I dragged my bags slowly, so exhausted that I considered leaving them at a corner and continuing my journey with no known destination. I was very close to doing that when two bright headlights flashed into my eyes. I squinted and used my hands to shield my eyes from the harsh light. Two women came down from the vehicle. At first I was scared, but when they got closer and I got to see their faces clearly, I relaxed. I calmed a bit. At that point, I'll accept any help.

The woman walked up to me and asked me if I was fine. A lot of questions were asked and I, to be honest, I barely listened to the questions or even remember them now. But the next thing I was in a car and, according to them, I was finally safe. Well, I really thought I was. 

We got to a spot, and I was forcefully pushed out of the car, my little pocket money stripped from me, and all of my property. I screamed at the top of my voice and cried. I cursed them and wailed at the side of the road. At that point, I knew I was going to die. What do they gain from robbing a secondary school girl? It was so unfair. I sat on the sidewalk next to a house and lay down, thinking that maybe I'd just die there.