African Orphan

The lady who almost ruined me

I walked up the stairs of the building and got confused. Which one is her house? I need to find it. I stood there for five minutes starring at the different doors painted the same shade of blue. Just as I was about to give up, an older looking woman appeared (to my relief) and I asked her. She pointed at a blue door on my left then turned and looked me straight in the eyes and said Don't trust her!

Honestly my problems were way bigger than her statement and I didn't pay her much attention, so I watched her walk away before I finally knocked.

My fourteen year old *class eight heart was beating like Lord knows what and all I remember thinking was This is it, she's my last hope.

The lady who almost ruined my life opened the door and when she saw me her face lit up. I wasn't sure why, I was coming to ask for help, well, honestly I had come to ask for money and in my experience I should have been met with a frown.

She gave me some juice then ushered me to the basement where we got into her car and drove to her Church. My pictures were taken by a lady from the choir and after, I was asked a lot of questions about my personal life. This was their protocol for all the needy students who were seeking financial aid for their education.

Two days later I receive a call from her and she tells me that she, through the Church, had found someone who agreed to pay my entire education fees (the rest of class eight until the end of University).

I was elated! This was such great news. The almost futile search for money to take me through school was over. I would now be able to concentrate on my studies and cucu (grandmother) would just relax!

She picked me up within the hour, by then I had already changed into my Sunday best. We arrived at the hotel forty minutes later.

I guess I should have seen it coming. The way he looked at me when I walked in. How she stealthily excused herself and left me alone with him. The way he quickly came and sat next to me and placed his sweaty hands on my thigh.

If you're nice to me, I will give you everything you want... I know you are a smart girl, you know what I mean. My heart was pounding!

I never went back to pay for the dishes I broke that day when I pushed the restaurant table and ran off. The entire walk home all I could see was his shocked face. It took me two and a half hours to get home but it was worth it.

I'm glad my mother had raised me to know what he wanted to happen was wrong, I'm glad that I was smart enough to know that I was being preyed upon and I'm glad that I didn't let the severity of my situation back at home cloud my judgment.

Unfortunately some other young girls are not as lucky as me. My dear, you have been silenced long enough, it's time for you to take your place and take control. It's not going to be easy but at the end it will all be worth it!

I will not be another flower, picked for my beauty and left to die. 

class eight - year eight; standard 8; junior high(senior)