Lie To Me

CURSE

She ran in the streets without knowing where to go. The small village of Ki Pombo was animated. People danced and sang carefree. All the torches burnt in the night. Drums played on the rhythm of ancestral tribal music. The shops were closed and respected the curfew of 9pm. Some were home with their loved ones, some were outside and enjoyed the party. She wouldn't care less. Her happiness was threatened. She was desperate. If she wouldn't find it, it would be the end for her. Her life, her honor and the honor of her family was on the line.

_

Carmen was in love with Brahim since they were young; however, he never saw her as more than a friend. During the last seven years, Carmen suffered from heartbreaks. She saw Brahim with countless lovers; but she never lost faith that one day, she would be the one by his side. He was a notorious player and she knew that these girls were not meant to stay. Last year, everything changed. He fell in love with a beautiful girl. Her name was Ony. Unlike Carmen, she had a curved body, prompt to bring a prosperous family. Her family was working in the government. They were rich and well known in the state Arabia. Brahim's family owned a cacao company. They had factories in all the seven states of Africa. His dad and Ony's dad saw this relationship as a way to unite their power. Their families decided to arrange their marriage. Carmen cried on her mother's laps. Then Mrs. Diallo brought her daughter up, looked at her in the eyes and said;

"A woman cannot afford the luxury of being weak. Make your brain works!".

Her mom whispered something in her ear. Carmen eyes stayed wide open. She was in shock. She couldn't see herself doing that to him. Mrs. Diallo added;

"Now you know what to do. Everything is between your hands now, but if ever you result into doing it, do it right, or else, if you dishonor us, you won't be considered as our daughter anymore."

Mrs. Diallo gave a small flacon to her daughter. Carmen tightened it in her right hand, and she started to cry.

_

Carmen had to find a baby. Carmen's delivery was scheduled for tomorrow. During the last nine months, with a lot of effort, she tried to find a woman that would be ok with selling her baby to her, however it was not as easy as it seemed. Mr. Diallo refused to help her. She didn't want to get involved. She did what she had to do. Carmen was ready to cut open a pregnant woman if she had to. Despair was slowly taken over her sanity. While she strolled on a dark alley, a strange woman came up to her. Her eyes were a bright blue and contrasted with her dark complexion. Carmen had never seen a woman as beautiful before. Her clothes that were once clean and luxurious, were now dirty and torn apart. She only had one gold earing left. Her voluminous and long kinky hair were all over the place. She even had no shoes on. She looked like she ran away from someone, or something. Carmen was scared that this unknown woman would rob her, or worst, take her soul. Carmen put one foot behind as she was ready to flee at any time.

"Don't be scared. I'm here to give you what you need. What you been longing for."

The mysterious woman undid the cloth on her back and revealed a newborn baby.

"I don't understand what is going on. Why are you giving me this baby? Do you want money? Do you want to curse me?"

"The curse fell upon you the day you decided to tell this lie. You have to take this baby. I will die soon anyways, no one will come to claim her."

Carmen was even more puzzled than before. The strange woman gave Carmen the baby and turned her back.

"What is your name? How do you know that I needed a baby? Who's kid is that?", screamed Carmen.

The strange woman did not turn around and just said;

"you will soon know my name.", and she disappeared in the dark.

Carmen arrived at her home, on the 3rd avenue with chicken blood stained on the lower part of her dress and the baby wrapped in her arms. Brahim was the happiest man alive. Although he had sacrifice everything for his baby, he knew that it was the right decision. He grew up in a distant family and did not wanted to bring the same misery to his offspring. Excited he took the baby in his arms and screamed;

"I have a daughter! I have a daughter!"

Carmen was tired and went to shower. She felt a pinch in her heart when she saw Brahim's smile and happiness. He never reacted like that with her. The last time she saw him with a smile as big as the one he did today, was when he was announced that he would marry Ony. This affection in his eyes at this instant never crossed her gaze. He didn't ask how she was, or even how the delivery went or where did she deliver. He did not care at all. She could've given birth at barn; he wouldn't care less. Carmen started to cry again. She thought that she was a good for nothing, that the only thing that she knew how to do was to cry. She went so low that she was now jealous of a newborn baby.

During a Friday afternoon, the couple was in the living room watching the latest news. The royal family had conducted the execution of a soothsayer. She was accused of evil witchcrafts. She bore the son of the demon and left him somewhere. An ordinance was sent to all slave shelters to kill all the newborns. She was tied on a wooden pillar and pyre below her feet. Her kinky hair covered her face, but Carmen knew these eyes. These piercing blue eyes. They looked right at the camera, as if they looked at her, as if they judged her. Carmen froze. Her body was shaking. They put fire to the pyre and it slowly consumed her body. She did not cry, nor scream. She remained silent. The public that was there was horrified. It was as if her body belonged to the flames. On April 23rd, 2150, Rosa Mwanajuma was killed. Carmen looked at Eleonor petrified. She brought the daughter of a demon home.