she couldn’t summon any sadness or despair at his passing. She went to live with some distant
relatives. The wife was her father’s second cousin and she had treated her well. Alewa got into
the university and since she lived on campus she only went to her aunt’s house during semester
breaks. She had formed a friendship with the second son of her aunty, Andre and she was pretty
content living with them. She was with them for four years until the day everything changed.
Alewa came back from school one day and met just her aunt’s husband in the house. Before
she knew what was happening, he had her pinned to the floor, her skirt up and her panties off.
“Uncle, please, please.” She sobbed and screamed but he didn’t answer her.
“You’re so beautiful Alewa and don’t tell me you don’t want this cos I see the way you look
at me with those sexy eyes of yours. I just want to give you what you’ve been asking for all along.”
He mumbled in her ears while struggling to pull off his trousers.
Alewa was helpless and all her pleas fell on deaf ears. They were still in the damning position
when her aunt walked into the house and saw her husband on top of her charge. Her husband
scrambled off Alewa and quickly righted his cloth while pointing an accusing finger towards
Alewa.
“She seduced me darling. She just came in and attacked me, tearing my clothes off.”
His wife looked at Alewa accusingly. “You witch.” She slapped her. “So you took my son from
me and now you’re working on my husband? You are a wicked girl. After all I have done for you?”
Alewa had tried to explain what happened but her aunt didn’t give her the time. She insisted
she leave her house that very moment. Alewa didn’t have anywhere else to go to; she was barely
eighteen and didn’t know any other relatives in Lagos or even anywhere in the world she could
run to. She had to fall on the mercy of her father’s lawyer.
She called the lawyer, explained her predicament and he came to pick her. It was then he
told her about the settlement her dad provided for her in his will before he died. In fact, he left
all he had in the world to her; amounting to millions of naira which she was supposed to have
access to once she was eighteen.
The lawyer, who had been a close friend of her dad’s was the executor of the estate and he
was to make sure everything was ready for her by the time she is of age. Alewa had been shocked
and at the same time gratified to know that she had something to fall back on. The lawyer
explained to her that he had sent a monthly allowance to her aunt for her upkeep; so they didn’t
lose anything by taking care of her all this while.
Alewa was grateful for the money but that didn’t reduce the bitterness she felt in her heart
and soul towards the man who gave her life. He had done the unthinkable to her and for that she
could never forgive him.
After everything she had been through in her young life, she couldn’t believe this was where
she was to end up, rotting away from a disease contracted from her father.
She guessed it was fitting though; her sin had prevented her from living a full life so why
prolong the inevitable. She had shut herself from the world, could barely stand the sight of a man
not to talk of his touch, could not fathom trusting a man enough to let him in her life, have
children with him and then watch him molest his daughter, could not even break the chain of
despair her father had wrapped around her since she was thirteen.
Better to die now, no one would miss her and she would definitely miss no one. She knew
this was the last straw, this would be the straw that would break the camel’s back, this was going
to be the death of her; literally.
King watched as the young lady wove her way drunkenly through the cars in the parking lot
until she got to a small Toyota parked some distance from his car. It was her erratic movements
that arrested his attention but it was her attire that retained it. She was dressed classily albeit
casually and he couldn’t believe a woman that exudes such class would be so drunk so early in
the day.
He continued watching her closely as she searched through her purse presumably for her
key and eventually dumped the contents out. His curiosity was satisfied when he saw her take
out a set of keys, opened the car door and quickly went in. She started the car and just sat there,
not moving with the car apparently running. King wondered what was going on and he felt
compelled to check up on her. He told himself he was just concerned about her, but the fact was
he was undoubtedly curious about the young woman.
King approached the car cautiously, careful not to attract undue attention to himself and be
mistaken for a stalker or worse. He got to her car and saw her head on the steering wheel. He
gently rapped on her window to attract her attention but there was no response. He rapped
harder and she raised her head abruptly, looking a bit disoriented. She looked like she didn’t
know where she was, like she was trying to get her bearings. King kept a smile on his face so she
wouldn’t be frightened. She looked at him questioningly and he could see tears streaming down her face but she didn’t seem to notice. In fact, she didn’t seem like she knew most of what was
going on around her; she just kept staring at him, waiting for him to explain the reason for his
presence.
King indicated she lower her windows so she could hear him speak. She kept looking at him
morosely and he repeated his request. Her eyes finally cleared and she reached to lower her
windows, all the while looking at him expectantly.
Once the windows were fully lowered, King could see her face more clearly and he saw she
was even younger than he thought she was and she was incredibly beautiful. Her eyes, filled with
tears, seemed like a pool he could fall into and never come out of, they had such depth and
awareness, he couldn’t fathom it. He looked endlessly into her eyes until she nervously shifted
her gaze. That brought King back to the present. Her beautiful face was scrunched up tight from
trying to keep herself from crying, even with that it was still arresting.
“Are you alright ma’am?” King asked
“I’m fine.” She answered quietly
“Are you sure?” King was more concerned now
She frowned and closed her eyes as if to ward off an evil spirit. “Oga wetin now? I told you
I’m fine. What do you want?”
King was a bit taken aback by her vehemence. “I’m just looking out for you miss. I can see
you are not feeling so well.”
“I’m feeling great, thank you.” With that she rolled up her window, laid her head on the head
rest and closed her eyes.
King didn’t need anyone to tell him he had been dismissed. He watched her for a few
moments more before walking slowly back to his car. All along he was haunted by her beautiful
face, those depthless eyes and the tears in them. He wished there was something he could do
for her, he wished she would lower her guard enough to let him help her, at least cheer her up.
He leaned back on his car, still watching her car. After a few minutes of standing still, under
the hot sun, looking at one spot, King was ready to throw in the towel and move on but he had a
strong check in his spirit to hold on and remain where he was. Before long, he saw her reverse
and drove out and he decided to follow her. After thoroughly convincing himself of the prudence
and importance of following her, he put his car into gear and drove after her out of the parking
lot.
