ANIKE'S HAPPINESS

by: Gbadegesin Adedoja Rekiat
 
 PRELUDE

A part of life is not been able to see or control the one who purposely hurts and bring pain into our hearts.
A story of Maami and Anike, embracing agony which kills them softly

Hear them speak

Anike:   Maami, I will tell, I will tell you when I have my voice... only that you cannot read my eyes... my heart has been telling you! You just couldn't hear it call. I was small, Maami, it was long ago... I was scared... I only wept because I know I would rather die than tell. I lost my voice, myself, I was broken maami. He killed your baby...he spoilt me and did not stop killing me, Maami I cannot form words, I can only make tears... I hate what I have become, my shell is gone Maami, we sleep together but I still could not tell you. But maami you should have read my mood, see changes the way I walk, my loss of motivation to sell at the market front. I have wanted to wake you and tell you, but I could not.... I was scared he boost he had killed men its noting to kill me. He said ogun will kill your daughter Maami, I tried to kill him, I tore his blue shirt, I punched his face but he was stronger after all. I pray to God, I want God to strike him dead, I want God to give me strength I desperately want him dead.

I know you would be disappointed in me.You always had hopes in me. You still think I am your pure little girl you call Abeni-ade when you plate my hair with black tread under this mango tree were father eventually rest, but maami I am dirty.  I cannot stand my skin. He is fathers brother’s son, Taju. Maami, we all see him every day. I hate him.  You only see me smile at him I want him dead. I always wish him ill luck. Mommy he violated me since I was six till I became sixteen...”
How long shall I keep talking to Maami's grave.....

Scene II


Dressed in a white shirt, she had a funny yellow face cap on her head. She walked towards me and asked; “child! Why are your smiles dry? Why are your stares blank and distant? Tell me what you want child”.  I answered, can I call you mother? "I hear kids call women that, I like the smiles I see on their faces when they do". I want to smile like them too, they look sweet, but within me is bitterness, dirt and shame. I have no hope of such a beautiful smile. "Mother! I stare into space because I want to find what make other children like me smile, and I see nothing." My imaginations have run dry. Can I get a childhood like theirs? I lost mine a long time ago, to the evil of the dark, come to think of it, Taju, babas brothers son left me worse, I have dined with fear, and daily I find comfort in the cold grip of pain.
However, for what was worth, I lived on, I believed I would survive, that is what keeps me going, I live to see the end of this long movie called day and night, One that I become a wife, mother and put smiles on the faces of girls who lost theres.

“I want the loftiness of my dreams to drive me into a world of sweetness” I want to forever know the beauty of love I see every day. I want to own everything not everyone can have.  Show me the path to freedom, let me spread my wings.  Set my sights on the prize, I will find by all means. My dear when I close my eyes! The things I see; the beauty, the colour of my own soul. The brightness of my dreams. These thoughts leave me wondering why the blind wouldnt want to see her daughter buried alive at such a tender age.


Too Be Continued ..................