•Aaliyah

Today was another beautiful day waiting to pass just like the others. Who knew that today would be the worst day of my life?

I woke up feeling without a care in the world. It was as if the world had run out of it's endless problems that seem to always run my life.

I had a good feeling about today!

If only I knew...

Nothing was going to destroy my day. Insha Allah!

In a few hours Bilal would be taking me to visit my dear manager, uncle Hakeem.

Three years ago, I gave him the power to manage the affairs of my shoe company, only sending him drafts and signing whatever needed signing. So today I was going to see my dearly beloved uncle who has helped me in more ways than one to enable the progress of 'Lilly Puts'.

I can't help it to remember our blissful past and how he destroyed it with his scheming wife but would I be here if they didn't kill my parents?

No. Maybe I would've been better!

I'd have been more grateful because I was able to make money and send myself to school but my parents are still dead!

I just wished they were alive to see the woman their daughter has grown into.

Another reason for my happiness is Akhram. I wanted to introduce him to uncle Hakeem. Since he went back to Lagos, things changed.

Our phone calls and chats had become an hour less than the day before because his mother had given him a position in her company so he had a tight work schedule so we're both finding it hard to make time for the meeting he had with Uncle Hakeem and mine with his parents.

A knock on the door makes me dart to the direction of the sound with the most gracious speed to open it.

And who do we have here?

None other than Abba.

Why?!

How did he even find me?

Wait, how is everyone finding me? First, Aunty Raliya, Alhaji Tukur, Safiya now Abba!

Is there some sort of warlockry I'm unaware of?

I live in a new apartment. Different from the last. So how the hell did he find me?

I just hope he'll be the last to ever stalk me.

"How did you find me?"

"I have my ways." He smiles.

"Why are you here?"

"I came to sort things out with you."

Isn't he with Safiya?

"Sort what out? You made it clear that you didn't want me and I understood perfectly well that we just weren't compatible.You needed a girl with money, I needed a guy who could give me emotional protection. It's fine. You can leave now!"

I push the door to close it in his face and he sticks his foot in to stop it from shutting completely.

"What the hell?! Don't you understand that I don't want you?" I hissed.

"I understand clearly. And I know how much you want me. I saw the way you looked at me the day I came to pick Safiya. Lust was lurking behind those beautiful eyes. Don't you want to have a taste of what you're missing?"

"Get out Abba! I don't want anything. Do I look like a wayward girl to you?!"

"You're not understanding baby. I guess I'll have to show you what I mean." He smiled in a predatory like manner as he pushed the door open forcefully and walked in majestically just as he was about to take what I held so dearly to my heart.

"Come here!" He commanded.

He pulled me so hard I landed on him just as he sat on the couch. He flipped us over so now he was above me.

"Please Abba. Remember what we had." I begged.

"I should remember what? You just said you didn't want me back."

"Is this how love is?" I queried.

He took off my veil and used it as handcuffs to tie my hands together.

"You won't feel a thing." He walked to the door, shut it and twisted the lock before rushing back to me just as he saw I was about to untie myself.

"Please..."

He slapped me with the back of his hard palms and that was the last thing I felt before the lights went out.

I woke up after a while. Just when Akhram decided to make an appearance.

"Akhram help me please!"

He took a step back to examine the situation before saying, "I'm sorry I can't help you. Everyone will think I did it."

"Please!"

"I'm sorry."

He turns without sparing as much as glance before walking out of the apartment noiselessly.

I didn't bleed at all which was confusing because it was speculated that after a woman's first encounter with a man, bleeding was to ensue but that wasn't the case now.

I was trying to deal with the pain which didn't permit me to move a muscle. A few seconds later, I blacked out again and only God knows what happened afterwards.

"You're awake. Good!" Bilal exclaimed.

"What happened?"

Oh God! I remember. And that was when the tears fell helplessly as I remembered every last thing that happened. From the way he man handled me to how he forced himself on me to when I fainted.

Why me?

Is this what life is?

A new problem popping out from the corner of the happiness that barely lasted.

Something I never thought I'd ever say in my life before marrying the man of my dreams.

I. Lost. My. Virginity.

My womanhood tainted to the worst point. Disrespect of the highest order!

Who do I complain to now?

Haneefa?

She doesn't even care about me again. Who knows if she even remembers me.

Yusra has her own problems to deal with. Safiya doesn't even speak to me again.

So why me?

It seems I'm the only one who can't ever have a happy ending. Look at Yusra, her husband has stopped cheating on his other wives since he got married to her. Her biggest problem is his children but he has been able to control them.

Safiya.

Frankly, I had a feeling she'd abandone me eventually. The last thing I heard was that she lost her mother and has left the country too. Occasionally coming back to see people of importance to her.

Hamza...

Where is Hamza?

He must've heard but he probably doesn't care since I chose to neglect him for the past three years.

Only Bilal is here.

This is karma, bitch!

I laughed at how ironic this was. I once called Aunty Raliya a despicable person but now I've superseded her and now I'm the antagonist in the story.

Hamza must've been hurt.

From the moon to Jannah, hell and back to the earth God knows I love this man and I'm going to try and make this right once I've healed completely.

I guess that was why I was never able to stay true to Akhram. This transition burnt me but at least he showed me his true colours.

Now I know who to call family.

I just hope Hamza will still love me despite the huge paint that was smeared all over my image.

I doubt that though.

And I'm not just saying this because I know Akhram wouldn't come back. I just needed Allah to give me a sign and this was it.

Akhram wasn't meant for me and I understood that.

"I doubt you'll believe me if I tell you."

"Just tell me!" He demanded.

"It was Abba." I said meekly.

"I should've known."

"What do you mean?"

"Since you left and his ex dumped him, he has been on a rampage, taking out his anger on women. Wai they deserve the punishment for making him suffer all his life. He's lucky mama doesn't know. It started out with him sneaking in different women into his room every day then staying out for weeks and now this! I had been hearing things but I didn't believe it till your case emerged.

Mama barely talks to anyone who isn't family or close friends with our family so she'll never know. I confronted him and all he did was threaten to beat me up if I told our mother. I didn't tell her only because I didn't want her high blood pressure to exceed it's limit."

"Your brother is psychotic!"

"That's fine. We just need to find a way to get the law involved."

"No! Don't talk. I don't want anyone to know what has happened."

"Why? How will justice be served if you can't speak up?"

He was angry now.

"Tell me! You, mama, my stepfather and uncle Hakeem are the last people I have as family in this world. Abba and Aunty Raliya have been disowned. If I don't watch out for you all what is my purpose?"

"I understand but you have to listen."

"I'm not listening to anything! I'm getting you a lawyer and we're suing him." He said with finality in his voice.

I didn't say anything else knowing he wouldn't budge. Also because I knew he was right.

I had to gather all the courage in me to say my unfortunately ignominious story.
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This is dedicated to all the rape victims out there.

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀