Cold struck her cheeks as she walked down the cold streets.She was leaving not because anyone gave her the permission tob ut because she had gathered up all her saved up courage and packed her bags. She walked very fast as the harsh wind of harmattan slashed her face. Her eyes became wet and tears threatened to fall. But she won't let it...
She has never let it fall.
The tears that came were not from the harsh wind but from the fears that consume her that he was following her behind. Waiting for her to stop so he would put an end to her new found hope. The held a bag tighter,the bag that contained the little she owned.
The road was dark, but due to the rising morning ☀ sun, she prayed for a bus to come by( kai kai). And it seems like the heavens were on her side today as she heard the rough sound of the first morning bus arriving. She jumped in and paid the conductor who was raining abuses on the government.
Annabelle sat at the back seat of the bus and refused to look back. She had not planned her escape, she just did it.
The memories, events started flooding back once again. Her uncle John who came home late had told her never to eat without his permission nor put on the light. He will never pay bills to make her comfortable, he never allowed her to enjoy it.
She waited for him at the front steps waiting for him or rather the person who would bring home once again her drunk uncle from the bar or from the gutter. She saw a shadow and waited she saw him walking alone and half sobber and she knew she faced another misery. John had a pattern not particular but clear. If he comes home very drunk and Annabelle was not in sight and even if she is in sight there will still be a beating. She got hit almost everyday.
Annabelle stood wide eye in front of the house as he stealthy approached her never taking his eyes off her like a prey looking for escape she backed away slowly. He reached her and walked past her. Annabelle stood shaking in fear still looking straight at where he had been just seconds ago. She heaved a sigh of relieve but that did not last long when she heard her name...
" bella" the way he always calls it.
" yes uncle" she slowly turned .
"Why don't you come into the house" he made a hand gesture indicating his thighs. It wasn't a request that was not the first time. She knew what waited for her inside the house and she knew there was no escape. Even if she decided not to go into the house he could still do what he wanted outside because the neighbors did not care or did not dare to care.
The bus stopped at its last bus stop, drawing her out of her thoughts. The conductor started his abuses and this time it was on her " Olosho,small girl like you dey waka any how, oya show yourself for ground". Annabelle ignored him, came out looking round because she did not know where she was going or wanted to go. She has finally escaped but this was a new problem for her because she knew nothing about the world or how it worked.
But she had to conquer this new problem because going back to the place which she had stayed and can't even call a home was not an option.