DARK HEAVEN
Sharon woke up questioning her decision to give up her child for adoption.
Her baby, Adolf was just 2 weeks old and she had already run out of money for diapers and milk.
"You can't keep this baby in abject poverty, its a grave sin against humanity" Her friend, Joyce said in her usual reserved tone.
"How did it get this bad? How did I become so miserable?" Sharon questioned as she remembered her past.
Sharon was a beauty to behold in her freshers days in popular University of Lagos, she was what I described as Queen Cleopatra of Nigeria. Dark, slim and tall, she was blessed with perfect dentition that compliments her oral face.
Her long dark and silk hair was a major selling point for her as every campus 'big boy' wanted to have a fling with her.
She politely turned some down and for others, she treated them as rude as they came. This continous turn down didn't go well with the guys and she became sexual assault target, she kept avoiding all opposite sex until the day she was raped while returning from vigil organized by the student fellowship.
Been a well reserved introvert, going to the hospital to talk about rape and get necessary treatment wasn't an option. In her own words "How do I tell the whole world I was sexually ravished against my wish? "
"I would rather die than bear the shame on been an object of ridicule" She concluded.
Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into month but Sharon's monthly flow wouldn't come, she needed no one to tell her she was pregnant.
The rejection from Sharon's parent took a toll on her and the 9 months journey of bringing a newborn into this world was filled with pains and agony..
No one believed the well reserved, acclaimed virgin was raped and she was labelled a hyprocrite who was abandoned by her numerous lovers.
Unable to bear the agony, Sharon relocated to the village and stayed with her grandma; Mrs Janet Ekong.
Mrs Janet was responsible for the care of Sharon until she put to bed at early hours of a Wednesday. With Joy in her heart, she named the boy Adolf.
The birth of Adolf didn't change the rejection from Sharon's parent, they intensify their pressure to ensure Adolf was adopted.
"We won't love this bastard, its best you give him to a Catholic organization before it's too late" Sharon's mother roared with hatred.
After much persuasion, Sharon went ahead with the decision, she wept over how her life has turned around. She wrapped the baby and gave to the mother, she bade them well and went back to her room.
Grandma Janet prepared lunch and went to Sharon's room to serve her, on getting there, she met a lifeless body with a note by the side stating;
MY WHOLE EXISTENCE HAS BEEN TAKEN, I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, BECAUSE I AM GONE TO THE DARK HEAVEN#100dayschallenge
Hope Yakubu