I drove to my sister’s house with mixed feelings, Chidalu was unpredictable which made me nervous. I drove into her compound, the gate was open and I sensed something was off. The gate man wasn’t inside the compound and I wondered where he went to, to the detriment of the safety of the occupants which was my sister and her kids. I entered inside the house and it was eerie quiet. Where was everyone, the cars were parked in the garage and it doesn’t look like she had gone out.
“Chidalu” I yelled, but no answer came forth. I climbed the stairs to her bedroom and almost tripped of shock. Inside Chidalu’s bedroom were three huge guys, dressed as bandits. They clutched in their hands glasses of brandy and puffed cigarettes. I turned to run but one of the men rushed to the door and bolted it.
“Who are you guys and what are you doing in my sister’s house?” I managed to ask, already gripped by fear.
” You will find out soon” the one with scarred face said.
His phone rang, he picked it and gave me to answer. Then I heard a shrill voice of my sister
“The only reason I will not kill you is the title you bear as my sister, I have told the men what to do with you. They will make you dumb and crippled, I want you to suffer for the rest of your miserable life. Don’t bother with our whereabout, I’m in the airport about to board a plane to United States with my kids”.
“Chidalu please you can do that to me, I’m your only sister, I’m so sorry. It was the work of the devil” she ended the call before I could finish my sentence.
I looked at the men now starring at me like wolves and tears streamed down my eyes. I started pleading for my life.
” Whatever she gave you I will double it” I spoke to the one who looked like their leader.
“She gave us five million” can you really double it? He taunted.
I knew I was doomed, I didn’t even have called close to one million naira in my account.
I started wailing and pleading.
The one with scarred face came close to me and gave the a thunderous slap that got me rolling on the floor. Then he kicked me hard and severally on the leg and shattered my bones. He gripped me on the neck and raised my head, then he forced open my mouth and emptied a bottle inside my mouth. Pain was an understatement. I thought I was in hell. My throat burned. I was in deep agony. I tried to speak to no avail. I struggled in pain as I watched my tormentors leave the room. Then I passed out.
I woke up in the hospital dumb unable to explain what happened to me. The doctor told me that someone dialled my friend Tessy with my phone number and Tessy brought me to hospital. He said my throat was damaged and irreparable and that nothing could be done about it. I can only make sounds but never speak. My right legs was amputated as the bone was shattered.
Tessy stood beside me and I knew it won’t be long before she leaves my side forever. I knew she thought it was the wife of one of my old men that kept me in the condition. Whatever her reasons were, she never asked, maybe because of my dumb state.
It’s been six years now, I lived in the home of special care. No money, no boyfriend, no child. Just me and other needy people. I had been wheeled to a chair. I never saw Tessy again. I wasn’t surprised anyway.
A care giver, had been nice to me, she became my friend and one-day she gave me a pen and paper to write about myself and I wrote about my ordeal. I wished those men had rather killed me.
The End.
