Solution???

Many of us have fallen victim to sexual abuse during childhood.

Some of us are having problems in our relationships now
because we refused to address the past.
It's not easy to talk about but we have to try.
There is no moving forward
when you are holding on to pain from the past.
You cannot enjoy a new relationship
when you are holding on to what your former partner did to you.
You might not see what the future holds for you
when the past still controls you.
SPEAK UP about what you have been through.
SPEAK UP about rape
SPEAK UP about abuse

It's your first step to recovery........

Just a Friend 4!

*****Four Days Later*****

Shewa: They did what? You were a part of it? (shocked)

Isi: Someone had to deal with him.

Shewa: To be honest with you, I will be glad to hurt him really bad but desmond told me not to do anything. I was even begging him not to harm C in anyway. He told me he knows C will be dealt with but it won't involve him in anyway.

Isi: Exactly!

Shewa: And it had to be you?

Isi: You are very lucky shewa. You don't know how lucky you are. Are you mad at me for dealing with Chinedu on your behalf?

Shewa: (quiet)

Isi: Great! you'd better be quiet. You think it's every guy that can be like desmond? Girlfriend, Nigerian guys don't know how to deal with rape. When their girlfriend gets raped, they either dump her, ignore her or condemn her. They'd ask questions like what were you wearing? what kind of crowd have you been mingling with? what were you doing there in the first place? rather than condemn the immoral act being carried out. You are lucky, you know. Desmond is doing what every man out there should do. You might think you're okay but you are hurting deep inside but you are lucky because you have desmond to help you get through this.

(a little girl rushes inside to give the girls some news , shewa and isi hurried after her)

**30 Minutes later (Shewa's house)**

Shewa: You are heartless! How many people did you take with you?

Isi: Emeka, dede, jayjay, jude, and bayo.

Shewa: Bayo? Bayo No wonder! You know bayo is a beast now and you had to bring him along. I know you were fighting for me but look at the way they messed him up. I think it'll take 6 months for him to recover. You arranged for him to get beat up by 5 area boys ahhh

Isi: save me the story. What's your stress? He got what he asked for. Do you think you were the only one he raped? We've heard stories of girls he abused before and after you.

Shewa: So you told the boys what happened to me?

Isi: No. I lied to them and you know Emeka is very protective of me. If I had told them what happened to you, they would have killed him. Don't you think?

Shewa: What about the condition he is in? The boy is really messed up right now. Didn't you see his face?

Isi: If I didn't know you so well, I would accuse you of something else. Shewa, we live in a country where no one cares. This is 9ja for goodness sake. Bad stuffs happen everyday but justice is not carried out. You think rape is right? Do you know what it does to your mind? soul? body? You feel used. You feel worthless. You have problems in the future...you become scared every time a male comes around you. At times, you become violent. At times you get angry and you take it out on the wrong ones. What chinedu did was immoral and he needed to be punish to learn his lesson but no one would do it. If we throw him in jail, he'd get bailed and walk the streets like a saint. He got what he deserved

Shewa: and...

Isi: You are lucky you're not pregnant. We went to the doctor and they told you everything was fine with you. No STDs nothing. What if you'd gotten pregnant? We went to the doctors day before yesterday to get the other test results right? What if they said you had gonorrhea or God forbid HIV +? Would you be here feeling sorry for him? If we were outside Nigeria, I would let the law handle it but the law can't handle anything here. You are lucky to have desmond and I will keep saying it.

Shewa: Enough of that...

Isi: Enough of what? Shewa, you are lucky. (in tears) Why do you think I'm like this? Angry! Mean! Unforgiving! Everyone views me as a trouble maker and I can be violent...No one stood by me when I got raped.

Shewa: Oh My God (in tears)

Isi: It was a long time ago. It happened before we became friends. I was raped at the age of 15. I went to fetch water around 7 pm and I was on my way home when some guys jumped out of nowhere and carried me into the bush. I thank God they didn't kill me. I didn't have a choice in picking whom I wanted to lose my virginity to. They deprived me of my pride... I cried for many nights. I couldn't tell anyone... you know how it is with Nigerian parents and the issue of sex. When my dad knew about my pregnancy, he kicked me out. All my pleas, explanations fell on deaf ears. I slept under an abandoned house for many months.. I suffered a lot . I lost the baby though... i had a miscarriage. Later on, I knew who the rapists were but I could not do anything.. I've been angry since then.. I Just hate...

Shewa: (hugs isi) It's okay. Say no more. We'll get through this together. I'll be here for you and I'll help you get past your pain and mine. Let's just put all these behind us.

{Both weeps silently}


Chinedu didn't know who hurt him and they couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't say it was revenge because he had too many victims. If they were to revenge, he'd be gone. You see this RAPE thing.. it happens to other people; you say "poor her" "how sad." When it happens to you, it's everything. If you know of a rapist, tell on him/her. Let's stop the violence against females. April was SAAM - Sexual Assault Awareness Month. That's why I started this story. Although it is 100% fiction coming from me, it's real. Your best friend could be going through what we're talking about here. Get the word out there. LET's FIGHT THE BATTLE TOGETHER. Women's assault has got to stop.

Hope you all enjoyed the story. Let's hear your thought. What do you think of the characters?

Just a Friend 2 !

(Shewa struggled with him and he did the same. He didn't let go of her. He made sure her mouth was covered; he picked the remote and quickly turn up the volume. Shewa bit him on neck, chest, everywhere she could grab with her teeth. He didn't feel a thing. He ripped off her blouse and...)

Shewa: (finally catching a breath, tries to yell but could only whisper): Please let me go. (attempts to yell and yells gradually) Let me go. Let go of me. Leave me alone. let me go.

Desmond: Let you go where? Wake up wake up. Are you okay? (pulling shewa to himself)

Shewa: Yes I am okay (fakes a smile)

Desmond: No you're not. What's the matter baby? Talk to me.

Shewa: I just had a nightmare. I was uhmm uhmm

Desmond: A nightmare? Who was holding unto you? Why were you shouting let me go?

Shewa: Let me go? Go where? (looking confused)

Desmond: Whoever it is has let you go and you're here with me (plants one on her lips). Calm down, close your eyes and all will be well.

Shewa: (places her head on his chest) I know all's well with you. (looks up) Lord please watch over me. Watch over us.

{ 2 weeks later}

Isi: Oh Hell No! For where? Not in this land. You mean C did that to you. Let me get this straight again. You woke up screaming let me go before or after he raped you?

Shewa: (in tears) It was after. How was I supposed to tell desmond? He'd kill C. I don't want trouble.

Isi: There's fire on the mountain. Fire will land on Chinedu's roof today. He will see trouble o. Come o, how did it happen sef? Was he drunk or what?

Shewa: You know I've known C since childhood. His parents and my parents are like family. Some of our family members think we're dating as a matter of fact. I never saw C more than a friend. He was just a good friend that helped me with chemistry. You see C asked me out a long time ago. I said No to him because I was not attracted to him. Besides he's sort of immature. He is the kind that will go about and tell others whatever you do to him. C will even tell people what he has not done to you and will make you stupid. Remember the time we went to dayo's bash. Can you recall how he was

Isi: saying that he had yanshed ifeoma and we all know he was lying because Ifeoma just arrived from Port Harcourt on that very day. She had never set foot in lagos. He practically looked her in the face and was like you like that thing o...

Shewa: Despite his wrong doing, he's like a friend. He's just a friend! He's never wronged me until....I went to his house that day because we were suppose to study together. We started talking like we used to...he teased me like he usually does and I was like oh no it's been a while. Desmond respects the fact that I have chosen abtinence for the past 3 months. He was like whatever. He started talking about one of his girlfriends and was seeking my advice on what to do with her. He become emotional after a while and i hugged him and assured him all will be well. He wanted me to hug him again and I told him I only hugged him to console him that he shouldn't get it twisted. He was like I know you want me and he got up and turned the music on as loud as ever... and was pulling me to come and dance with him. I said no and started packing my books. He kept on dragging me and I screamed but I couldn't even hear myself... I struggled with him. I kicked, I pinched, i bit but I couldn't save myself... he ripped my skirt off and.... (burst in tears)

Isi: Crying will not resolve the matter my dear. Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell anyone?

Shewa: I didn't know how to and...

Isi: and now you're saying you're 2 weeks late. You've not had any sexual contact with desmond in the past 3 months and your period is 2 weeks late. God will punish that Chinedu wherever he is.

Shewa: (crying) What am I going to do? I can't tell desmond o, he will cause trouble.

Isi: (jumps up) Yes, we must cause trouble. He will not get away with this. We have to get you tested to make sure you're not infected or pregnant. We will go to the clinic tomorrow but I have to deal with that idiot first. What nonsence! Come o, are you sure there's nothing between you two?

Shewa: How can you say a thing like that? You know I have been with desmond for 3 years now and I love him. I don't want to hurt or lose him. Please promise you will not tell him this..

Isi: But what if you're pregnant?

Shewa: Please promise you will not tell desmond...

Desmond: (walks in) Tell me what?

Just a Friend!

Shewa: What more do you want from me? What else can I do? Is it a crime to say NO? You don't have to insult me just because of everything that happened. When I choose abstinence, it should not bother you. After all it's my life and you have no say in it. Leave me alone.

Chinedu: Excuse me?

Shewa: I said it's my life and you have no say in it. You have no control over me. You are not my husband.

Chinedu: Oh really?

Shewa: Yes really! I'm out of here.

{Shewa attempts to leave and he grabs her car keys before she could get it. He stuffed it into his pocket.}

Shewa: What is the meaning of all this? C, I do not have time for your tantrums. Give me my keys so I can leave.

Chinedu: You are not going until I say you can. Every time we have an argument, you want to walk away. You never deal with the problem. Nothing gets resolved. You are going to seat down and we will talk about this.

Shewa: I have nothing to say to you

Chinedu: I have a whole lot to say to you. Please sit down.

Shewa: Give me my keys first. (he hands her the keys and she takes a seat)

Chinedu: I don't like us quarreling. You know I love you and I care about you. I don't like what you said earlier on. What do you mean by me not having control over you? Are you trying to say I'm not man enough to handle you?

Shewa: Who said anything about you being less than a man? C I am not your wife. I am not your girlfriend either. I do not appreciate the way you address me.

Chinedu: What's your problem? You want to act like you don't want me?

Shewa: (harshly) No I don't!

Chinedu: Oh really?

Shewa: yes really!

Chinedu: You don't want me? I didn't know that! I could recall you moaning my name the last time we did it.

Shewa: Did what? I am out of here!

Chinedu: Don't walk away from this! You know you want it.

Shewa: Get your hands off me nowww

Chinedu: and if I don't

Shewa: C leave me alone or I'll screa...

(he covers her mouth before she could complete the sentence).

To be continued...