"So why did you leave home"? i asked
"Eish its hard, my sister" this time she took a deep breath and shook her head slowly or rather heavily
I knew what ever it was it must have been bad,she was able to tell me about the rape and the stabbing without any hesitation but this Gugu was holding back
“I had no choice but to leave that place and I knew that
wherever I’ll go it wouldn’t be as worse as what I was going through there”
I couldn’t imagine
calling my home “that place”, it’s the only place I ever feel safe and loved
but to uGugu the place she grew up in deserved no better name than “that place”
I guess it’s true what they say…”Home is where the heart is”
and Gugu’s heart found the streets more hospitable than the house her grandmother build years ago with her pension fund
I knew not what to say, I mean what do you say in such situation?
For a moment there was a pause, I guess I got lost in thoughts
and she halted to have my attention back
“It all started when I was 11, I was doing my grade 6,
standard four at the time. My mother has never been married en sharp I never knew
my dad”
Then with smile she lifted her eyes to have a quick glance
at my reaction, but like a past bloom flower in the wind her smile disappeared
and I was left smiling, alone!
For a moment I wanted to tell Gugu “I got it “let me pay you
and you go on your way” but something inside me didn’t let me, so instead I told
her I’m tired and want to rest a bit, thinking that would make her go away but
to my surprise Ugugu willingly set down with me and didn’t look like she had
any intention to leave
She desired to talk to someone! And for the first time since
her predicament started someone actually took interest in her life
She picked up a small stick from the ground and started
drawing on the ground something that looked like a heart and then a flower
“One night my mother was out as usual, I got home from
school found that there was no one home, made food and did my homework then
went to sleep. It was In the middle of the night when I felt a hand rub my thighs,
I thought I was dreaming, but hey! I wasn't”
A tear fell down her cheeks as she tried desperately to hold
it back..i had to say something but didn’t know what, so i remained silent
"I opened my eyes to find it was my uncle, he was very drunk"
“Shhhh don’t say anything” he whispered in my ear. I tried
getting his hands off me but he was strong so I lay there frightened hoping
umama can walk in just in time to save me but she didn't
“Malome what are u doing?” I asked “shhhhhh” he said “and
continued to rub his hands on my thighs and with each second his hand
gravitated to my private parts and suddenly I felt the most agonising pain I had
ever felt in my life and in a moment he was done but the pain didn't go away”
“He pulled back his pants and left me lying there”.” I was
confused” she said
“Then after a few minutes he came back and said”….” No one
is supposed to know about this” and I nodded” Gugu said “but of course! I planned
on telling my mother” she said staring me straight in my eyes as if hoped to
get a certain response from me
Her uncle took her Virginity! And uGugu remembers the
details of that night like it was yesterday
This had gone from an ordinary therapeutic day to one
complicated stressful one
It was a lot to take in for me, as much as I see this kind
of stories on TV all the time, I just never thought I’d meet one who’s been a
victim to this cruel deeds
“It went on for three nights in a row, this time he was not
drunk at all, and then mom came back on Thursday with one of her friends. I
waited for her friend to go and told her everything, I expected her to solve
the situation but to my surprise she lashed at me and told me it was my fault,
she said I should stop walking around in short skirts around the house, that I should
stop seducing my uncle”
“She told me not to tell anyone, or she will give me a hitting.
I was devastated but had to obey anyway”
“He kept sleeping with me every time mom was not around
until one day after school my friend told me I had blood on my skirt, i told my
mother and she told me what to do”
“Later that night I overheard her speaking to my uncle, She
told him to stop or I’ll fall pregnant”
“I was relieved” she said and indeed while telling me this,
she did look relieved
This girl was let down by her own family. I can’t stand here
and say I understand what she went through because I don’t but I know if I had
been in the same situation and leaving home seemed the only solution, I would
have done the same
I felt guilty, for falsely judging people without knowing
their story but I refrained from saying anything instead I listened attentively
as uGugu poured out her heart to me. A total stranger!
“Things went well for a while, He even promised to take me
to tertiary. Sharp I wanted to do LAW, I even sent my application on time and I
knew I might go to Wits” she said with a smile
uGugu just like every other girl had dreams and was working
hard to pursue them, but then life happened happened it robbed her off of everything
she dreamed most of having, a better life!
I couldn’t help but wonder if there was still any hope for
uGugu, if she still ever dreams?
“It was just after the trail exams when my mother was so sickly
in love with a certain guy. Her absence grew more and more humongous each day, I
can say I almost forgot what she looks like.Days later mom came home to announce shes going to live with her boyfriend and i was ordered to remain with my uncle” she said, this time shaking her
head so angrily
It was clear she was not happy with her mother’s decision
and somehow she blames her for the way her life turned out
For a moment I was also angry at her but I refrained from
saying anything, if there’s anything been with uGugu has taught me is never to
judge anyone until you know their story .Gugu’s mother had her reasons, her
fears and everything else in between that I don’t know about
How does a mother let
her brother rape her only daughter is a question I ask myself
“Just like that first time in 2001 when he first came in my room,
I felt a hand on my thighs. This time my attempt to push him away paid off. He
fell on the floor and I rushed to the kitchen. As I was about to open the door
he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. I was angry and reached for the
knife on that was left on the drawer. I stepped him over and over and over until
he could not move
“Tears fell down her eyes” and she said I killed my uncle and I couldn't think of anything else to do
but to run away”. “They had a funeral that Saturday and I didn't go”
To be continued
"Never judge a man before you have walked a mile in their shoes"- a Chinese proverb
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