Forsaken episode 8

FORSAKEN
Chapter 8

Five days later, a new girl of about my age joined us in cell. Just looking at her, one could tell she is from a wealthy home.

The other girls asked her what she had brought for them, and she rudely replied “Nothing”. The girls became angry and tried to pounce on her. I begged them to please let her be, that offended the leader and asked the girls to give me her supposed beating.

I was beaten to a point that I started coughing out blood. According to the leader, I had no right to stop her orders. It was the timely intervention of a police officer that saved me, they would have beaten me to death.

That evening, I couldn’t eat nor sleep, the pain was too much. Bianca felt sorry for me. She knew I was suffering because of her. She came to me supported and helped me all through that evening. By morning which was Saturday, the pains had reduced. I was strong enough to talk.

I asked Bianca what brought her, as the way she dressed showed she must come from a wealthy home. She then explained that she went for a birthday party with her boyfriend, he had a fight with another guy and stabbed the guy. When the police came, her boyfriend escaped and they took her instead.

Her father Mr. Julius, a popular business tycoon and mother, a general manager of a bank had become tired of her wayward life. According to her, she had tried several times to be descent and useful, but all to no avail. You seem to be a good person, what brought you here, she asked. It is a long story, I replied. I am willing to listen Bianca said. I narrated my life’s ordeal to her, My God; you have had your share of life’s misfortunes, so why haven’t anyone come for your bail”? She asked again. I have no one in Lagos except Mimi, whose number has not been connecting.

I promise to talk my parent when am out, we shall come for your bail. I was very happy and thanked her, on a second thought, I told her not to worry I would prefer to be in the cell than walking the streets of Lagos homeless. She told me not to bother that she would also talk to her parent about my living with them. I was very happy and sang for joy. On Monday morning, as early as 7:30am, Bianca parents came and bailed her.

I pleaded with her not to forget me. I then bid her goodbye, for the few times we spent together, I saw in Bianca a good person, who needed someone to help direct her. I prayed deep down my heart that she remembers me as promised.

It was eight days and no news from Bianca, I had concluded that she had completely forgotten about me, when all of a sudden I heard a police officer called my name, Jennifer, come out, you are free to go. I was shocked and wondered who on earth could have come for my bail, when I saw Bianca and her father; she ran towards me and hugged me. I told you I shall come for you, she said. I was too happy to speak, I hugged her again, with hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I greeted her father and thanked him for his kindness ‘’you are welcome my dear child’’, he replied.

Few hours later, we were at Bianca’s house, a big and beautiful duplex, befitting of her parent’s status. I was shown my room; I had a warm bath and also a delicious meal. Mr. Julius allowed me to rest for some time and called me later in the evening and told me that I should feel comfortable in his house. I knelt down and thanked him once more for his kind gesture. He promised to send the driver to go with Bianca and I to get my things at the Ebe’s.

Haven lived with the Julius for two weeks, I found out my friend who had become my sister, Bianca couldn’t do anything, she couldn’t cook, wash dishes and even her own clothes. I started talking to her out of such laziness. At first, she didn’t want to listen to me, but with time she gradually succumbed. She limited her parties and extravagant life style and was becoming a young responsible woman. Mr. and Mrs. Julius saw these changes and they were excited to have made the decision of letting me live with them.

They pleaded with me to help convince Bianca to go to the university, which she had refused upon completion of high school three years ago. I found a way to convince Bianca and she agreed to go, but on one condition. What is it? I asked her, she refused to tell me. After dinner that day, she called her parent and I. She had a request to make.

‘’I know my parents asked you to convince me to go to school, she started, I shall, only if Jenny (as she calls me) will go with me too’’. Mr. and Mrs. Julius laughed, is that all? Mrs. Julius asked, yes mom she replied. Well that is settled, we had it in mind too. Bianca jumped for joy and hugged me.

I knelt down in appreciation. Mum, as I now call Mrs. Julius, helped me up. I just couldn’t believe that I would soon be in a university. I went to Bianca, hugged her and thanked her. You have been a blessing to my life, you are the sister and friend I never had, you changed my life in so many ways, I have become a better person, thank you sister for coming into my life. She said, and we hugged again with tears of joy rolling down. Her parent watched us displayed our little drama. They thanked God for making us cross path.