The prostitute episode 3

The prostitute 3 (the end)

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The engagement happened and everyone was happy, except for Paul's brother. Nora wasn't entirely surprised by Paul's proposal. She already knew how deeply Paul's love for her ran and she'd had feelers of it through his body language. Nonetheless, she shed some tears of joy and gratitude as Paul slid the diamond ring onto her left middle finger. It was one of the most blissful moments of their relationship so far. While everyone was cheering and congratulating the love birds, Paul's brother stepped aside and started making phone calls.

"Mom, Paul has gone completely mad. The girl he has been telling you about is a known whore in the city and Paul is aware. I warned him just now yet he went ahead and engaged her", Paul's brother angrily related to their mother over the phone. Their mother got angry as well. "Why would my son engage a woman without first bringing her to meet his family? Is that what I taught him?", their mother responded over the phone. She went ahead and calmed her son down and promised to deter Paul from marrying Nora if she didn't meet their family's standard. With that assurance, Paul's brother calmed down a bit and joined the party halfheartedly. After the party, everyone went to their various homes and Paul was left alone with his new fiancee.

While they were relaxing in bed after having a round of mind-blowing sex, Paul decided to prepare Nora for what laid ahead. "My love, I believe you saw when my brother pulled me aside. He recognized you from the previous encounters he had with you. He warned me not to go ahead with the engagement. I know him, he must have called my mom already to tell her that. I'm not worried about anything, I only need you to be strong in the midst of all the attacks they'd bring against us. We're in this together", Paul calmly told Nora while trying not to rattle her. When Nora heard that, she got up to a sitting position and signs of worries appeared on her face. She knew she'd face some challenges associated with their union but having to face her fiancee's mother was not among what she envisaged. She felt afraid but the trust she had in Paul's protection strengthened her mind. She laid back on the bed, rested her head on Paul's chest and whispered "thank you, my love."

Time went on and Paul's family started tackling his union with Nora. His mother who was the captain of the army against Paul and Nora's union would never let Paul rest. She would call him times without count and scold him for engaging a woman without his parents' approval. She'd instruct him to severe every ties he had with the 'prostitute'. Whenever she called concerning that issue, Paul would try to remind her that prostitutes and even criminals are still humans and need love as well. He would also remind her that most of the people engaging in such acts were led into them by circumstances they couldn't control. Whenever Paul brought up this reasoning in defence for his fiancee, his mother would accuse Nora of having poisoned Paul's mind through diabolic means. She would also swear to go to any length to destroy whatever charms Nora was using on her son. How far a mother is willing to go to protect her child.

Paul's father also joined the struggle. Even though he was subtle in his approach and never believed Nora had any diabolic control over Paul, he would always give Paul reasons why his association with Nora would not be in the best interest of their family. He would always remind Paul that "onye ana ekiri ekiri adighi mma ikpo ntu (a public figure shouldn't engage in a show of shame." He begged Paul not to drag the name of their family in the mud just because of what he felt for a woman. Whenever Paul's father gave these reasons, Paul would remind him that people need second chances in life and that life has always been unfair to many. The vehemence with which he always asserted this later part of his argument always baffled his father.

Time went on and the pressure on Paul to disassociate himself from Nora intensified. But Paul never let Nora feel any of the heat. He completely shielded her from his family's scorn that Nora started believing that everything had become well. Little did she know that the man who swore to protect her had been taking fire from every angle but protected her from it. No wonder they said that without sacrifices, love is nothing. When the heat became unbearable, Paul decided to do the unthinkable. He asked Nora to escort him to see a friend in another city, but he was actually taking her to see his parents unannounced.

They left in the afternoon and got to Paul's parents' house late in the evening. When they arrived, his parents and his younger brother were all at home. It was when they were already inside the compound that Paul told Nora where they were. She became scared and cold-footed but Paul soothed her as usual. When they entered the house, Paul's brother was seeing a movie in the sitting room while his parents were upstairs. Immediately Paul's brother saw them, his countenance changed and he called their parents. From the staircase, Paul's mother started shouting at Nora, accusing her of hypnotizing her son and asking her whether she thought her charms would work on the whole family. It took a great effort from Paul's father to calm her down. When she was heaping the abuses and accusations on Nora, she (Nora) started crying and wanted to run out but Paul held her. When everyone seemed to have calmed down, Paul spoke.

"Mom, dad, this is Nora, the woman I want to spend my life with. She's an orphan and a graduate of Applied Chemistry. She also prostituted to survive and see herself through school but that was in the past now", Paul said. Immediately he said that, his mother flared up. "And of all the girls in the city, it is this whore you want to marry?", she retorted. Her snap angered Paul and he started talking with so much rage.

"And you think you raised saints, mom? Because there was plenty of money to take care of them and give them the best education and things in life? You think you raised saints because they never had to fend for themselves from a tender age, because they had all they needed, because their parents were alive to take care of them? Mom, have you thought about those who didn't have such opportunities and care? Have you thought about the orphans, the girl children let out at tender ages to ply the dangerous streets for survival?", Paul said with tears flowing down his cheeks. He dragged Nora by the hand, led her in front of his brother and continued. "Look at her very well Ben, do you recognize her?, Paul asked. Ben was surprised, he'd known her as Nora and nothing else. "Of course you won't, but this was that little girl that was hawking banana we raped years ago. Yes, you and I, the rich kids that had everything they wanted. Do you now remember? What we did to her led her into prostitution and you sit here and tell me about moral values. I got to know because I listened to her stories. They are many of her", Paul said still crying.

Everybody was surprised and dumbfounded, including Nora. Paul's parents' jaws dropped and Ben bent his head in shame. Nora ran out of the house and Paul ran after her. He got her by the gate and held her hand. With tears in her eyes she asked whether what he said in there was true and Paul answered "yes". She asked when he found out and why he didn't tell her. "I found out when you narrated the events of the rape to me. I couldn't tell you because I didn't want to lose you and I also didn't want to open a healed wound. I am sorry and ashamed of what I did back then. I hope you can forgive me", Paul replied in an apologetic tone. Nora left him and entered the car they came in. Paul entered the car as well and they drove off.

Their wedding took place months later.
Love has conquered again.

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