The Darkest side of love – Semi Final Episode

It all started when I was 8 and Roy was 12 years old. My parents employed a maid. We liked her. She was a kind and generous. She was someone we always loved to be around. She sneaks in movies for us to watch when our parents are not home and we enjoyed watching them together. When grandmother died; My parents travelled to the village for two weeks to organise the burial. The maid told us she wanted to invite her “brother” to the house to stay with us. She said he was fun as long as we do not tell our parents. We agreed. Her brother came with plenty of goodies for us. He was also very nice, just like his sister. We liked him. One night, he brought out a movie for us to watch, it was a “blue film”.

The lights were turned off and all we could hear were moans from the television and from the maid. We watched with keen interest until we were sent to bed. That night, Roy sneaked into my room and that was how it started. He would touch me and make me do what the girls were doing to the men in the video. This happened almost every night. We watched more pornographic movies which stimulated us and we practised what we watched. As we grew older, I discovered that what we were doing was wrong. Roy reminded me that the maid had sex with her brother every night for those two weeks. He declared his love for me and showed me how much by doing things for me. The maid left eventually but the seed she had planted grew.

He did my household chores, gave me part of his pocket money, remained the food I liked for me to eat, bought me sweets and biscuits. He didn’t want to see anyone around me. We continued this way until I started my menstruation. He was the first person to know. He took care of me. Girls threw themselves at him and he took advantage.

He had not penetrated me yet, so the girls were used for his experiment. Our parents were hardly home and we stayed by ourselves most times. He brought these girls home and they allowed him things to their body which they obviously enjoyed. At night he would touch me and tell me he couldn’t wait for me to grow so we could be doing that together. When his friends come around and say “your sister is very beautiful. She might just win Miss Nigeria. I would like to date her.” he would get so angry and throw the fellow out of the house. Before long, he stopped allowing his friends into the house. When I clocked 16, he forcefully disvirgined me on my birthday. It hurt but I couldn’t complain. He alone has been my lover since then. I couldn’t be with anyone else. He monitored my movement and fought the guys that tried to get close.

He went to university from home. He refused to travel abroad to study because it would mean leaving me behind and he didn’t want that. When I applied for admission to study in London, he applied to the same university so he would be close to me. That was when we started living together. If any guy fancied me or I liked a guy and go on a date with him; Roy would become aggressive. Once, I was making out in the car with a guy that brought me home, he came out there, dragged me into the house, stripped me naked and beat me. Afterwards, he told me I could not be with anyone except him. He said no one can love me more than my brother.

I must confess, he did everything for me. He was ready to do any job to meet my needs. He has been very good to be.”

Jacinta cut into her narration. “Did your parents not find out? Didn’t they ask questions? How did they try to help you?”

“My mother’s sister came to visit. She was the one who found out and told my parents. She saw him sneak into my room. She peeped at us and saw us having sex. She forced my mother to tell father’s auntie. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well. She threatened to tell the elders because it was incest and an abomination which could take lives. Our parents asked us and we denied.

They separated us and when they asked me, I confessed that we had been doing it for a long time. Mum was broken and wanted them to go home for cleansing because the repercussion will be grave but father was a titled man and such shouldn’t be heard of.

Father’s aunt left with the determination to expose what she saw. She was killed on her way; she was involved in a motor accident. After her burial, mother relocated to the UK claiming either father or Roy had a hand in the killing of aunt. She had remained there ever since; she only came back for father’s burial.”

“All these happened and you allowed him to introduce it to the kids. You had sex with him in the presence of my children. They watched you commit an abomination. You did not look remorseful in any of the videos I watched.  Are you acting the victim now?

You were my best friend and you were having sex with my husband. You knew the type of person he was and you allowed me marry him. You are wicked.”

“Jacinta, would you ever forgive me? I am honestly very sorry about all that happened. I am ashamed of everything. I tried to leave so many times but he wouldn’t let me. He made me do most of those things. I loved you like a sister and I never wanted you to find out.

The children can never be affected by it. I pray they don’t. I tried to be alone with you and explain everything but he refused and blocked every access to you. Help me get away and start a new life. That’s all I need from you right now. Please do it for the friendship we once had.”

Jacinta thought about it for a few seconds. She didn’t want to have anything whatsoever to do with Roy or any member of his family. She loved Mercy like a sister. She couldn’t believe she distrusted her family because of them.  She disbelieved her mother. Since Mercy wanted a fresh start, she advised her to do everything possible to leave the country.

“Search for countries he would never suspect you will go to. Decide on the country and move over there. Your new man, if he is serious, should be able to fight for you. Plan your escape together and relocate fast.”

“He wants us to relocate to Qatar. He wants to buy a house there for us to live. He says we will be safe but he doesn’t know Roy; he will find us and take me back. I was considering moving to an African country via road. I was looking at…”

Jacinta cut her short. “Don’t share your plans with me or anyone else. I wish you well as you relocate. I would rather not have anything to do with your family ever again. I hope you understand.”

“I will keep communicating. You were closer to me than a sister. I know you have doubts about my intentions but with time you will understand. I love you and the kids.”