My name is Happiness Dayo. I am from ogun state. I woke up to my nightmare on december 5th 1996.
“Happy wake up, wake up” this was the voice of our maid ireti. “Aunty what happened? You sound scared”. I was 8 years old but very wise. “Shhhhhhhhhhh she said. Do not make a sound”
She dragged me out of bed pushed me under the bed and told me to stay still. That was the last time I ever saw my dear aunty Ireti.
I heard gun shots and screams coming from the living room but I couldn’t move. My little mind told me all was not right.
I told my self over and over again “don’t move aunty ireti said so”
My world crumbled that day, happiness ceased to exist for me. I was told my parents had gone to heaven. I asked when would I see them
again no one gave me an answer.
I was lonely and hungry I asked for aunty ireti dey said she went with my parents and they are not coming back.
I wept and wept and wept. I heard people coming into our house and going out, all talking about the murder of my parents by armed men. Dey all looked at me with pity and despair.
I was soo hungry and alone and I prayed like my mum taught me. ” God my father help me”
My mum was an only child and also an orphan so I was moved to lagos to stay with my father’s Sister, Aunty Remi.
My stay in lagos was Hell. I remember the night I got to Aunty Remi’s house. I was tired and sad yearning for my beloved parents.
My aunt looked at me and said ” your witch mother has finally killed my brother, I warned him but he refused to listen. Now am stock with a useless child like you. I was crying and she slapped me soo hard I felt it in my head
” you better stop that noise you are making or else you would join them soon.
From that day I did everything to please my aunt to no avail.
She looked for little reasons to punish me. She made me sell things on the street
She registered me with the local government girls school.
I wore slippers to school because she wouldn’t buy me shoes. I beg food to eat during lunch time and after closing hours, I trek hundreds of miles back home.
All these, i kept enduring…
Through all these I never ceased praying. I didn’t forget how to pray. My aunt doesn’t attend church but I sneak out every Sunday to a church down the street close to our house. Church was the only place I can dance and forget about my pain. I loved music, that was what drew me to church the most.
AT LAST some good news came. After so much sorrow, my life is about to change.
WOULD THIS NEWS GIVE HAPPY A NEW LIFE?..
Hang on for the Next EPISODE….