Trails Of An Abused Woman

Episode 6

“Mora!(What)” Mrs Vannak shouted. “That filthy village w—e.” After a while, Mr Vannak and his sons afraid of Emerald telling on them, cooked up a story and told his wife in order for her to send Emerald out. On hearing this story, Mrs Vannak did as expected and sent Emerald packing.

“You have to believe me ma, I never did that, it’s late at night, please ma, I don’t have anywhere to go please.” Mrs Vannak slapped her hard. “Neo Bichaso? (Are you crazy?) Get out you w—e.” Emerald left and stayed in a shelter where she slept, the following morning in despair she wrote a letter to her brother, explaining all and promising to see him soon.

After sending the letter, on her way back she collapsed and luckily she was sent to the hospitals by passers-by. “Young lady you are very lucky.” These were the words of Doctor Manuel to Emerald. “What happened? How did I get here?” Doctor Manuel sighed and replied. “You fainted, people brought you here. You were bleeding internally when you were brought and from all evidences, it seems you’ve been hiding it.”

Emerald looked down. “It was because I have no money for hospital bills.” She couldn’t look at Doctor Manuel’s face, she didn’t want to tell the truth either so she continued to twist her fingers nervously. “See young lady, I know that you were raped, your injuries, bleeding and the tests revealed this. Please am a mother, I know how it feels, tell me what happened.”

Emerald’s tears dam broke and she sobbed uncontrollably while narrating her story. “It is alright, you are not the first abused person I have counselled, where do you stay?” Emerald shook her head. “I don’t have a home ma and no parents either, my younger brother is all I have. Doctor Manuel held her hands and said to her. “Emerald it is fine, I guessed as much, you can come stay with me for a while, I will inform your brother’s school authorities to let him know where to find you.”

Emerald dropped to her knees and thanked Doctor Manuel profusely. “Ha! Thank you very much ma, may you never be stranded, God will bless you.” The next day she was discharged and she followed Doctor Manuel home.

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☆☆

Doctor Manuel’s home was a house in the Government Reserved Area(G.R.A) and from the interior of the house, it was obvious she was a sophisticated woman. Emerald and Doctor Manuel were met outside by her daughter Sophia. She was nice and friendly to Emerald.

“Sophia, this is Emerald, Emmy, meet my daughter.” Doctor Manuel introduced them both to each other. “Nice meeting you Emerald, welcome to our house, you are beautiful by the way.” Sophia said enthusiastically. “Thank you. You are very pretty too.” Emerald said smiling while looking down at her toes.

A few weeks later Doctor Manuel called Emerald to speak to her. “Emerald, what are your plans for the future now?” Emerald sighed. “Well, I wanted to be a lawyer but my education has since stopped and there is no money for me to go to school. I wanted to write UTME and SSCE but there was no money, that was when hell began in my family.”

Doctor Manuel nodded. “So, what do you think about going back to school and rewriting your exams?” Emerald twisted her fingers nervously. “I would love to if I have the means ma.” Doctor Manuel nodded and went into a deep thinking. “Hmmm! I will sponsor youe education and your examinations but there is this scholarship exam that you can take, it is mainly for those who wants to study Law, it will take you through university and Law school, do you think you can pass the exams?”

Emerald went on her knees. “Yes ma, I can. Thank you ma, for what you have been doing for me, I will not disappoint you ma.” Doctor Manuel nodded. “I will enroll you in school next week and your brother sent a letter.” She gave Emerald the letter, the contents of the letter was to seek the welfare of Emerald and she in return sent him another letter explaining how her life had changed the past few weeks. After then Emerald resolved in her mind to achieve her dreams in life and make her late mother proud.