||THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO THE FIGHT FOR THE GIRL CHILD||

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The stage lighted up as the MC announced the arrival of Dominique Adams which the world have staged as ‘Minnie the fighter’, and the whole stadium went up in roars of applauds as Minnie made her way to the huge podium standing in the heart of the National Stadium.

Her lips were stretched into a smile, and even if people said smiling too much could make the cheeks freeze up, she could never get tired of smiling.

The applauds continued to echo all through the nights, until she got to the front of the mike, and the spotlight fell on her as the whole stadium went quiet.

Minnie looked upon the thousands of people who had come from far and near just to hear what she will say, and although her heart was practically racing in fear and anxiety, her lips weren’t hesitant.

This was practically her one chance at changing the world.

Never in her wildest dreams, did she think that she will one day address anyone. Well, she had thought that she would end up as a sex slave to someone. But, here she was, an icon to many women all over the world, and the hope of the hopeless.

So, she couldn’t let this opportunity pass her by. She could not back down from her fight.

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Several images from her past crossed her vision, and she exhaled, before parting her eyelids open.

“Many of you have all heard about the fight for the girl child, and like many other social issues, it has been diminished by the stands of the society,” Minnie started.

“To the world, nothing is wrong with the system, but I’m telling you all that everything is wrong.

Under the eyes of the government, millions of innocent children disappear, and nothing is been done to this. Why? Because, the thread of power has weaved the eyes of our leaders close.

Syndicates run in the underworld without any disturbances, and they even come out and walk amongst us with no fear. A person gets kidnapped in the middle of a rowdy market, but no one does or acts like they care, because a very powerful man or woman is behind the kidnap.

Our girls, from all standards of life, have always been the most vulnerable to these attacks.

A girl child cannot walk on a street without lustful glances thrown at her. In whatever she does, she’s never appreciated or seen for what she can do.

No one cares if she’s smart. No one cares if she’s brave. No one cares to know who she is.

Why? Because, her dreams, her visions, her wants, and her desires are all worthless.

All they see of her is nothing more but a pleasure and sexual object,” Minnie paused as she looked up, and was met with everyone staring at her, intently. Her eyes moistened as she thought of her experience in the brothel, and she remembered Rita and Nina.

“But, despite this scornfulness, and indifference, the girl child never stops dreaming and she never stops going after her desires. She strives to make sure her dreams become a reality, no matter what she faces. Yet, because of their bravery, they are killed and muted. They are told not to speak anymore, and forever hold their piece.”

As she spoke, she recalled her life as a child porn-star in Dinah’s brothel, and the tears in her eyes threatened to break out, but she held them in, and continued, “Some are made to do what they do not wish to do. They are forced to live the life which they despise. Many girls, innocent girls, are made to join the world of prostitution at early ages, this against their wishes.

However, they are said to be luckier that those girls who are taken to drug carriers, to be recruited spies, to be abused hawkers, to domestic workers, and other oddly imaginable jobs.

Still, there is no mercy for a child who has been trafficked away from his/her home. These children, these girls, these boys are all vulnerable to attacks, and to all other sort of inhumane treatment.

Few who manage to escape, are often pushed into greater danger. Leaving the hands of their abductors is regarded as jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as the world outside is even more cruel and evil. We only have few people who still look to do good works, and when I say few, I really do mean few.”

Her mind wandered off to how she had managed to escape, and how she had met Alexander, and her cheeks dimpled up.

“I, Dominique Adams, would have never made it out of the clutches of the world of prostitution, if not for the few good people who I met. They protected me, and treated me as one of their own. They did not judge me for what I was, and they showered me with love, enough to cure me of my pasts,” She trailed off, as she recalled everything she had with Alexander, and with all her friends.

Looking up, she stood straight and held her right hand up to the crowd. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes burned with determination.

There was hope.

She had found hope when she met Alexander, and his love had cured her. He was all she ever needed, and he was all she ever wanted.

Her scars were washed away by the kindness of the people she met. The courage she had was built upon the support of her friends. Her demons bowed to the power of love.

If all these were able to rescue her, and to save her, then this is what the world needs to give out to all the survivors, and victims around.

Kindness, support, encouragement, and love were all she needed to overcome the battles of her soul.

With a smile, she said out loud, with all of her strength, “I pledge to give my kindness, my support, my encouragement, and my love to the girl child!”

As soon as her voice sounded through the speakers all around the stadium, one hand came up from the stands, and another hand followed. Slowly, people raised their hands to indicate their pledges.

The growing appreciation on her face shone brighter than the midnight moonlight, as the hands of the people came up, and they all continuously echoed her words.

Smiling, she looked to the side of the podium, and saw her family and her friends, as they kept their hands up in support.

Looking to the other side, she saw the Canaans, who were also standing in support.

Her eyes met with Matthew’s, and he gave her a nod of encouragement.

She smiled, and looked away from them, but as she did, she saw a figure in the darkness. She narrowed her eyes, as the figure came into the light, and her stomach flicked.

Alexander was here. He was finally here.

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From the podium, she could see him where he stood beside the gate closest to her, and she smile on seeing that he was there. He met with her gaze, and raised his two thumps up, and smiled.

Her heart erupted into flutters, and she mouthed to him, “I love you.”

Even though she was far from him, she could tell that he threw her a wink.

Satisfied with his presence, she turned back to the audience who were still chanting and echoing her words. As she faced the mike, their voices gradually went down, as they listened to hear more from her.

However, she had spoken what she could. Everything she had in her heart was more than to be spoken in a day.

Why the rush, anyway? She had the rest of her life to keep sharing her tales.

Gathered at a part in the stands was her mother, Amelia, and behind her were the girls from the Lost Angels Fort. They had banners up with several words on it, but standing out, was one with the words;

‘We can be hurt, but we can never be muted’.

They were right. No matter what happens, a female would never again be forced to keep quiet.

Females are human too, and every humanitarian right also applies to them.

Just like the males, a female is also righted to speak.

Minnie’s cheeks glowed with pride in the courage of the girls, and she gave them a nod of encouragement before she returned to the mike.

“To every girl out there, you are awesome, and you are strong. We all cover up the pains we face each day, and even if the world doesn’t see it, we will keep doing what we love to do. There is no need to hide anymore. Our scars are what make us strong and this gives us our courage. There is hope. We will survive and we will stand.

One day, hopefully, girls will be able to walk around freely without the fear of being abused, ridiculed, belittled, or shamed. That time would soon come, but till such time arrives, hold your courage, and walk with pride.

Being a woman is a beautiful thing, and we don’t have to be ashamed for who we are. For we are strong!”

The audience rolled in echoes of her last sentence, and the girls all jumped up amidst their screams. Minnie’s eyes sparkled as she watched their enthusiasm.

She cleared her throat, and the crowd gradually went quiet, as she picked up the last words she had for them that night.

“Finally, I would leave you all with these words; a drop is enough to cause a ripple, and ripples pile up to becoming an ocean. There is no number too small. One person can change the world. One person can make a difference. It’s everyone’s responsibility to help whenever they can.

Show your love and not your attitude. Heal someone’s scars, and build yourself a star. No matter how much evil there is in the world, your little love can make a difference. With you, there is hope. So, go out there now, and be the change you wish to see! Be the change!”

Applauds erupted all through the stadium, and even from those who stood outside, and from their claps, they began to chant “Be the change!”

Minnie’s face swelled in happiness; her lips curled into a wide smile, and her eyes gleaming under the night’s light. Throwing a glance at her family, she caught their adoring gazes. Turning to Alexander, she blew him a kiss, and in return, his lips pulled into a broad smile.

Turning back to the crowd, her eyes kept sparkling, and her heart was elated.

At that point, she felt free as a bird which soared in the open air. She had won the battle, and she emerged the victor. Her past no longer mattered any more.

Before, she was scared of how people will judge her, but now, she couldn’t care less of what people thought of her.

She loved her life, and she was happy to be whom she was now, and she will never ever change herself for anyone.

What will happen tomorrow, she did not know, but what she was sure of was that she was ready to live her life to the fullest. The future held so much for her, and she was so damn ready for it.

In her mind, she said, ‘My future, here I come.’

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Amelia organized an after party to celebrate the success in the campaign, and in Dominique’s speech. Close friends, some associates, family, and family friends, were in attendance at Joe and Amelia’s house which Amelia had renovated and expanded over the years.

- After the accident, nineteen years earlier, Amelia could not take the loss of her child, and this strained her relationship with her husband, Joe. However, her incessant refusal to believe that her daughter was dead, and the fact that on several times, she blamed Joe for the accident and for the loss of their child, made Joe resolve to dissolve their marriage.

Two years after the accident, they were officially divorced, and Amelia out of anger at Joe, vowed that she would have nothing to do with him, and she left. But, despite this, she could not stop bearing his name, and this was why she kept on bearing the name ‘Adams’ even after their marriage was dissolved.

Maybe, over the years, they had both acted as if they were happy on their own, but the truth was that they never got over each other. Minnie’s return to their lives, also brought them back together, and their sparks began to fly again. -

Dominique went around thanking everyone who had come to celebrate with her on the success. She had firstly walked up to the Canaans, and just as she had she expected, Alexander wasn’t among them.

All through that day, she had not actually spoken to him. After the speech, he had disappeared.

To be sincere, she was worried about him, but her parents, and her friends assured her that he most have something really important which was keeping him busy.

As much as she couldn’t think of anything more important than her, she just had to listen to them, and wait for him.

Matthew and Abigail were standing hand in hand, and beside them were Madison, and Andrew. On seeing Minnie, they all turned around to her.

Before she could say anything Matthew spoke up, “Dominique, congratulations on the success of your speech. You have really outdone yourself, and you have turned yourself into the hope of millions.”

Still not used to his nice self, Minnie forced a smile, and muttered a ‘thank you’.

Overnight, after the incidence, she realized that Matthew had become really friendlier to her, and he didn’t regard her as the ‘gold-digger’ he had initially called her.

She could not tell if this came from his heart, or because he knew that she was Amelia’s daughter.

Either way, she was glad that he was no longer a threat to her relationship with Alexander.

From his side, Abigail said with a smile, “We are so proud of you, Minnie. Keep shinning, child.”

Madison jumped in, “Congrats, Minnie. You deserve it.”

Minnie smiled. Each time she thought of when she and Madison had first met, she could not help but chuckle at how they both despised themselves back then.

But, in reality, Madison was just an overprotective girl who loved Alexander more than her life. She was also insecure with the thought that Alexander, who apart from Abigail, loved and cared for her.

With a curse of a man as a father like Vincent, Minnie could not blame Madison, who did not exactly have the best life either, but she, just like Dominique, was willing to remain strong.

“Thanks, Maddie,” Minnie replied.

“You’re a girl full of wonders, Minnie,” Andrew commented, and Minnie chuckled at this.

Her relationship with Andrew was way better. He had proven to be a good individual, and so, Minnie didn’t find it hard to waiver his past mistakes, even though some things will never be forgotten.

However, she was ready to overlook it, and work a friendship with him.

“By the way, where’s Alex?” Minnie asked, unable to contain her worry.

Andrew was about to reply, when Matthias ran through the house, and to her.

“Minnie!” He exclaimed, loudly.

Surprised at seeing him, Minnie’s eyes widened. “Matt, what are you doing here?”

Instead of replying her, the little boy pulled out a device from his pocket, and gave it to Minnie, who reluctantly collected it, wondering what it was.

“What is this, Matt?” She asked.

The boy smiled, “Uncle Dee asked that I should give this to you.”

Her heart warmed up on this, and she scrutinized the device, trying to figure out what it was, when the boy spoke up again.

“He also said to give you this,” Matthias said, as he dipped his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a small pink paper, which was nicely folded up.

Minnie eyed this paper, before collecting it, and she immediately unfolded it.

On the paper, was his handwriting which she could never ever miss, and what was written on it, made her cringe in astonishment.

“Follow the trackers of my heart, my love, and you will be led to me.”

From her side, someone gawked.

“I never knew my brother was this romantic,” Madison grinned, obviously stealing glances at the note in Minnie’s hand.

Andrew scoffed, “Well, Alexander has always been the lover boy twin.”

Madison eyed him, “So unlike you.”

Minnie rolled her eyes at them. She bit her lower lip, as she stared at the device in her hand and the note.

What game was he trying to play?

After disappearing for almost the whole day, he now sends a tracker, and a note telling her to look for him.

Alexander sure has a lot of explanations to render.

“C’mon, go to him,” Andrew’s voice came over her shoulders.

Looking up from the note, she turned to him, and he gave her a nod. Madison also mouthed ‘go’ to her.

Smiling, she turned the device on, and immediately two red dots appeared on the digital map.

"Alright, Alexander, two can play this game." She said to herself as she walked out of the house, and to the road.

Immediately, she hailed down a taxi, and she got in, after telling the driver to just keep driving, as she followed the direction on the tracker. Her heart was beating excitedly, as she batted in the suspense of her boyfriend’s game.

One question was on her mind, and this was; “Where the hell was he, and what game was he playing with her?”

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Author's Note: One of the things that inspired me to write this book was the rising issue of the insecurity surrounding female around the world, and child prostitution.

This book would never be perfect with  Minnie's speech.  Her speech is very much important to her, and also to the progress of the story.

Personally, I also believe in her words, and hope that one day, the girl child will be free to walk on the streets without fear or intimidation.

There is hope!

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Lovelies, do not forget to leave a like and probably some comments before you go. Thanks.
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