THE FLASHBACK

SISTER TAYO'S POV.

They made my life miserable. Remi and Tunde; they destroyed me.

So they finally persuaded me to have a relationship with Don.

"Please, imagine our future. We can give our children a better life with this money.
I can also give Rose a better life."

Rose was very young then, younger than now. Remi never wanted her around because of her dirty job, so she enrolled her in a boarding school.

" Don is giving us this better alternative, let's take it." She said looking into my eyes like a needy.

"You call that better? dating an older man is better?" I said almost crying.

"Calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down, return Don's money. "

"Please, it's just for some time. We'll be done with all this very soon".

"OK, I give you two weeks to get this over with". I muttered.

"So you mean you've agreed to date him?" She smiled.

"For two weeks, just two weeks," I added.
I knew I was getting into a big mess.

"You're the best, I promise to  find a permanent solution to this"  She hugged me

Days later I received a call from Don, telling me to see him.

I went to his house. The first few days, he was nice and warm, I started to have a rethink about it all. Thinking he was not so bad after all.

He took me shopping, credited my accounts, and bought me a lot of fancy things.
My sister would always say:
"thank God you took this offer Tayo."

I would not give a response, I'd just shake my head in agreement. I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing.

Things were going smoothly until one day.

"Take off your clothes," He said taking off his shirt.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Take off your clothes" He yelled.

"I-I-I don't understand" I started breathing faster.

He grabbed my hands forcefully, pushed me, and started tearing my clothes. I was on a chiffon top so it was easier for him.

"Fine, fine. I'll take it off" I knew I had no choice. Not today, I  wouldn't want him to rape me;  I can't imagine a man with his weight forcing himself on me. I wasn't doing this for the first time after all.

He had his way with me, I was so irritated and tired.

He then told me." You can go, I'll call you when I need you".

Like I was his servant.
"Call me when you need me?. Really?"  I asked.

"Yes really."
I sometimes don't get his word, his accent though.
I went to  Remi's. I just wanted to tell her that I can't do this anymore, I hope she knows that she has a few days left before I put an end to all this.

"You're getting finer, Tayo. What did he get you this time?" She smiled.

"Nothing, I can't do this anymore, I can't let that man on me ever again. He was so irritating yeesh"

Remi laughed.
"It's not funny." I gave her a stern look.

"Ok ok ok, but you should know he'll eventually ask for it right? So why are you talking like a kid."

"Well, I have four more days with him anyways. Two weeks will soon be over in four days' time." I sigh.

"Yeah, about that. I haven't talked with Tunde one on one about it. Just give me more time."

"Uh, I can't believe this. So I get to pay for
you and your husband's doings and you two haven't talked about it yet? Unbelievable".

If I had known I shouldn't have taken the offer. The more time Remi pleaded for, soon turned to weeks, months, and a year. A year of pain and several abortions. I went through hell.

The last abortion almost took my life.  I thought if I survived it I might not be able to conceive ever again.

Remi and Tunde would always say to me. "You're not a kid Tayo, you should have used protection."

Remi told me never to tell Don that I was pregnant except if I want to be wife forever, and of course, I didn't want that.

I then met Sam. The last abortion I had that nearly took my life, he was the doctor that was in charge of my condition.

He'd always come to see me every day. He thought I was married, until when I was about getting discharged and he had to counsel me about not having another abortion.

He asked if Tunde was my husband. I told him he wasn't. He then asked if I was married, I told I wasn't.

I couldn't find myself to tell him about all I was going through.

I had to lie to him. I had to tell him that my boyfriend got married to someone else and I was carrying his child so I had to abort it.

He was sympathetic. He asked me out and we started dating, I was lucky enough to keep both men in distance from each other.

Months later Sam proposed. It was like a dream come true, I felt finally my life was running back into shape. I then realized I was carrying his child, I told him and he asked me to tell my family about the date. And of course, Remi and Tunde were the only family I had. I thought finally I was getting the life I've always wanted but I was wrong.

PRESENT DAY

ROSE'S POV.

I wasn't sure if I did the right thing by not agreeing to walk with him home. He didn't believe me, he said so many things about me. I wouldn't want that to happen again so I'd rather keep a distance.

I got home, I didn't meet anyone at home. I was happy Sister Tayo was getting over her problems and has resumed work.

I took out my books, read and after reading I  switched on my phone. Messages from school group chat flooded my phone, I was indifferent about reading them. They now know the truth.

Alex sent a message to me, wanting to know if we were cool and friends again.
I didn't reply, actually I wasn't thinking straight.

I watched Television just to clear my mind. I then moved to my room to sleep.

It was around eight in the evening when I heard a knock on the gate. I was expecting Sister Tayo but surprisingly it was Alex.

ALEX'S POV.

I don't know how I got to her front door. I wasn't thinking straight, she wasn't replying to my messages. I wanted to clear things with her. I wanted us to be back to normal.
"Alex?" She was surprised.

"Hi. M-a-y I come in? " I stammered. My heart started beating faster and my head began to itch. Just like in school.

"Sure" she smiled.

"Your aunt? " I asked.

"She's not back, she should though, any moment from now."

"Oh"  I managed to say.

"Yeah"

"Why didn't you walk home with me today?" That came out before I could stop it.

" Alex, I wouldn't want all that to happen again. That's why I have decided to keep a distance." She said.

"Keep distance? Why? But you didn't do anything wrong. Well I, thought you did. Let's forget it all and let's be cool again."

"Forget it all? You didn't believe me. Even when David told you I wasn't the one, you still didn't believe him. You judged so quickly Without a rethink."

"Yeah, I know and I'm sorry. Deeply sorry."

"It's fine." She smiled.

"I have to be on my way."

"So you came all the way to say this.?" She asked.

"Yeah"

"I thought you were passing by."
He stood up and I followed him to the door.

"Bye" I, said.

"Bye"

"Tomorrow right?"

"Yeah tomorrow"

"Ok bye"

"Alright"

She was about leaving when I called her back and hugged her. Without consciousness, my lips met hers and I  kissed her. I felt this nervousness, my heart skipped a beat. I was scared thinking she would slap me or punch me but I was wrong. She smiled and said.
"Goodnight".