Chapter one

Nightmare

Kasie ran to her mother’s room as soon as she heard her scream. She knew it was the nightmare, again. She met her sitting upright on her bed clutching the pillow a little bit too tight to her chest, with sweat dripping down and soaking her silk floral nightie. The AC was on, Kasie noticed and the room was a little bit chilly. She sat down close to her mother hugged her tight and continued whispering, “It’s alright mum, I’m here now”.

Uju woke up with a jolt, her daughter, Kasie cuddled up at the other side of the bed sleeping. She looked at the table clock close to her side of the bed “11:32am, God!” she exclaimed under her breath cautious enough not to wake her daughter. The events of the night kept replaying in her head. The nightmare, the same nightmare that had tortured her for the past 16 years. This time, she had clearer images of the only memory she had of the man that raped her 16 years ago. She remembered he had what seemed to be a scar and a badly done tattoo of a dove in what looked like a failed attempt to conceal the scar on his chest, her rapist's chest. She cringed. Kasie mumbled, stretched and went right back to sleep. She looked at her daughter adoringly, Kasiemobi meaning “console my heart”. The gift God gave her to soothe her aching heart. The child her father rejected even before she was born. The child her father swore would bring shame to the family. Her joy, her healer that had done nothing but make her proud. She touched Kasie's hair lightly, making sure not to wake her.

“How did I start having the nightmare again?” she thought. It had abruptly stopped for about 10 months. Was it the call she got recently from home?

“Your father is sick and has been admitted in the hospital” her mother had said over the phone few days ago.

“What happened, the diabetes?” she had asked her mother

“Yes” her mother heaved. “Dr. Eke said they might have to amputate the leg. It has gone way beyond cleaning and dressing. But you know how stubborn your father can be, okwerokwa, he refused ”.

“Do you want me to come see him?” Uju asked

“Amarokwam, to be honest but I think it’s about time, oge erugo. No matter what, you’ll have to meet your father again. It’s been how long now? Over 15years”

“You are talking as if it’s my fault nne, it isn’t. I chose my child and I am ever happy I did”.

“How is she?” her mother had asked

“She is alright. She made it to the final round for the COWBELL competition” Uju had said with a note of pride in her voice.

“Odimma, it's good she took her mother’s brain” her mother replied. “you can come and see your father in the hospital, alone”

That was it. Uju felt a sudden surge of pain and anger.

“Mba, if he doesn’t accept my daughter, there is no point coming over, nne you should know better by now, we cannot continue with this hide and seek” Uju fired.

Her mother was silent for what seemed like ages that Uju startled when she heard her speak again.

“Ozugo, I have heard what you said. The doctor just stepped in for rounds, let’s talk later, inugo?”

And the line went dead before she could even reply.

The loud beep of the alarm jolted Uju back to reality. It was the call. It was the thought of her father from the conversation she had with her mother that brought back the nightmare. Oh how she had enjoyed the past few months free from this torture. Free from having to replay the scenes of that night, that awful night at school, the night that changed her life forever...

Continue with CHAPTER TWO