Chord Limitless : Episode 4

I lay on the cold floor unable to believe what had just happened. I felt as though my heart had just been ripped out. How could he? I wished for death to take me but it never came. After what seemed like an eternity I finally picked myself up and slowly made my way to the bathroom. I turned on the tap and stood watching the spray of water as it poured out of the faucet. I shed tears as I thought of how the man had forced himself on me. Even after pleading with him he just wouldn’t stop. I had begged him. I sank to the floor as I cried. The whole thing replaying in my mind making me cry harder.


“Lord, I didn’t come here to be hurt. I thought you said you would always protect your own. What have I done to deserve this?”
I sat on the cold floor crying my eyes out. I had never felt so dirty. How could a respectable man of his calibre do this to me? I didn’t hear the door open but I suddenly felt arms around me. I cried out and started thrashing at the person; thinking Mr. Mbuzi ahd come back for more.


“Rose, it is me.”
I turned and the wild look in my eyes. Disappeared. It was Aunt Martha. What was she doing here? Hadn’t she said she would spend a night at the hospital where her sister was admitted? Hadn’t Mr. Mbuzi taken advantage of the fact that his wife was working night shift and I was home alone looking after the kids. I tensed as she pulled me into her arms.
“I had to come back. Something kept telling me that a bad thing was about to happen and when I saw the blood on the floor.....oh you poor child,” she spoke making me cry more.
“I wish I hadn’t gone. I should have known better. The way that man has been looking at you for the past two weeks. I should have known,” she kept saying as I cried.
We must have stood there for some time before she finally told me to take a bath. I was reluctant but she pushed me into the water and I let the spray wash over me without even removing my clothes.


 After some time I got the soap and sponge and scrubbed myself till my skin started hurting. I heard the door open but I didn’t bother turning around.
“Come out now my dear,” Aunt Martha said quietly.
She turned off the tap when I didn’t make a move. She then draped a towel round me and helped me out. I stood still as she pulled off my clothes. I felt dead inside. No emotion whatsoever. I saw everything she was doing but the pain blinded me. She put my wet clothes in a plastic and led me back to the bedroom. The spot where it had happened had been wiped clean. I knew it was aunt Martha. She made me sit and then disappeared. I sat looking at nothing in particular till she returned with mug.
“Drink this,” she said.


I stared at her blankly. “Drink, it will help take the cold away.”
I took the mug reluctantly from her. She was watching me and so to please her I took a sip. Black tea. I drank some more and as I drank it I started feeling drowsy.
“Finish it,” I heard her say. “It will help you sleep.”
Those were the last words that I heard from her. I must have gone into a deep dreamless sleep because when I next awoke Aunt Martha’s alarm clock was going off. I lifted my head slowly and I saw her sit up.
“How are you feeling?”
I didn’t answer. I honestly still felt numb. She pushed back her covers and then came to sit next to me.


“There was a girl before you. Her name was Milika. Bright and pretty girl. She was actually madam’s niece from the village. Mr. Mbuzi raped her. She told madam but was never believed. Mr. Mbuzi went as far as to say he had class and a girl like her wouldn’t make his blood boil. Madam believed her and threw her out in the dead of night. She went back to the village but I later learnt she killed herself as it was too much for her to handle.
I looked at aunt Martha. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I want you to know that I believe you even when no one else will. Immediately I walked into the room and saw the blood and your torn underwear I knew......I am sorry I left you alone at the hands of that wicked man. But men like him are used to getting away with anything.”


She paused and stared at something then looked at me. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Don’t allow what he did break you. Stand up tall and hold your head high. If you show fear he will take advantage. I need you to trust that whatever has happened God will see you through.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled sadly as I stared at her blankly. “It won’t be easy but trust in the Lord. I am not perfect and what I found last night broke my heart. I spent hours praying for you late into the night. I know you are a strong girl and there is so much out there for you. Just stand tall and lean on God.”
She stood up and then pulled on a wrapper around herself. “Stay in bed and re-coup. I will tell Madam you are not well. But please, do not break down. I know right now to you God may seem distant but he is there. Praying is hard but try.”


She then walked out leaving me staring after her. How honestly did she expect me to get over this? He had taken my pride, my soul and had filled my heart with venom.
I heaved into the toilet again and almost cried out at the pain I was feeling. I had been feeling queasy and had been vomiting the past few days. It had been almost two months since the rape. Two months of agony and wondering what it is that had led that man to do what he did to me. Aunt Martha had really been there. Holding my hand and encouraging me to pray. I prayed but I found that is wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I sat back as the bitterness in my mouth brought me back to reality. Maybe I should leave this place.


“Vomiting again?”
I looked up; Aunt Martha was staring at me with concern. I nodded. She left the room and came back a few minutes later with a steaming cup.
“Not tea,” I groaned.
She shook her head. “Salty water. It will help calm your tummy.”
I took the cup and drank. It tasted horrible. I wanted to stop but the look Aunt Martha gave m made me think otherwise. I handed back the cup when the whole thing was down my throat.


“Rinse your mouth then come back to the kitchen,” she said before leaving.
I slowly walked into the kitchen and found Mrs. Mbuzi seated at the kitchen table chopping tomatoes. She liked to cook when she was home. She had just started her nights off and would be home for two weeks before heading back to the kitchen. Aunt Martha gave me a sympathetic look before she turned back to what she was stirring. I walked to the sink and washed my hands before I turned back to the meat that I was meant to marinate. The smell of the spice got to me and before I could stop myself I felt the rush in my stomach. I just had to dash out of the kitchen and back to the toilet. I pushed away the toilet seat before I heaved into it. I hated this whole thing, O Lord Kill me now I thought to myself as everything in my stomach came out of my mouth into the toilet bowl.


“Rose, are you pregnant?”
I turned around and there stood Mrs. Mbuzi watching me. It seemed she had followed me from the kitchen. I wearily sat on the floor as her words hit me. Was I pregnant? Please Lord let it not be true I prayed silently. I didn’t want the life I was trying to build for myself end just like that. She came close to me and without a word touched my lower belly. Her eyes went up to mine.
“Who is responsible?”

Watch out for episode 5