Chapter 14— THE RAPE

We strolled along the fields to all my favourite places. Mr sunny was getting old, but he still sat in his Library. I bought some nice books from him, enough to stock my library. We visited Mr Andrew's ranch, there were five workers on the farm working diligently. At last, we stopped in front of my house which was once called home. Father had redesigned the house, the structure was painted in creamy white, and a tint of blue paints, there was a wooden little blue fence that surrounded the house. Everything was different!

I just stood there with my friends. Just then, father came out of the house with a woman— a little younger than him. They were laughing when they came out through the front door. Suddenly, my father saw me, then walked up to where we stood along with the woman.

"Susan! What, how? What are you doing here?!"

I couldn't say anything to him. I saw that he was okay and happy.

"It's nice to see you, how are you? I wrote you a letter but you never replied".

"I've been okay Father; without you, really! You never bothered to come see me at my prison. You dare tell me in your letter to be kind to Mr Frank? Has he been kind to me? Ask him father, I'm a prisoner there. I have guards everywhere I go. Isn't that what you wanted? Father, we were happy, we were a family!"

"I've been busy Susan, besides Frank is your husband, you have to stay with him no matter what. Don't you see, the house is looking good!"

To me, he was like a confused person, a person less interested in all I had just said.

"Well, this is my wife, Miriam, we got married last year in November 2002!" Miriam extended a hand to me, I withdrew and walked away.

"Susan, I'd see you soon my dear!" He announced.

I quickly jumped into the car with my friends. "Father had been married for a year now and did not tell me?" I felt broken, tears ran down my lazy cheeks.

"Your Father is heartless! Now I know for sure", Abigail said, but her words only made things worse.

We said nothing to each other all through the way. Soon we arrived at the house and there was Frank, I could see the itching flames in his eyes as he stood in the parlour hall waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat, I knew what was coming next. I tried to walk away but he held me back. Swiftly and fiercely he looked at my friends.

"You two are a bad influence on my wife! I don't want to see you both in my house ever again! Guards! Take these women out of here!".

Then, it was my turn, "You dare leave the house without my permission? Oh! You went in search of David right? You want to be with him eh? I bought you Susan, and I'm still paying for you!" he tapped on his chest boastfully, "You are mine Susan! You are mine!"

"I'm sorry Frank, I shouldn't have left", I replied with my eyes looking down on the floor. He flung his palm towards my face and a sounding slap landed on my cheek. It shook me and I fell hard on my buttocks.

"After all I've done for you and your father, you disrespect me?!" He stormed at me with a loud croaky voice. Frank took me by the hand and dragged me to his room, he locked the door and flung me on his large bed.

The room had two big red chairs and a table close to the bed. The chairs were in the other corner of the room. The room was so large, a brown painted wardrobe was built in the wall.

"Today, Susan, I am not taking no for an answer, you are my wife and I have a right to your body!".

I was scared and full of hate. His old hands were on my skin, his bad breath filled my nose with a demonic feeling as though I couldn't breathe. I knew he was my husband, but I couldn't lay with him. I thought of David but he wasn't there to save me from Frank.

"No, No! Please Frank, don't do this, I'm not ready yet, please!"

"When will you ever be?!".

This time I knew there was no way out. My pleas only sounded weak and soft to him, he pushed down on me harder, like a hungry lion. He was so much stronger than I was; for an old man. He had the upper hand, and poor Susan could do nothing. I hated every moment of it. The pain felt like I was been torn open. My heart kept racing like a beeping bomb. I could hear myself scream, the heat was intense, each teardrop fell out with every motion he made.

What could I do? I cursed at my Father for giving up on me, I cursed at my mother for leaving me behind, I cursed at the world for they couldn't hear my screams, I cursed at David– where was he? and that was the burning part of it all.

With all the pain in my heart I scratched the old man's back, it made him bleed, I bit on his skin severally. When was it going to end?

**************

I had my bath after and slept in my room for the longest. By the time I awoke, my food was ready and I ate. Emilia came to my room that evening and consoled me, I surrendered on her laps, crying my eyes out.

"Be strong Susan, be strong!"