CHAPTER 2: Shadows of abuse

The next morning, Rutendo slowly opened her eyes, groggily taking in her surroundings. The hut was cold and dark, and the smell of goat pee and dung was still lingering in the air. She yawned, stretching her arms, then rubbed her eyes. She didn't even know how she managed to sleep with how cold she was.

She sat up, gently shaking Mike awake. They had to go before Mai Mitch woke up and found them there. After what happened the previous night, she didn't trust her anymore. But maybe that was the problem. She trusted people easily. Maybe she needed to stop doing that.

"Wake up, Mike. We have to go back home." She shook him again, and he sat up straight, rubbing his sleepy eyes. She sighed, hating to wake him like that. He was just a child. Though he did not understand what was happening, he still didn't deserve it.

"Sis Ruru, i am hungry."

Rutendo's heart sank. The previous night, he had slept without eating and was woken up by their parents' fighting. She didn't have time to give him any food.

She forced a smile and playfully pinched his cheeks. "Come, let's go. You will eat at home." Only if his food would still be there.

Sigh!

One day, she was going to take him away from the toxic environment they were living in. She just had to be legal first, and then she would look for a job. No one in their right mind would employ a 14 year old. So, in the meantime, she just had to work hard in people's fields and provide a good life to her little brother.

She stood up, brushing off her worn-out dress. She held out her hand to Mike, and he took it. They quietly walked out, the crisp morning air brushing against their skin, making them shiver. They left Mai Mitch's yard and went to theirs.

Her heart pounded as they approached the door to their house. She didn't know what awaited them there. Would her mother be okay? Would they still be fighting?

She took a deep breath and held the door handle. She slowly turned it, and the door cracked open. They stepped inside, her other hand still holding Mike's small hand.

"Where are you coming from?" Trymore's voice startled her so much that she pushed Mike behind her and stared up at her father, who was sitting on a plastic chair.

His eyes were bloodshot red, and he still reeked of traditional beer. Her heart pounded as she looked at him without saying a word. If she said anything at all, he would just use it as an excuse to beat her.

"I asked you a question, Rutendo. Where are you coming from? At your age, you are already sleeping around? You are just like your mother." He scoffed, glaring at her. "Are you even my biological child? I doubt you are really mine. I don't have a child who sleeps around. Let me tell you something, little girl, if you ever get pregnant, don't think of coming back here. This is my house and i will never house a little whore. So, whatever games you are playing, make sure you do them far away from me."

Rutendo closed her eyes as block of pain sat on her throat, making it difficult for her to breath without shedding a tear. His words stabbed deep inside her heart. It was not the first time he had told her that she was not his biological child, or the first time he had compared her to her mother, but every time he opened his mouth to utter those words, her fragile heart shattered into a million tiny pieces all over again. She wae only 14. What did she knkw about sleeping around? It hurt that her own father would think so low of her.

She opened her eyes and blinked, pushing back her tears. She was not going to cry or say anything to him. That's what he wanted. He wanted a reaction from her so he could have an excuse to hit her. She took a deep breath and walked further inside the house, pulling Mike with her.

She stopped dead in her tracks, the sight before her making her blood run cold. She quickly let go of Mike's hand as she stared at her mother.

Brenda was laying on the rough floor, unconcious with blood all over her. Some of it had already dried, leaving stains on the floor and her clothes. She had a huge cut on her forehead oozing blood. Rutendo's eyes widened in horror as she rushed to her mother's side.

"Mama!" She whispered, shaking her mother gently but there was no response.

"Sis Ruru what is wrong with mama? Why does she have so much blood?" Mike's voice spoke from behind her. She quickly got up and hugged him.

"Go in the kitchen and look for something to eat. Mama is okay. She is just sleeping." Mike reluctantly left and Rutendo went back to her mother's side.

"Father! She lost a lot of blood. We have to take her to the hospital."

"You want me to go to jail? You want to get rid of me so you can have my house all to yourself, don't you?"

"Father please. She might die. She needs medical attention. Please we have to take her to the clinic." The clinic was half an hour away and it was a walkable distance. They would just put her in a wheelbarrow and.... tears finally rolled down her face. There was so much blood and she didn't even know where to touch.

"If she dies then good riddens to bad rubbish. It's not she adds an value to my life."

"Father, pl-"

"Ndakuzokurova ukaramba uchindinetsa. Hapana kwaari kuenda! Kana wava iwewe baba veimba chiita zvaunoda. Nxla." He said going to his bedroom. (I will beat you if you keep bothering me. She is not going anywhere. If you are now the head of the house then you can do whatever you want.)

Rutendo sniffed staring at her mother as she lay helplessly on the floor. She didn't want her to die. Yes, Brenda was a terrible parent but she was not ready to be an orphan.

She quickly went to grab a bucket filled woth water and a towel, then began cleaning her mother's wound. It was one nasty cut and it was so deep. She needed medical attention but Rutendo was afraid to go against her father. He was capable of kicking her out.

Rutendo's hands trembled as she cleaned her mother's wound, trying be as gentle as possible. She dragged her to her room after she was done, and she found Trymore already snoring on the bed. She took off Brenda's clothes and helped her wear clean ones, then dragged her on the bed. She covered her with a blanket and sighed catching her breath. Brenda's pale skin worried her so much that she wondered if she was too late. She spend the whole night on the floor and.... she shook her head. Her mother was going to be fine, at least that's what she hoped.

She gently closed the door and went to make a fire outside, then boiled Mike's bathing water. While it was boiling, she went to clean the house, getting rid of the blood. She would help Mike to prepare for school she was done.

**

Rutendo went straight to the village chief's field after she dropped Mike at school. She left a small portion the day before that she needed to finish. Maybe she would buy her brother some biscuits and pepsi after she gets paid. He would love that.

"You are already here?" A voice said behind her and she stood up, straightening her back which was on fire. Weeding was not for the weak. It was hard especially if you had to do it every single day.

She smiled. "Yes. I wanted to finish early. Good morning, mama." She respectfully greeted the chief's wife.

The old lady smiled, her eyes scanning around the part she had finished weeding. "You are such a hard worker, Rutendo. I wish i had a son. I would have loved to have you as a daughter in law. It's hard to believe that you are Brenda's child."

Rutendo forced a smile. This was what she had to deal with everyday. Everyone in the village always had something to say about her family. She hated it but it was not like she could control it, and everything they said was true.

The old lady reached inside her bra and took out a $10 note, then handed it to her. "Here is your money. You have made me happy."

Her eyes widened as she stared at the money. "It's mine? I thought you said it was $5."

"I know what i said, but you deserve it. You work hard to take care of your family. Buy something nice for yourself."

Tendo took the money and smiled emotionally. "Thank you. Thank you so much. God bless you." This was the first time anyone had given her so much money. Sometimes people refused to pay her after she helped them with their work because she was Brenda's daughter.

"It's okay. You are still too young to be working in people's fields. How about you come and help me with chores on weekends and i pay you."

"You mean that?"

"Yes. So, what do you say?"

"I would love to. Thank you."

"Good. Let me leave you to your work now."

Tendo squirmed excitedly as she stared at the money one more time. She was going to do a lot of things with it. A whole $10! Se smiled getting back to work.

**

Later that day, Tendo sat on the stool at the fire place as she fried some matemba. She blew air into the firewood and stirred the pot.

"Is anyone home?" A male voice came from behind the house. Tendo poured some water into the pot before covering it with a lid. She walked around the house where she found an unfamiliar man waiting.

"Makadii."

The man smiled at her, checking her out. "Hello. My name is Frank. Where is Brenda?"

Tendo swallowed, looking down. "She is not around."

Frank licked his lips staring at her. She had such a perfect body for someone her age.

"What's your name? Are you Brenda's daughter?"

"Yes. My name is Rutendo."

He whistled. "I didn't know that Brenda had such a beautiful daughter. You are so beautiful, like you are not real. And you are ready now."

"Excuse me, ready for what?" Tendo asked confused.

"You are not playing with boys right? Don't let those small boys near you. I wouldn't mind having you as my third wife. You will give me beautiful babies, just like you." He said smiling.

"If that was all, please leave." She was trying to put on a brave face but she was terrified. She quickly turned and rushed behind the house, leaving him standing there. She breathed out, her heart pounding in her chest.

A FEW DAYS LATER