STIGMA

tly till they got

"Are you sure you want to

him. "It's high time I got it all out. I can

sit dear",

settled, he tur

make it some other time. You are nervous and pale as white. L

f I don't do it now, It might never

hought to himself. ``I wonder what the problem is,

s", He rested his

ndma, I was the total opposite. Her love for me was unconditional and I do feel she loves me more than she loves her daughter who happens to be my mum. No one has ever showered me w

down or I would hurt myself but I refused. I ended up breaking my arm and she cried when I was being rushed to the hospital. I also remember when we used to stroll out every Sunday evening and how

ck as an act of

as a strong-willed child and I rarely cry because I do pile things up and then when it's full,

esting place. Mum left for the village leaving dad and me at home. Three days later, dad also had to travel out on a business trip. Dad took me to my aunt′s house who was already married and her husband was my dad′s business partner. Au

house to play with them. I then came out of my shell once again. I always felt special whenever I was with them because I was always being pampered. Sometimes, they do feed me whenever we are eating together and even help in slicing my mangoes wh

en before the arrival of my parents and I also stopped talking to them. I was always indoors and I even refused to eat. A neighbor told my mum that I was an ogbanje (an evil child) and I needed to be

e, something I tried figuring out all to no avail. An

I never knew what it feels like to have a sibling, though I always wish to have one. I

tes on the other hand call me all sorts of names like a snub, an arrogant and boring girl which I never took t

c. A naughty guy named Lukman raised his hand and the class burst into laughter. Mrs. Nkechi, knowing how naughty and mischievous Lukman could be, asked him to sit down and then she began

the production of babies. In a situation whereby a woman is having intercourse for the first time, it means she is a virgin and after the intercourse, she tends to bleed which signifies that she h

was confused because some images were repeating themselves in my head. I

proar and the teacher ra

h you Salamat?" Th

...he", and I

ay and my parents were by my bedside. The m

a' from the matron who was di

", Habib

p at him wit

me what exactly happ

into his eyes a

breathed out with relief t

bib exclaime

looked down. "I was se