Normalized evil and other stories

leg hit a stone, a feeling of cold dread washed over me. How was I going to convince my parents I wasn't to blame. How? Would they even listen to me

ant he was back from his business trip. W

e living room watching

d speak up. I had lied to her before I could leave the house. I have to invent lies ev

very thing that eludes me as I cower in fear b

ing up from her chair with

" I repeated, m

wly, barely cont

r all we have done for you

..Let me

before I could

a bastard in my house." Dad said as he

eve Dad raised

be more sympathetic to my plight. A

his thing. " Mom said wi

. Her words were a dagger to

You were the one who told me how much you suffered befor

a bastard in his house?" The questions rolled off my tongue as the

, "Do not compare what I went through to this. I am in my matrimonial ho

usband to have me. Mom, who was always praying for forgiveness.

d? I can't beli

stand here and banter words with you. I won

listen to what I have to say. I can explain." I pleaded

ou abor

e a life. I would rather die than kill my own flesh and blood

inality ringing in her voice

d for herself too. In my pregnant state, I took up menial jobs so I could survive. I washed dishes at a restaurant in the evenings, washed clothes for a family that lived close every Saturdays, took up any job I could find. As my delivery date drew closer, I had to reduce the jobs I was doing to reduce risks of complication

at me with her big, beautiful brown eyes

and, there were no jobs I could take up. I had to make a risky decision. I broke into my parents, your grandparent's house. I was also able to take my Secondary School Certificate and some money. That day, I packed all

t of grandma and grandpa? Did the

nfessed to searching for me but she gave up when she couldn't find me. She finally listened to me then. I told her how I was raped by a nameless stranger at the party I sneaked out to

"I love you mom. Thanks for not givin

erprotective of you. I am so sorry. I can't bear fo

now on. But I want you to trust me. And I want y

that now

I go out

wearily.

you. You are the best." He

ed as s

I could do. May God p