
Rhealyz Africa Advocacy Using Storytelling (End GBV)- Kiana’s Story Part 6 “Scarry Volition 1”
Gloria was left in a sorry state.
Thank God she still had her phone on her as she called me over desperately. With the sound of her voice, I knew something wasn’t right. I raced over to meet my friend with blood flowing down her thighs. It was an image that unfortunately got etched in my memory. I helped her up and since we were in the toilet she could do some fast cleaning before we eloped.
It was just past four in the evening so her parents were not yet back from work. We hurried home. We got home before Gloria’s parents got back and Gloria was able to put herself together as she narrated everything to me in tears, her shoulders quivered, her words stumbled on each other, my strong and ever-cheerful friend was in so much pain that I couldn’t help but feel hurt and angry for my friend.
“let’s tell someone,” I said,
“no, we can’t!!!” Gloria immediately countered.
“I would bring disgrace to my family, my father will kill me, Kiana nobody would believe that I am the victim, no talking is not an option”
“Gloria I heard that there are some organizations who help cases like this, maybe we should check online, we can’t let Fred hurt somebody else”
“Kiana he took a picture of me naked, have you forgotten that his father is very wealthy and influential? There are too many things at stake Kiana!”
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand the risks but keeping this a secret didn’t seem like the best idea either. Worst of all, the thought of Fred going scot-free and probably doing the same thing to another girl struck me hard. It just wasn’t fair.
Suddenly Gloria cut into my thoughts and said out loud
“Kiana, I have an idea!”
…to be continued
Written by Abana Asabe for 16days of activism for Rhealyz Africa
Picture Credit- Pexels