i took my small bag and placed it on the spot in front of the mirror as i adjusted my towel around my waist being careful not to look at anyone. the washrooms were full of life and bussing as everyone tried to change clothes while making small talk and gossip. slowly but still unsure i unwrapped my towel from around me and placed it on top if the changing table. barbra had gone to the washroom and i began unbraiding my grey pigtails so they could dry up. it wasn’t a big job, there were only around four or five pigtails. after unbraiding them successfully, i tried towel drying before making a final decision to use the hand dryer. it had been my sport and fan since i was young. we would go to restaurant then i would stand under the drier as i let the warm and hot air pass through my hair. it wasn’t working and after a while i decided that i was to grown for this. i made a move to go back to the worktop in front of the mirror before something or rather someone roughly shoved me on the

I moved back at the sound of the loud scream from Sasha. Everyone came forward to look at her as she burst into sobs.I looked at her to find out what weas wrong, there was clearly no snake around, and I couldn’t see a serial killer what was happening.“Why would you do that to me?’ She asked a torn and broken-down voice.I looked around at everyone, trying to find out who she was addressing for doing the atrocity that had made her break down.“You, don’t pretend,’’ she wailed as she pointed a finger at me and I gasped, clearly not understanding anything.“I didn’t do anything, what just happened?” I asked too as everyone who had the sounds gathered around to find out who the problem was.“You touched me, you touched me by force,” she explained and everyone inside the washroom began gasping and wondering what had just happened in hoc.“You touched my breast,” She repeated as everyone heard whatever she was screaming and crying about.“That’s a lie, I didn’t touch you, I didn’t do anyt

‘‘What?’’ he asked again refusing to believe I had said those words.I moved back a few steps while clutching my bag tighter.‘‘If you are that tough and strong, why are you clutching your bag?’’ he mocked as he eyed me keenly while rubbing his hands together.Edric and Ryan came out from the sidelines and stood full height while eyeing me keenly.‘‘ I need to ask you a question and I just want you to answer it honestly, that is all,’’ I began while still clutching my bag, in case I needed to flee or considered it too heavy.‘‘Well, well, well, look who has grown tiny little horns with the bravery of a chicken nugget.’’ The chief of bullies commented as he took one step forward.‘‘ I see you are a man and need to talk man to man, with me, I mean after all these years, you have finally found your pathetic little voice and trust me, you are doing poorly,’’ he informed again Edric began laughing.What was so funny. I only needed to ask him why he kept following me around if he hated me s

There are different kinds of bruises, some visible, some invincible. People tend to confuse the two, confuse between the one that hurts the most and the one that doesn’t.The bruises on my skin could heal after a few days, they would go and anyone would think that I had probably forgotten about them. All the bruises that the bullies had created inside me would never heal or go away. I had just stopped paying attention to their wounds, but they would always b there, fresh waiting for someone to rub salt into them.I stopped in the parking lot to look behind, to confirm if the bullies were coming after me. They weren’t there, finally today, I had outdone them too, they should really be disappointed and annoyed fir getting played with a crazy girl the way they claimed.Perhaps I was really crazy, what if it was true? What if he weas just watching out for me and I couldn’t see it. What if he was really generous and really cared for me, but I couldn’t see it, couldn’t see it because my lif

Every day, people ask if you are okay. A random stranger inside the bus pretends to care and ask if you are fine, because your palms are sweating, or your lips trembling, from your struggle with anxiety. But most of the time, no one does, its pretense. The moment I got into the house, I wish I didn’t, they all seemed to be in a happy mood, happy for no good reason and I feared they might want me to join them and perhaps, perhaps I wouldn’t be able to, lest they notice that my spirit has given up. ‘‘Hellooooo,’’ my father greeted as he stood up to come and say hi. I was really uncomfortable and he knew, I wasn’t up for all the happy merry, the high vibes, I wanted it low and quiet, I didn’t want anyone to recognize me. That’s how a child grows up when their mother abandons them, it’s the only way for them to cope up, you lay low and lock up all your feelings in a cage, you become numb, because feelings are useless, humans abuse them all the time, you better not have them. ‘‘Hey pa