ABOVE THE SHADOWS

“No!, I can’t” she retorted

“What do you mean you can’t?” he asked her as he moved angrily towards her

“I can’t do this anymore, whatever it is we are doing, I am done!” she said as she tried leaving

He leaped forward and held the door closed

“We are done only when I say we are done” he said threateningly as his expression is beginning to read rage and anger

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Kunle and Lola met during their days in the University and became friends gradually, they fell in love and stated dating. They’ve been together for five years and over the course of their dating years, Lola has had to endure all series of abuses and traumas “Kola is an animal in sheep’s clothing” Lola’s friend Alima told her when she finally summoned the courage to speak up about it to her.

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“No, that’s not your call to make anymore, never again, look at me, I say never again, I am done enduring abuses because of what people will say, I’m done being your punching bag, I’m done being used and abused, I’m done being treated like trash, I’m done kunle, I’m done keeping shut because of Love, your life is a mess and I’m done coping with your mess. I tried my best to change you, but all my efforts and sacrifices were all wasted, I guess an animal will always be an animal no matter how much you try to change it, it’s nature will still be its nature”

She ended, tears flowing down her cheeks as she cried uncontrollably.

She looked into his eyes and she could feel his rage. Kunle was furious and enraged, they continued staring at each other until finally Kunle spoke up

“Well, well, well” he said with a devilish smirk on his face

“If you say you’re done with me, it’s fine I get it, I’m done too, you are free to go, you’re free from me”

Lola couldn’t believe her ears

“Seriously?” she asked, unsure whether to believe him or not

“Yes” he replied

Lola was excited, that finally she’s free, she didn’t expect him to succumb that easily knowing the kind of person Kunle is so she was still a little bit worried.

“But if I can’t have you anymore, then nobody else would” he concluded as his smile dissolved into a monstrous frown, as he moved closer to where Lola was standing

“Wait, what do you mean by no one else can have me?” she asked in fear, unsure of what he meant, as she counts her steps backward, towards the door. She could see the rage in Kunle’s eyes as he got closer with a monstrous smile on his face

“Kunle, please, don’t do this, I’m begging you” she pleaded, tears running down her cheeks

Kunle got closer to where she was standing and held her neck in a tight grip

“I’m just gonna kill you, and kill myself too, then we will end everything together” he said as he kept strangling her. Lola was helpless, she could only let out a faint scream.

There was a loud bang and the door to the room flew open as Alima and two police men ran in. The police men pinned kunle to the ground

“You’re under arrest Mr Kunle Fajoyin” one of the men said as they cuffed him and dragged him out

Lola was laying on the floor helplessly and in extreme shock, she could not believe that the man that claimed to have loved her could attempt to murder her.

Alima held her friend in a warm embrace as Lola bursts out in uncontrollable tears

“I’m proud of you, for summoning the strength and courage to end It all, for Speaking up”

“I thought he would change, I thought I could change him, that if I love him enough I can overlook his imperfections” Lola said still in shock

“Domestic abuse is not imperfection, it’s wickedness” Alima retorted

“I should have spoken up earlier, I should have spoken to someone about it, it wouldn’t have gotten to this”

“It’s okay dear, it’s all over now, everything has come to an end, you are free now” Alima consoled her friend who was still crying profusely

Abuse is not something you can keep to yourself and keep enduring

If you don’t end it, it might end you

Rise above the shadows and Speak Up!

Timotheus ©