JUSTAVI

CTI
M
Abookby
LawalSodi
qOl
ait
an
 COPYRI
GHT©2021BYLAWALSODI
QOLAI
TAN

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lRi
ght
sReser
ved
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ibut
ed,
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edinar etri
evalsyst
em ortransmittedinanyf orm
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iorwritt
enper missionfrom
t
heauthor.Else,thi
sconsti
tutesil
legalpir
acyandt heft
oftheaut hor’
sint
ell
ectualproper t
y .

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ons,
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ait
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Whent
hingsgowr
ong

Justami
stakewasmade

Av
ict
im shebecame

Herf
atei
sdeci
dedbyt
heWi
nd

Bl
owi
ngf
rom t
hewi
ndmi
ll
soft
hegods

Shel
uxur
iat
esandsuf
fer
s

Justast
hepr
ogenyoft
hehen

Suf
fer
edf
ort
hesi
nsofmot
herhen

Ther
iverhasdr
iedupwi
tht
oomanyl
osses

Thatt
hecanoecannotsai
lacr
oss

Thepaddl
ewasaweakl
ing

I
nthef
aceofhar
sht
ri
bul
ati
ons.

Tr
oubl
ecameandwentandcameagai
n

Ther
ear
ether
e,t
heoneandonl
ypanacea

I
sthatoft
heGr
eat
estandt
heSupr
eme

Onl
ytheAl
might
ycanmaket
hingsr
ight

Ci
rcumst
ancesmadeherdoi
t

I
twasnev
erherf
aul
t

Shei
snot
hing

Not
hingbutj
ustav
ict
im.
..

©Dewal
e
ToAl
might
yGodwhoi
sthecr
eat
oroft
heuni
ver
se
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TheGreat
estofal
lgr
ati
tudegoestoGODwhocr
eat
ed
meandinspi
redmetowrit
ethisbook.
Ipr
ofoundlyappreciateCoachMaryAderounmu–
DirectorofCREATIVEWRI TERSBUILDERSACADEMY
(CWBA)f orsuperv
isi
ngt his“BOOKPROJECT”.You'r
et he
highlyappreciat
ed.Iprayt heAlmi
ght
yconti
nuet obless
you.
Myappreci
ati
onalsogoest
omyf el
lowst
udent
sin
CWBAandourl ectur
ers,y
ouhavebeensogoodand
cooperat
ive.
THANKYOUALLANDGODBLESSYOU.
Pr
ologue

Par
tI:HomeandMen

Myhome:TheSour
ce
Myf
ather
:Themonst
er
TheCopul
ati
ons
Bet
ray
edagai
n

Par
tII
:Gr
aceandGr
ass

Li
feonmyown
Gr
eatt
ransf
ormat
ions
Tr
oubl
es:I
'
mjustav
ict
im
 Pr
ologue
"
Theaccusedi sn'tt al
kingatall
.She'stherei nthecell
.She
hadrefusedt otalkt oanyone.Shealsor efusedt ogeta
l
awy er.All
strat
egieshadbeenusedt omakehert al
k,but
shewon' tj
usttalk."Const abl
eKhaliesaid" Thereisnoneed
fl
oggingadeadhor se.Shewon'tjusttal
k!".”ButcanIst i
ll
seeher ?Letmemeether "LawyerTiffyinsisted."
Okay.Ifyou
want"Const abl
eKhal i
econceded.

LawyerTif
fywalkedintotheroom,withallhopesof
makingtheaccusedtalk.Shesatacrossthetable.The
accusedlookquit
eshabby ;herhai
rwereroughened."Li
sten"
LawyerTiff
ystart
ed"Iknowi tmustbedif
f i
cultf
ory out
osay.
Iam awoman, youareawoman.Youcant alktome.You
canconfideinme"
"CanIta.
.ll
ktoyo.u?"theaccusedasked."Yes.You
can"lawyerTif
fyanswer ed."Y..
oum..mea.
.nIcanr.ea.
.al
l
y
confi
deiny ou?""Yesy
oucan" ."
Okay.Hmmmmmmm"t he
accusedtookadeepbr eat handstart
edherstory.
..
 PARTI
HOMEANDMEN.

"Aseedgrowswi t
hnosoundbutat
reefal
lswi
thhuge
sound.Dest
ruct
ionhasnoi
sebutCr
eati
onissi
lent
"-
Confuci
us

"Fat
e,dest
inyanddesi
redr
ivesusaround.Butwhat
happenstouscomesbydest i
ny"-Dewal
e.
 Chapt
erOne
MyHome:Thesour
ce
"
Apeacef
ulhomei
sthef
oundat
ionofsuccess"

H
ow canIev
erf
orgott
hoseabuses?Thosey
ell
s..
.

Thosedi
spar
agement
s…

Mynamei
sSami
l
a.Iwasbor
nint
otheJi
mohsFami
l
y.My

f
atheri
sabankerwhi
l
emymot
heri
sat
rader
.Iam t
hei
ronl
y

chi
l
d.

Mypar
ent
sar
ethesour
ceofmypr
obl
ems.Theyar
eal
way
s

i
nconst
antdi
sagr
eement
.Thei
rfi
ghtnev
ercease.I
twas

usual
l
ya v
iol
entf
ight
.Thei
rquar
reli
s char
act
eri
zed by

ser
iousbeat
ingsandhur
li
ngofobj
ect
sateachot
her
.My

dadi
smor
eorl
essamonst
er.Hewoul
dbeatmymum l
i
kea

bagofr
ice.Mymum t
oonev
ersubmi
ts;shewoul
dret
ali
ate;

she woul
dfi
ghtback,t
hough power
lessl
y.The r
esul
tof

t
hesef
ight
swasal
way
sbr
uisesandpai
ns.Oneofsuch
occasi
onsoft
hei
rquar
rel
swaswhenIwasi
nyearone.

Igothomet
hatdayal
lhappyandmer
rybecauseIhadwona

pr
izei
nschool
.Imetanempt
yli
vi
ngr
oom.ThenIpr
oceeded

t
ocheckmymot
heri
nherr
oom.Imetherandgr
eet
edher

"
Goodaf
ter
noonmum"
."Howar
eyoumydear
?"sher
epl
i
ed.

"
I'
mfi
nemama"Ianswer
ed.

Justt
hen,
mydadent
eredt
hehouse."
Hel
l
o.I
sther
eany
one

home?
"heshout
edwi
thhi
sbar
it
onev
oice."
Wel
comedad"I

shout
edf
rom t
her
oom andIr
andownst
air
stohughi
m.

"
Wel
comedar
li
ng"mymum gr
eet
eddescendi
ngf
rom t
he

st
air
s."
Thanksdear
.I'
mreal
l
yfami
shed.I
sthef
oodr
eady
?"

mydad asked."
Itwi
l
lsoon be done.Ij
ustadded t
he

i
ngr
edi
ent
s.Gi
vemef
ivemi
nut
esdear
".Mymum r
epl
i
ed

Mydadf
lar
edup"
Fiv
ewhat
???Ar
eyouokayatal
l
???What

wer
eyoudoi
ngathomesi
nce?Wheni
tisn'
tthaty
ouwentt
o

wor
ktoday
.Yousatathomeal
ldayandnow y
ou'
ret
ell
i
ng
mef
ivemi
nut
es!Youmustbecr
azy
!"Her
ant
edonandon.

Thenextt
hingIhear
dwasmymum'
sshout"
Arey
ouokay
?

Whoar
eyout
alki
ngt
o?Am Ipl
ayi
ngathome?Whodoy
ou

t
hinky
ouar
e?Yout
hisman,
war
nyour
sel
fo"

"
Soy
ounowhav
ethegut
stot
alkwhenI
'
mtal
ki
ng?Ar
eyou

awar
eIpai
dyourbr
idepr
ice?Iowny
ou!Iam y
ourLor
d,okay
?

Gett
hati
ntoy
ourskul
l
"Dadf
ir
edback

"
Hey
!!
!Wi
l
lyoust
op cl
aimi
ng f
ool
i
showner
shi
p?I
'
m not

somepr
oper
ti
esorsomeki
ndofr
agst
omesswi
th.Webot
h

hav
eequalr
ight
sint
hishouse"mymum r
etor
ted."
Isai
d

keepshut
!”
..
."Whoar
eyout
otel
lmeshutup?
"..
.

Andsot
her
ant
ingwentonandon.

Theyhel
dateachot
her
'scl
othandaser
iousf
ightensued.

Mydadbeatmymum t
ost
uport
hatday
.Ij
ustst
oodt
her
e

shaki
ngl
i
keaj
ell
yfi
sh.

Thef
ight
swer
euncount
abl
eand seemi
ngl
yendl
ess.My

mum hadsust
ainedmanyi
njur
iesi
nthef
ight
s.Myf
ather
's

bel
twasal
way
shy
per
act
iveashewoul
dwhi
pmymum t
il
l
heget
sti
redofwhi
ppi
ng.

Thenoneni
ght
,theunexpect
edhappened.
..

Mypar
ent
s wer
e hav
ing usualv
iol
entf
ightt
hatni
ght
.I

coul
dn'
tsl
eep.I
twasaheat
edf
ight
.Ast
heywer
ebusy

y
ell
i
ngateachot
heri
nther
oom upst
air
s,Ir
anupf
rom my

r
oom.Isawmymum r
unoutoft
her
oom.Dadf
oll
owedher
,

shout
ingl
oudl
y.I
nthecour
seoft
hef
ight
,mydadpushedmy

mum f
rom t
hest
air
s.

Thenextt
hingIsawwasmymum dr
oppedont
hef
loor
.My

dadangr
il
yst
ormedoutoft
hehouse.Imov
edcl
osert
omy

mum,cal
l
ed herr
epeat
edl
yto st
and up,butshe won'
t

answer
.If
eltherpul
seandsaw t
hatshewasn'
tbr
eat
hing

agai
n..
.

Ir
anoutt
ocal
ldad.Her
ushedi
nwi
thme."
Mtchewwwwww.

Youbet
terst
andup!Pr
etender
!Getupnow bef
oreIki
ck

y
ou!
"Dadshout
ed.Butmum wasn'
trespondi
ng.
I
tnowbecamecl
eart
ome.

Mymum i
sdead.
..
 Chapt
erTwo

Myf
ather
:Themonst
er
"
Enmi
tyhasnoqual
ifi
cat
ion.Anyonecanbey
ourenemy
,
evenyourfamil
y".

I
twasal
lnot
hingbutpr
etense.Dadwasbusysheddi
ng

cr
ocodi
l
etear
s,cl
aimi
nghel
ovedmymum somuch.He

wasmour
ningandwai
l
ingser
iousl
yint
hepr
esenceof

t
hef
ami
l
ymember
s.Iknewi
twasal
lachar
ade.

Thatni
ght
,dadhadcar
eful
l
ycar
ri
edmum i
ntot
hebedr
oom

andl
ayheront
hebed.Hehadwar
nedmest
ri
ctl
ynott
otel
l

any
oneandi
fIdi
d,hewi
l
lki
l
lmet
hewayheki
l
ledmymom.I

wasf
ri
ght
enedandt
hreat
ened.Iwascowedi
ntosi
l
ence.

Hehadr
aisedaf
alseal
armt
hef
oll
owi
ngmor
ning.Hecal
l
ed

somemember
soft
hef
ami
l
ythathi
swi
fedi
edi
nhersl
eep.I

wassi
l
entandcowed,butdeepdown,Iseet
hedi
nrageand

r
esent
ment
.

Whatf
oll
owedmymum’
sdeat
hwashor
ri
ble.Mydadt
urned
outt
o be a monst
er.He r
efused t
o al
l
ow mymot
her
’s

r
elat
iveswhower
ewi
l
li
ngt
otakecar
eofmet
odoso.He

gav
ethef
alsepr
omi
seandpr
ocl
amat
iont
hathewi
l
ltake

car
eofhi
sdaught
erhi
msel
f.

Iwasmor
eofasl
avet
hanachi
l
dtohi
m.Hewi
l
lsendmeon

er
randt
ohi
slecher
ousf
ri
ends.Wor
stenough,mydadl
ost

hi
sbanki
ngj
obandsur
pri
singl
y,hewasnotev
enwor
ri
eda

bi
t.Whathedi
dthenextweekwasappal
l
ing…

He cal
l
ed me i
nto hi
sroom one dayand sai
d“Si
t,my

beaut
if
ul,
dar
li
ng,
lov
ely
,excel
l
entandwonder
fuldaught
er”
.I

wasst
il
lwonder
ingaboutt
hisunusualappr
aisalwhenhe

dr
oppedt
hebombshel
l
.“Ij
ustopenedabari
nVi
ctor
iaI
sland.

Iwanty
out
obemyat
tendant
.Wi
thy
ourbeaut
if
ulf
aceand

v
olupt
uousbodyf
igur
e,Iknow y
ouwi
l
lat
tractv
erygood

cust
omer
s”.“
Whatdi
dyouj
ustsay
???
?”Iscr
eamedi
nanger
.

“
Youbet
terdon’
tshout
.Iti
sadonedeal
.Youcan’
tsayno.

mor
eov
er,I
’
myourf
ather
.Iowny
ouandev
ery
thi
ngabout

y
ou.I
tisacommandnotar
equest
.Ref
uset
odoi
tandIwi
l
l

ki
l
lyou”
.Hesai
dandwi
tht
hat
,hest
ormedoutoft
hehouse.
ThatWor
d“ki
l
l”si
l
encedme.Onceagai
n,Iwascowedi
nto

acqui
escence.

Thef
oll
owi
ngweek,Ibegant
oat
tendt
ocust
omer
sint
he

bar
,ol
dandy
oungal
i
ke.Soon,mydadbui
l
tamot
elbesi
de

t
hebar
.Manygi
rl
swer
ebr
oughtev
eryni
ghtbybot
hyoung

andol
dmen.I
nfact
,menwhower
eol
denought
obemy

f
atherf
requent
edt
hebar
.Idi
dthewor
kdi
l
igent
lyf
orIknew

educat
ioni
sal
ostt
hingf
orme.Igot
oschoolonl
yinmy

dr
eams.Icoul
dnotev
enf
ini
shmysecondar
yeducat
ion.I

dr
oppedouti
nJSS2.Al
lIt
houghtwasdoi
ngmyj
oband

l
i
vingmyl
i
feundi
stur
bed,
notknowi
ngt
hatmul
ti
plet
roubl
es

wer
ecomi
ng…
 Chapt
erThr
ee

Thecopul
ati
ons

"
Oncey
ougi
vei
n,y
oucont
inue"

I
wasf
if
teeny
ear
sol
dwhenIst
art
edwor
kingf
ormydad

att
hebar
.Asexpect
edofsomeoneofmyage,Iwas

f
ull
-f
igur
edandsexy
.Menal
way
sogl
edatmei
nthebar
,

butnoonehadev
erappr
oachedme.Iwasnotawar
eofmy

beaut
yunt
ilDav
eappr
oachedme…

Dav
ewasar
egul
arcust
omeri
nmydad’
smot
el.Hebr
ingsi
n

v
ari
eti
esofgi
rl
sev
eryni
ghtt
osl
eepwi
th.I
twasaSunday
,

l
atei
ntheni
ghtt
hatday
.Iwascl
eani
ngupt
hebarwhenhe

appr
oachedme.Hest
art
edpr
aisi
ngmeandt
ell
i
ngmehow

beaut
if
ulIam.Ii
gnor
edhi
m andpol
i
tel
ytol
dhi
m Iam noti
n

f
oral
lthat
.

Howev
er,
Dav
e’sdet
ermi
nat
ionseemedt
obeaf
ir
m one.Day

byday
,hewi
l
lcomet
ome.Lat
er,heel
evat
edt
othel
evelof
want
ingt
ocar
essme.Ikepti
tal
lfor
m myf
ather
.WhenI

coul
dnol
ongerbeari
t,Iopenedupt
omyf
ather
.Iwas

shockedanddev
ast
atedbyhi
sresponse.Hesai
d“What
’s

new t
her
e?Gi
rl
sofy
ouragear
eal
readydoi
ngt
wosome.

Don'
tyouev
enknowi
tispar
toft
heser
vicey
ouar
eexpect
ed

t
orender
?Myf
ri
end,
giv
ehi
m whathewant
s!”

Thenextt
imeDav
eappr
oachedme,Igav
einwi
thoutany

r
esi
stance.Thatni
ght
,onacol
dThur
sdayni
ght
;ani
ghtIwi
l
l

al
way
sremember
,Dav
edef
lower
edme.Icr
iedbi
tt
erl
ythat

ni
ght
.Hegav
emeahugeamountofmoney
,butIr
efusedt
o

col
l
ecti
t.It
houghtI
'
dgi
venhi
m whathewant
sandI
'
mfr
ee,

butal
as!Iwaswr
ong.ThenextSunday
,heappr
oachedme

agai
n.Andagai
n,wedi
dthedi
rt
ydeed.Andagai
n,andagai
n,

andagai
n,wedi
dit
..
.
 Chapt
erFour
Bet
ray
edagai
n
"
Don'
ttr
ustt
oomuch.I
thur
tst
oomuch"

A
f
termysev
eralcopul
ati
onswi
thDav
e,ot
hermen

begant
oappr
oachme.Igav
eint
othem easi
l
y.

Soon,Ibecame a f
ull
-f
ledged pr
ost
it
ute.The

"
twosome"myf
atherment
ionedt
henwasal
i
ttl
ethi
ngs,I
'
ve

st
art
eddoi
ng"
four
some"
.Bot
hathomeandi
nthemot
el,I

sl
eptwi
thv
ari
eti
esofmen.Al
lthesenev
ersat
isf
ied my

f
ather
.Hesai
dIwasn'
tdoi
ngenough.

Then,oneni
ght
,hecal
l
edmeandor
der
edmenott
ogot
o

bedwi
thanyman.Hesai
dther
e'smuchwor
kformet
odo

t
henextni
ght
."You'
l
lreal
l
yenj
oyi
t"headded.

Thenextni
ght
,heaskedmet
ocomet
oRoom A1,
thel
argest

r
oom i
nthemot
el.WhatIsawwhenIent
eredal
mostmade

mef
aint
.Isawsev
enmenandmyf
atheral
lnaked.Theyask

met
ogetr
eady
.Theyt
oreatmycl
othsandr
ippedmenaked.
OhMyGod!Ishout
edi
nsi
l
ence.Sev
enatat
ime!Andmy

f
athert
oo?
?

Thewhol
ethi
ngwasnauseat
ing.Theydi
ditonebyoneat

f
ir
st.Lat
er,t
heydi
dital
latonce.Myf
atherdr
ovemer
eal
l
y

har
dthatni
ght
.Icoul
dn'
tbeari
tti
l
ltheend,
Ipassedout
..
.

Iwokeupt
henextdayandf
oundmy
sel
fonmyf
ather
'sbed.

Ist
aredathi
minpur
edi
sgust
.Hedi
dn'
tsayany
thi
ng.He

j
ustwal
kedout
.Icur
sedhi
m si
l
ent
ly.If
eltl
i
kest
rangl
i
nghi
m.

Ihat
ehi
m…Ihat
emen.

Myj
obatt
hemot
elwenton.Ibecamet
he"
hotgi
rl
".Noday

ev
erpassedwi
thoutmesl
eepi
ngwi
thmen.

Ther
ewasamanwhopat
roni
zedt
hebarv
erywel
l
,butf
unny

enough,hehadnev
erbr
oughtagi
rlorsl
eepwi
thany
.Ihad

been obser
ving hi
m f
orday
s.Inev
erknew hi
s name,

becauseIaddr
essedhi
m asSi
r.Hel
ookedsor
esponsi
ble.

Al
lhedoesatt
hebari
stot
akepeppersoupandsof
tdr
ink.

Hegr
eet
smei
napol
i
temanner
.Oneday
,hecamet
othe

shop l
ooki
ngv
erydepr
essed.Iwal
kedupt
o hi
m outof
cur
iosi
ty.Iaskedhi
m whathappened.Asi
far
ecor
deri
s

pl
ayed,hest
art
edpour
ingouthi
smi
nd.I
twast
her
eIl
ear
nt

hi
snamei
sMr
.John.Hehadbeenmar
ri
edf
ort
hir
teeny
ear
s

andaccor
dingt
ohi
m,hel
ovehi
swi
fedear
ly.Howev
er,t
hey

hav
en'
thadanychi
l
dtocal
lthei
rown.Hehasbeenv
ery

suppor
ti
ve and car
ing f
orhi
s wi
fe.Hi
sfami
l
ymember
s

mount
edpr
essur
eonhi
swi
febuthest
oodbyher
.Peopl
e

adv
isedt
hem t
oseekmedi
caladv
ice,butt
heynev
erbought

t
hei
dea.Theykeptonhav
ingbel
i
efi
nGodf
ormi
racl
e.

Whent
hepr
essur
ebecamemuch,t
heyv
isi
tedt
hedoct
or.I
t

wast
her
etheydi
scov
eredhei
stheonewhohaspr
obl
em.

Hei
simpot
ent
.Onhear
ingt
his,
hiswi
fehadl
efthi
m.Hewas

dev
ast
ated.Thati
nci
dentpr
opel
l
edhi
mtost
artcomi
ngt
o

t
hebar
.Henev
ersl
eepwi
thanygi
rlf
orheknew i
twi
l
lbe

f
rui
tl
ess.

If
eltv
erybadf
orhi
m andconsol
edhi
mthatday
.Il
ear
ntt
hat

hei
sabar
ri
ster
.Wi
thhi
sst
ory
,It
rust
edhi
m somuchand

begant
ofeelf
reear
oundhi
m.ThenImadet
hebi
ggest

mi
stake.
..
Thespi
ri
tofr
evengehadnotl
eftme.Ist
il
lwantt
otel
l

someonewhathappenedt
omymum;Iwantmydadt
opay

f
orhi
sat
roci
ti
es.Isaw Mr
.Johnasaper
sont
oconf
idei
n.

Thent
hatday
,Ideci
dedt
oopenupt
ohi
m.It
oldhi
m al
lwhat

happenedf
rom t
hebegi
nni
ngt
otheend.Ihowev
er,
impl
ored

hi
m nott
otel
lmyf
ather
.Hegav
ehi
swor
dthathewi
l
lnot

t
ellhi
m andt
hathewi
l
lav
engemymum'
sdeat
h.Iwasv
ery

happyt
hatday
.It
hankGodf
orl
ett
ingmecomeacr
oss

someonel
i
keMr
.John.Al
as!Iwaswr
ong.
..

If
orgotsomet
hing athomeand had t
orushhomet
hat

f
atef
ulaf
ter
noon.Imett
he doorunl
ocked.Iwas st
il
l

wonder
ingwhoi
shomewhenIhear
dsomev
oicesf
rom t
he

si
tt
ingr
oom.Toav
oidbei
ngnot
iced,Ient
eredt
hehouse

t
hrought
hebackdoorandnoi
sel
essl
yti
ptoedt
othehal
l
way
.

Then Ihear
d Mr
.John'
svoi
ce and myf
ather
'sv
oice.I

ov
erheadMr
.Johnt
ell
i
ngmyf
atheral
lwhatIt
oldhi
m.Iwas
shockedt
othebonemar
row.If
eltbet
ray
ed.Buthegav
eme

hi
swor
d..
.Hepr
omi
sednott
otel
l
...Hepr
omi
sedt
ohel
p

me.
..I
twasmeantt
obeasecr
et.
..No!Thi
scan'
tbet
rue.
..

ThenIknewIwasi
ndeept
roubl
e.Deat
hisknocki
ngatmy

door
.Dadhadt
hreat
enedt
oki
l
lmei
fIshoul
dtel
lany
body
.

I
'
m donef
or!

Iwasst
il
llosti
nthoughtwhenIhear
dsomemov
ement

behi
ndme.It
urnedandf
rozei
mmedi
atel
y.IsawdadandMr
.

Johnr
ightbehi
ndme!"
Fat
herLor
dHel
pMySoul
"Imut
ter
ed.

Mr
.Johnspokef
ir
st"
Yout
hissi
l
lygi
rl
,youwi
l
ldi
etheway

y
our mot
her di
ed.You women ar
e usel
ess!You ar
e

v
enomous!Youhav
emety
ourendt
odaySal
i
ma!
".
"Youknow

Inev
ergobackonmywor
ds.Iwi
l
lki
l
lyou,butnott
hewayI

ki
l
ledy
ourmot
her
.Yout
hisgi
rlwantt
oimpl
i
cat
emeandI

wi
l
lki
l
lyoubef
orey
oucandot
hat
!"Myf
athersai
d"Mr
.John,

t
her
it
ual
syousai
dyouwant
edt
odo.It
hinky
ousai
dyou

wer
easkedt
obr
ingay
ounggi
rlwhohasnotgi
venbi
rt
hbut
hasbeendef
lower
ed.It
hinkt
hisi
diother
eisqual
i
fiedf
or

t
hat
.SoIam gi
vi
ngy
out
heper
missi
ont
ouseher
"Headded.

Iwasdev
ast
ated.I
sthi
sreal
l
ymyf
ather
???No,Idoubti
t.

May
beI
'
m abast
ard.I
,forr
it
ual
?."
Mr.John,y
oushal
lnev
er

knowpeace"Icur
sedsi
l
ent
ly.Mydadbeatmet
ost
upor
.

Onceagai
n,Iwasbet
ray
edandoppr
essed.Iwi
l
lnev
ert
rust

agai
n.
 PARTI
I

Gr
aceandGr
ass

"
Theendjusti
fi
esthemean.Iti
s
notoverunt
ili
tisov
er"
 Chapt
erOne

Li
feonmyown

"
Bel
ievei
nyour
sel
fwhennooneel
sedi
d”

T
houghIwasboundf
ordeat
h,If
ir
mlyr
esol
vednot

t
o gi
vei
n.Al
thoughIwasv
eryt
ir
ed f
rom t
he

ser
iousbeat
ingmyf
athergav
eme,Ideci
dednot

t
ogi
vei
n;Imustnotbeusedf
orr
it
ual
;I'
drat
herdi
einot
her

way
s.Imust
eredal
lthest
rengt
hinme;i
twasacal
cul
ated

at
tack.Iqui
ckl
ypi
ckedupt
wobot
tl
est
hatwer
eont
het
abl
e

besi
demeandIhi
titont
het
women'
shead.Theysl
umped

t
othef
loor
.

Then,
Iranasf
astasmyl
egscoul
dcar
ryme.
..
Li
feont
hest
reet
swashor
ri
ble.Ont
hedayIl
eftmyf
ather
's

house,Ihadnowher
etogoi
npar
ti
cul
ar.Iwander
edr
ound

t
het
ownf
rom af
ter
noont
il
ldusk.Thenatni
ght
,Isl
epti
none

uncompl
etedbui
l
dingbyt
her
oadsi
de.Thenextday
,Iwenti
n

sear
chofanyj
obIcansee.But
,Iwasunl
ucky
.Ihadt
obeg

ont
hest
reetbef
oreIcangetsomemoneyt
obuyf
oodt
oeat
.

Ir
etur
nedt
otheuncompl
etedbui
l
dingagai
nbyni
ght
.That

ni
ghtwasat
err
if
icone.Ir
egr
ett
edev
ergoi
ngt
her
ethat

ni
ght
.Itwasmi
dni
ghtpr
obabl
yar
oundt
woa.
m.whensome

hef
tymenr
ani
ntot
hebui
l
ding.Theywer
eappar
ent
lyar
ea

t
hugs.Theywer
eei
ghti
nal
l
.Theyr
apedmebadl
y.Icr
ied

bi
tt
erl
ythat ni
ght
.Wor
se st
il
l,i
t was an unpr
otect
ed

copul
ati
on.Icoul
dn'
twal
kpr
oper
lyt
henextday
.

Not
wit
hst
andi
ng,Iwenti
nsear
chofanymeni
alj
obt
hati
s

donebyhumanbei
ng.Iwasl
uckyt
hatday
.Igotaj
obasa

por
ter
.Iconv
eyl
oadf
orpeopl
eandIgotpai
dinr
etur
n.At

ni
ght
,Iwoul
dret
urnt
otheuncompl
etedbui
l
ding;
myabode.

Af
tersi
xweeks,Igat
her
edsomemoneyandr
ent
edar
oom,

t
houghi
twasl
ocat
edi
nasl
um.Af
teramont
h,Ist
oppedt
he
por
ti
ngj
ob.Igotempl
oyedasasal
esgi
rli
nMTeest
ore.I
t

wasar
oundt
hist
imeIdi
scov
eredIwaspr
egnant
.Iwas

scandal
i
zed.Ideci
dednott
oabor
tit
.Iwi
l
lkeept
hebaby
.I

cannotmur
derani
nnocentchi
l
d.

Iwasatwor
kthatdaywhenIf
eltpai
nbel
owmyabdomen.I

wasser
iousl
yinpai
n.Ther
ewasnoonear
ound.Myboss

had gone out f

env
ironmentwasscant
y.Noonewaspassi
ng.Ir
oll
edont
he

f
loori
ntheshop,wr
it
hingi
ngr
eatpai
n.Thi
swentonf
or

aboutf
if
teenmi
nut
es.Soon,Ibegant
ofeelweak.Myey
es

wer
ecl
osi
ng.Ev
ery
thi
ngbecamebl
urr
y..
.

Iwokeuponl
ytof
indmy
sel
fst
ari
ngatawhi
tecei
l
ing.Iwas

i
nthehospi
tal
.Anur
secamei
ntof
eelmypul
seandwent

outagai
n.Notl
ongaf
tert
hat
,mybosscamei
n.Iaskedher

how Igother
e.Thensheex
plai
ned.Iwasi
nlabour
.She

ar
ri
vedandmetmel
yi
ngont
hef
loor
.Shehadqui
ckl
ycar
ri
ed

met
othehospi
tal
.

It
henaskedaf
termybaby
.Shekeptmut
e.Thedoct
orcame
i
n;Iaskedhi
mthesamequest
ion"
Wher
eismybaby
?"The

l
ooksont
hei
rfacesai
dital
l
.Mychi
l
d,mybabyi
sdead.
..He

di
ed.Iweptpr
ofusel
y.
..Iweptuncont
rol
l
abl
y.

Af
tert
hedeat
hofmybaby
,Iaccept
edmyf
ateandmov
edon.

Ideci
dedt
ost
ayawayf
rom menasf
araspossi
ble.Ihad

suf
fer
edt
oomuchi
nthehandsofmen.Iputmypastbehi
nd

meandf
acedt
hepr
esent
.Af
teraboutay
ear
,thegoodnews

came.

Mybosswonav
isal
ott
ery
.Shewast
otr
avelt
oCanada.

Whatshe di
d bef
ore herdepar
tur
e sur
pri
sed me.She

bequeat
hedt
hest
oret
omeandgav
emeal
lthenecessar
y

document
sont
her
ati
onal
ethatIwasdi
l
igentanddedi
cat
ed.

Ibecamet
heowneroft
hest
ore.Iwasov
erj
oyed.Sheal
so

gi
vemet
hehousesheownedi
nthet
hir
dst
reett
othest
ore.

I
twasacel
ebr
ati
ongal
ore.

Icoul
dn'
thel
pbutt
hankt
heGoodLor
d.
 Chapt
erTwo

Gr
eatt
ransf
ormat
ions

"
Pat
iencei
sbi
tt
erbutt
hef
rui
tissweet
"

M
y l
i
fe wi
tnessed gr
eat t
ransf
ormat
ions.

Wi
thi
nthr
eey
ear
s,Ihadest
abl
i
shedmor
e

st
ores,super
mar
ket
sandmal
l
sacr
osst
he

count
ry.IownedmyownhouseandIhav
ethr
eecar
s.Al
lmy

ef
for
tst
heseday
shadnotgonei
nvai
n.I
fIshoul
dsi
tand

t
hinkaboutmyl
i
feagai
n,Iwoul
djustgi
vet
hankst
othe

Al
might
yGod.

Ar
oundt
hist
ime,Iwast
hir
tyt
hreey
ear
s.Iwasst
il
lver
y

at
tract
iveandcur
vy.Ist
il
ldr
ivemencr
azydespi
temyage.I

canst
il
lpassf
orat
went
yyear
sol
dpr
incess.ThoughI
'
ve

r
esol
vednev
ert
ohav
eany
thi
ngt
odowi
thmenagai
n,I

coul
dn'
thel
pbutf
all
inl
ovewi
thMr
.Sal
i
m Saf
il
.

Saf
ili
sagoodl
ooki
ngguy
.Hei
sabusi
nesst
ycoon.He
t
akesgoodcar
eofme.Henev
ermademel
acki
nany
thi
ng.

Hewasqui
teunr
uff
ledbymycount
lesscopul
ati
onswi
th

menandt
hef
actt
hatIhadhadachi
l
dbef
ore.Heaccept
ed

mef
orwhoIam.Soon,
wegotmar
ri
ed.

Ourhoney
moonwasamemor
abl
eone.Wewentt
oPar
isf
or

ourhoney
moon.Icr
uisedaboutandenj
oyedmy
sel
ftot
he

f
ull
est
.Fr
om Par
is,wewentt
oToky
o;f
rom Toky
o,wewent

t
oNewDel
hif
rom NewDel
hi,
wegotonboar
dtoLondonand

f
inal
l
y,wel
andedi
nNewYor
k.Fr
om NewYor
k,wer
etur
ned

t
oourhomel
and,Ni
ger
ia.Ay
earl
ater
,wehadamal
echi
l
d

andwenamedhi
m"Sal
l
am"
 Chapt
erThr
ee

Tr
oubl
es:I
'
mjustav
ict
im

"
Bet
teranhonestenemyt
hanaf
alsef
ri
end"

"
Theendj
ust
if
iest
hemean"

I
t
houghtmypr
obl
emswer
eov
er.
..It
houghti
twast
he

t
imet
oenj
oymyl
i
feandputbehi
ndmypast
..
.Li
tt
ledi
d

Iknowt
hatt
hecoasti
sn'
tcl
ear
..
.Li
tt
ledi
dIknowt
hat

mor
etr
oubl
esandpr
obl
emsar
eont
heway

Saf
ill
ovedmesomucht
hatIhav
en'
tthoughtf
oroncet
hat

Sal
i
m canhav
eanyext
ramar
it
alaf
fai
r.I
tast
art
edwhenSaf
il

br
oughtamai
dnamedKaf
fyhomet
oassi
stmewi
tht
he

housechor
esandt
akecar
eofSal
l
am,
ourchi
l
d.

Kaf
fywasi
nit
ial
l
yver
ydi
l
igentanddedi
cat
edt
hatIt
ookher

asmysi
ster
.Shewasasi
sterInev
erhad.Het
akesgood

car
eofSal
l
am andt
hehouse.Ev
erymor
ning,Igowor
kand

comebackl
atei
ntheni
ght
.Ist
ayathomeonl
yonweekends.
Ev
erySat
urday
,Icar
ryKaf
fyandSal
l
am f
orshoppi
ng

Sal
l
am'
sfat
heri
sal
way
sgoi
ngonbusi
nesst
ri
ps.Hei
snot

al
way
sathome.Hemaygof
orat
ri
pfort
hreemont
hs,and

st
ayhomef
ort
hreeweeks.Thenextweek,hei
sonanot
her

t
ri
p.

Ihadn'
tfor
eseeni
tear
li
er.Kaf
fywasact
ual
l
yhav
ingasexual

r
elat
ionshi
pwi
thmyhusbandbehi
ndmyback.
..Thent
he

i
nci
dentt
hatbr
oughtmet
othi
sst
atehappened.
..

Ir
etur
nedhomef
rom wor
kthatf
atef
uldayandmetKaf
fy

and my husband i
n a compr
omi
sing si
tuat
ion on our

mat
ri
moni
albed.If
elthur
t.Iscr
eamedsoheav
il
ythatmy

soncamer
unni
ngi
ntot
her
oom.Kaf
fywasunr
uff
led.Asmy

sonwasr
ushi
ngt
omeether
,sheangr
il
ypushedhi
m away

andhehi
thi
sheadagai
nstt
hewal
l
.Iwasst
il
lshockedand

cat
atoni
cbywhatIsaw.Ist
oodt
her
e,r
ivet
edt
othegr
ound,

shaki
ngl
i
keaf
lowerbyt
her
iver
side.Myhusbandt
ri
edt
o

mov
ecl
osert
omeandbegme.Al
as!I
twasawr
ongl
yti
med

mov
e.Kaf
fyhel
dakni
fet
ost
abmebutmyhusbandcamei
n
bet
weenus.Thenextt
hingwasIsawmyhusbanddr
opped

ont
hef
loor
.Il
ookedar
ound,saw mysonandmyhusband

l
yi
ngdead.

Swi
ft
ly,
theshockv
ani
shedandIwasf
il
ledwi
thr
age.I
nfur
y,

Ist
abbedKaf
fy.Idi
dnotknow whocal
l
edt
hepol
i
ce;t
he

pol
i
cecamer
ushi
ngi
nfew secondsaf
terIst
abbedher
.I

washandcuf
fedandt
akenaway
..
.Away
..
.
 Epi
logue
“
Weshal
l,
ononeday
,havet
otel
lital
l”

Sami
l
awasar
rai
gnedt
ocour
t.Af
termuchhear
ingsand

wi
tnesses,Sami
l
a was sent
enced t
otwent
yfi
vey
ear
s

i
mpr
isonmentf
ort
hemur
derofKaf
fy.

Sami
l
arev
eal
edt
hesecr
etshehadbeenkeepi
ngwi
thher
.

Shet
oldt
hewhol
ecour
tthemy
ster
ybehi
nd hermum’
s

deat
h.Shet
est
if
iedbol
dlyagai
nstherf
ather
.

MrJi
moh,Sami
l
a'sf
atherwas sent
enced t
o deat
h by

hangi
ng.He had become v
ery ol
d.He apol
ogi
zed and

beggedSami
l
atof
orgi
vehi
m.Sami
l
aaskedhi
mjustone

quest
ion"
Am Ir
eal
l
yyourchi
l
d?"Hesai
d"Yes,
youar
e.What

Iexper
ienceddur
ingmychi
l
dhoodmademef
indi
tdi
ff
icul
t

t
oval
uepeopl
e.I
'
m sosor
rydaught
er"
."Youar
efor
giv
en

f
ather
"repl
i
edSami
l
aami
dstt
ear
s“ButI
’
m sor
rydad.Ihav
e

t
otel
li
tal
l
.Ican’
tkeepi
twi
thmeany
mor
e”
Onest
atementkeptcomi
ngoutofSami
l
a'smout
h"Iam j
ust

av
ict
im.
..
"
 ABOUTTHEBOOK
“JustaVicti
m”r ecountstheli
feof
Sali
ma as a v i
cti
m of par ental
neglect
,brokenhomeandsoci etal
degradati
on.Rightf rom herbir
th
ti
lltheendofherl i
fe,Sal
imaisa
vict
im.Whatl ed to hermot her’
s
death?Whathappenedt oher?Al l
these quest ions ar e bei ng
answeredinthebook

….
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
LawalSodi qOl aitan( Dewal e)isa
teacher,speakerand a cr eat i
ve
writ
er ( poetry, dr ama, ar ti
cles,
essay s and books) . Hav ing
obtained his Secondar y School
Certif
icat
e f
rom Local
Gov ernment Secondar y
Commer ci
alSchool ,
Ogun St ate,
he is currentl
yr unning hisNCE
programme at Adeni ran
Ogunsany aCol l
egeofEducat ion
(AOCOED) ,IjanikiLagosSt ate.He
i
ssomeonewhoi spur posedr iven
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terone.