Ayomide Benedicta Lawrence

Lagos, Nigeria

Light

Her stilettos flew swiftly, landing on my skull. An electronic current passed through my frail body. When she was done, I felt like I was stung all over by scorpions. I watched her shower love on the other children. Why was I different? I couldn’t please her no matter what I did. It’s not my fault that my skin is darker, that I can’t twist my tongue to speak the way she did. I tried but failed so many times. Perhaps I was not trying hard enough. My little brain couldn’t concoct a new strategy. I lived in the dark all my life, I became a breathing corpse. I felt no greater pain anymore. My life was at its peak. I was only eight. I wished I could just have a taste of what the other children got daily. I will keep longing for it till I am no more.

Seasons pass and I still breathe. This time, the air was clean air. I am no longer a corpse. Though my scars are engraved all over my body and soul, I can smile now. I have seen the end of my tunnel, and it’s light.