The Story of Fatimah

Hello…
I’m Fatimah. A girl of 14 years old.

I’m about to tell you the story of my life and it doesn’t mean I’m happy about everything that happened to me, but I just have to say it so that others can learn from it. My DAD and MOM are no longer together, they separated a long time ago. So I started living with my dad, at the age of 9, my cousin (Dad’s elder sister’s son) raped me. I didn’t take it any serious because I didn’t know what happened to me, after all I was only just 9.

So, when I was at my Big Mummy’s place, Older friends that talk about boyfriends and all that were discussing ,they didn’t let me sit down with the, in other to feel among I talked about KY RAPE experience, they said it was a bad thing and suggest that I should tell my big mommy, I felt ashamed and started crying. I told her, she screamed and then told me it was a bad thing. That my cousin sleeping with me is really bad and that I should tell my mom.

When I told my mom, she cried and cried, maybe because she felt ashamed, I never knew the gravity of what has happened, until I learnt that I had lost my virginity and virginity is a woman’s pride.

After telling mum we took to the family,my mum having explained my ordeal to the family, we all wept. I saw my dad whom I loved so much and cry saying it isn’t possible,my cousin couldn’t have done such.He even abused my mom for forming such a story,after which I was taken to the hospital to checkup and cleanup.Some years later, I started talking to my father and my whole family members again.

It’s just so annoying to talk further but I have to finish my story. My parents separated at the age of 4,I started living with my mom and my step-father her new husband.And it was another ordeal again for me. My step-father didn’t like me living with the(my step-siblings inclusive) but I stayed all the same. The first night I spent there,mum and her husband had a fight.I was soon to know that he beats her up,whenever they had a fight and this changed my impression about him.

A day came and he showed me his true color. I was exhausted,I just returned from school,my step-kid brother said he wanted to defecate and I couldn’t help him because I was tired, I fell asleep. Before I got up, he had defecated on himself and it was that very moment my step-father came in. He took off his clothes then tied a wrapper round his waist and started beating me,he hit my head on the wall and it swelled up,it got so big that I couldn’t feel nothing. But that didn’t mean he stopped.

He beat me to a point where I couldn’t walk with my legs, the only thing he didn’t do that day was to sexually abuse me. When my mom got back to discover what had happened to me, she yelled at him making him see reasons that he did wrong. He pushed me and my mum out that night, and we slept out in the cold. It was such a painful experience I was deeply hurt, I just felt sad for mum, but yes! we had no choice, we endured.

As if  that’s not enough, a day came and he that he claimed to be waking me up at about 6:30am and he was fumbling my breasts,usually am the kind of person that gets awake only after water was poured on me, but on this day I was half awake and I became suspicious of him thereafter. The torture didn’t stop, anytime I offended him, I automatically knew that I have acquired another scar. My whole body was full of scars and my neighbors doubt he is my dad, only few knew the truth.

There was this particular day I almost did him harm but God didn’t let, it was around 2:00am,him and mum had a fight and he started beating her, somehow she escaped out of his hands and I couldn’t do my wish.

I have experienced so much in my life, these little years I have spent on earth. A lot has happened that I can’t finish saying.Mind you I’m not happy about everything that has happened to me but all glory be to God because there are some who experienced something similar who are already dead.

Often I feel aroused even as a young lady, maybe when I read novels or stuffs, but I know it has something to do with my past,and I know with time I would learn to control my present.

It’s not like I’m happy telling you this but I have to because there are people who will learn from it and those of you on social media who plays the “Truth or Dare” game, for instance, with your boyfriend and he asks you to send your nude, it’s improper; that’s where it starts from. A ladies’ pride is her virginity which isn’t good to be given carelessly to any man. As a lady, you should dress properly and watch the kind of lifestyle you live. You should learn from my story because it would really help.

Although, I didn’t say it well because I’m not good at this but you have to help me take it and accept it just the way I have said it. I know my situation is still fair, better and okay but I know I’ve have known hatred when some just assume by saying “I don’t think this girl is a virgin” .

It hurts me because its the truth, and not cause its my fault. Since, experience has taught me, anyhow I am addressed, I would neither be ashamed nor embarrassed. That pain has stabbed me to death to the extent that I won’t shed a tear or say anything if you curse me about my virginity because I know that’s how God wants it.

I’ll like to advise all girls out there to be extremely careful, watch who you talk to, friends you keep, know the family you come from too, and you should always pray because in everything in this life, we have to involve God. I’m a Muslim and I know I’m not the prayerful type but no prayer is a waste.

Losing your virginity doesn’t mean life has ended, as a girl and you focus on your studies, have your talent and pursue it. Just know you’re a big person in life, no man should have the courage to override you. There are some virgins in their husbands house who get beaten every day, their husbands don’t even respect them.

Virginity is our pride but you know, it’s the way you present yourself you’ll be taken. For those of you who have similar issue with me, life hasn’t ended, focus on your studies and always be prayerful, chase your dreams to be successful in life and everything will come out successfully and that is what I’m pursuing. Please I beg you, pray for me. I want to become a Yoruba presenter and an entrepreneur. That’s my dream in life and I want men to respect me. Help me pray always for God’s help.

Shout out to all girls initiative. ****

Fatimah, speaking from somewhere in Nigeria. Wow!!! And she’s only just 14 Nigerians that what the girl child is facing! Please help this child. Its up to you, its up to us.

N.B: On how to help her contact me via my email, olaolu.swaggapearl@gmail.com.