Tic, tac, tic, tac… The seconds were counting; time was coming for the Angel of Death to take her away from this material world. Even breathing was difficult right now; for each breath of air she took, an acute pain in the chest she felt.

A drop of tear could be seen running down up to her ear. Unable to move, she lay on her death bed, with sole occupation to go over her life, once again.

“Allirea! Where are you?! Come down here, immediately!”

“Coming mother, coming.”

And she was welcomed by a slap on her face.

“What are you doing here? And… what’s that in your hand?”

She was referring to the book the teenager was holding in her hand.

“A test? Why do you need to go to school? You already have a job and you should thank Mr Jacy for that. Ungrateful bitch! You’re just as worthless as your father.”

“Thank him? Or thank you for having slept with him?!”

And she was answered by yet another slap…

Her childhood had always been full of beatings and slaps and insults. So had been her teenage life. And Jacy… How she remembered him… Too well, to tell you the truth though, she hadn’t thought of him in months.

Allirea was sleeping is her small, dark bedroom. She was awakened by a whisper and before she could make out anything, a hand was over her mouth.

“Shhh, don’t you say anything…”

Jacy, she recognised his voice at once.

Everything went so quickly that she didn’t even have time to protest. She felt her nightgown being lifted and him forcibly spreading her legs. She tried to struggle, to stop him, but what could a frail teenager like her do when such a big man was holding her down. He was merciless, forcing himself into her, going deeper and deeper.

“You tell your mother anything about tonight, and trust me, there ain’t gonna be no one worse than me.”

She was filled with pain just at the thought of what happened that night and afterwards. She was pregnant, with that filth’s child. She went to see him but what did she get as answer?

“I won’t allow a whore to work here. You’re fired!”

He had said that in front of everybody, for everyone’s ears. Not only had she lost her job but somewhere she could call home too. She was beaten everyday, ill treated all along, but still home was home. She could still feel her father’s scent. If only he had been there…

© 2007, Nussaïbah. Some Rights Reserved.