TEARS OF A BLEEDING HEART EPISODE 5

“Where is the money?” she asked again, looking furious. Mrs. Bernard’s raised voice brought Derek out of his room. “Mum, what’s going on?” Derek asked as he joined them in living room. “Ask her, my son, let her answer you.” Mrs Bernard said, gesturing at Mansa. “Mansa what is it?” Derek turned to ask her. Mansa who was still in tears answered “Mum’s money is missing and she thinks I’m the one who took it”. “Mansa, did you take it? Please tell me” Derek asked. “No Derek, I didn’t touch her money” Mansa answered. Looking at her, Derek could tell she really knew nothing about the missing money. He had to intervene on her behalf. He asked her to go to her room while he sorted things out with his mother. “Mum, how much are we talking about here?

Derek asked his mother after Mansa had left. “Why are you asking me that? I don’t know why you keep standing up for this girl!” Mrs Bernard responded. “Come on Mum, just tell me” Derek asked her again. “5,000 Naira” Mrs Bernard grudgingly answered. “5,000 Naira? Was that not the money you told Chris to take from your purse this morning for the DSTV subscription? Derek asked. Mrs Bernard’s face dropped as she remembered that she had actually already given the money she claimed was missing to Chris that morning. She was, however, too embarrassed and proud to admit her error. So she decided to stick to her story, even though she knew she was lying and falsely accusing the poor girl. She insisted the money she was looking for was not the same one she had told Chris to take.

Derek didn’t believe her. He knew his mother well enough to know when she’s hiding something or lying. But he couldn’t tell his mother that she was lying. She was already furious. He couldn’t afford to have her more angry than she already was. Derek told her he was going to pay the money and that he was going have a talk with Mansa. He said that just to calm his mother down. Mansa was going through very difficult times both at church and at home. Apparently, her foster mother had been reporting to the church Elders how that she had been stealing at home. Even though she was innocent, this rumour about Mansa’s supposed behaviour had quickly spread throughout the church. Living under Mrs Bernard’s roof was virtually becoming hell for her. She hardly smiled these days.

In fact, she cried everyday. Derek was the only person that stood by her through those difficult times. She prayed and prayed, all day and night. It seemed like things only got worse as she prayed. She was no longer comfortable at church as everyone was talking behind her back, calling her a thief. Soon, Mrs. Bernard and her two sons had to travel for a 3-day church outreach. Mansa was left alone at the house. On the first night of their departure, Mansa locked up the doors of the house and went to bed. Around 2:00 am, she woke up to hear footsteps in the hallway. She came out of her room to find out who it was but to her surprise... Guess who she saw... She was so sure of what she heard, she then went and check if she had really locked the door. It was locked, nothing had changed.

She then went back to her room and within some few minutes she was far asleep. Suddenly, her door opened slowly and someone who was dressed in all black with a mask on his face entered the room. Mansa didn't hear anything as the person slowly went closer to her bed. The only thing that woke her up was when her nose was suddenly covered with a handkerchief to prevent her from inhaling fresh air. Within some few seconds she become weak, it appeared that there was some sort of a substance in the handkerchief that made her weak, helpless and vulnerable. The unknown person then striped her naked and raped her that instant. He went away right after this, leaving Mansa bleeding profusely. She was a virgin until that night.
 To be continued…