Have You Heard. By O.b.i

Have you heard, have you heard the echoes of Ese's silent sobs, did you hear her beg and curse and cry, did you hear her plead for her innocence not to be defiled. Did you hear Jide tell Ikem; "she will say no, but she actually means yes". So she said "No" but Ikem heard yes, she said "stop" but Ikem heard go on, and on he went. If you did not hear her then she won't speak anymore, because she have heard people say it is a shame, so now she believes it is a shame and she keeps her shame to her self. When next you hear Ese's story, look for Ikem and don't ask what Ese was doing in his house.

Have you heard, Have you heard Rufai's silent sobs, no, not the sobs from the hunger in his tummy or the tear in his feet,  but the sobs from the biscuit Hamid gave to him. He followed Hamid to the dark alley because dinner after a whole day on an empty belly is not a bad idea, he wanted the biscuit Hamid had in his hands, but what was the relationship between the biscuit and unzipping his  tattered pants? He never knew that, all he knows now is the pain and disgust nobody else knows. So now you know that sometimes when Rufai cries, its not always hunger.

Have you heard, have you heard  Urray's shaky voice say; "I will stay because of my children" do you see her husband's raging fist when she stares at you through the socket of a black eye covered with large sunglasses and say "I slipped and fell". Do you see her flinching and dodging from the speed of yet another skin belt, yet another night and yet another "I'm sorry Darling, I don't know what got over me" Do you hear Urray's friend, Nekki, tell her "Nobody has it easy, just try not to make him angry" and do you know 'try not to make him angry' sometimes means; don't breath. When next you see that black eye, I hope you hear her silent cry.

Have you heard, have you heard little Aisha's voice, she was only 11, and her day always started with her hawking dankuwa on the high way to speeding cars that slowed down at check points and pot holes. Every joy in her life ended the day her chest started protruding. Her father gave her out to Alhaji Adamu to be his third wife and function in the kitchen and the other room, she wished he gave her a pen and book to go to the classroom, but that was a dream too big. So now where she finds solace is in the corner of the kitchen where she drowns her pain in her tears and wish for things she can't have. You can't see her in that dark corner, but when next you see another Aisha being given out to another Adamu, please do something.