(Summayah’s POV) I was ten years old. I remember sitting on the floor of my room, quietly playing with my toys, when my parents started fighting again, just like they always did. It was never new, but it never hurt any less. Not once did they stop to think about how I felt.
Then I heard my mother’s voice getting closer, her footsteps heading toward my door. My chest tightened. I froze.
But it wasn’t her.
The door flung open.
It was Bolaji.
Bolaji (shouting): Ehhhhhh! You!
Summayah (trembling, getting up quickly): S-sir… (her voice shaking, body sweating)
Bolaji (dragging her): Come here!
Narrator: He grabbed me roughly and dragged me out, not caring if I stumbled or got hurt. My feet struggled to keep up with him. Before I could even understand what was happening, he pushed me hard into the living room.
My head slammed against the wall.
Summayah (crying out): Auuuuuchhhh!
Narrator: Pain shot through my head, but what hurt more was what I saw next. My siblings were on the floor, crying. My mother too.
That was when my tears came.
Bolaji (pointing at Summayah): Now you all listen! Tell your prostitute mother to confess, whose ugly child is this?! Look at the rest of you, beautiful and bright. But look at her face, swollen like an amoeba! Woman, if you don’t tell me whose child she is, I swear you will never have peace in this house. In fact, I will send you and her out of my life!
Narrator: Adewunmi tried to rush to me, but he yanked her back so violently she almost fell.
Bolaji: If you go near her again, I won’t hesitate to kill you! Now all of you, leave my sight, except this monster!
Narrator: My siblings scattered immediately, running into their rooms like frightened birds. Only Adewunmi stayed. Even then, she kept begging me with her eyes to go back to my room.
Adewunmi (begging in tears): Please, Baba Suliyah, this child doesn’t deserve this hatred. She is your child. What happened to her face was because of how you beat me during pregnancy. It is not her fault. Stop treating her this way, I beg you!
Bolaji (furious, hitting the table): Do you know how many insults I have received because of this witch? My friends and family mock me because of her! I can’t take it anymore. You have two weeks to tell me who her father is, or I swear by God, I will kill her myself!
Narrator: He stormed out, his footsteps heavy and angry, leaving silence behind him. I was curled up in the corner, crying uncontrollably.
Adewunmi ran to me and held me tightly.
Adewunmi (weeping): I’m so sorry, my baby. Please don’t cry. Everything will be fine…
Narrator (Summayah’s POV): I buried myself in her arms, wishing I could disappear inside her, where nothing could hurt me.
Then suddenly, the door flew open again.
Bolaji (shouting): Why aren’t you ready for school? And you! (pointing at his wife) Instead of you preparing her for school, if she is not going to school again, tell me now so I won’t waste my money on this ugly thing! Anyway, where is my food?
Narrator: Adewunmi quickly removed my hands from her body, as if she was afraid my touch would bring more trouble. She rushed out. Bolaji followed and slammed the door so hard it shook the room.
The sound echoed inside me.
I broke down completely.
Summayah (weeping): Why was I born? Why was I born into this family? I want to die!
(Lights shift. Days later. A road scene. Children surround Summayah.)
Boy 1: Hey, you!
Narrator: I stopped walking. Before I could move again, they surrounded me. Their laughter came sharp and cruel.
Boy 2: Look at her face! Are you a girl or a boy? How can we even identify you? You should be covering your face, it’s scary!
Summayah (pleading): Leave me alone! Let me go!
Narrator: They didn’t listen. Hands shoved me from one side to another. Feet stepped on me. I lost my balance and fell hard to the ground. Dust covered my clothes. My knees burned.
I cried out for help, but no one came.
Until one stranger did.
Stranger (angrily at the kids): What are you doing to her?
Narrator: He raised his hand, ready to strike them, and they ran off immediately, leaving me there, shaking, dirty, and bruised.
He bent down beside me.
Stranger (helping her up, kindly): Are you okay? I hope you’re not hurt anywhere.
Summayah (without looking up): I’m fine… thank you, sir.
Stranger: Look at me, dear. Why won’t you raise your head?
Narrator: Slowly, with fear creeping through me, I lifted my face.
The moment he saw me, his expression changed. Shock. Pity. Confusion.
Stranger (softly, troubled): What happened to your face?
Narrator: I couldn’t speak. My throat closed up. Fear took over.
I turned and ran.
Stranger (calling after her): Hey, wait! I’m not going to hurt you!
(Lights fade. Scene shifts to Adewunmi’s shop.)
Adewunmi (narrating her POV): I sat in my shop, glancing at the road every few seconds. Ten minutes had passed, and Summayah was still not here.
Her siblings sat nearby, eating, unaware of the storm building in my chest.
Adewunmi (calling): Abdullahi!
Abdullahi (with food in hand): Yes, Mum?
Adewunmi: Your sister isn’t here yet. I’m worried. Please, trace her for me.
Abdullahi: Okay, Mum, let me wear my shoes.
Narrator: Just then, I saw her.
From a distance.
Running. Crying.
My heart dropped.
Adewunmi (rushing forward): Is that not Summayah?!
Zulaykhoh (curious): Yes, she’s the one. (shrugs) I’m going back to my food.
Adewunmi (shocked, as Summayah enters): Summayah! Why are your clothes dirty like this? And why are you crying?
Summayah (stammering, in tears): Mama… I was on my way here when some children attacked me. They beat me and trampled on me. One uncle rescued me… but they called me names… they said I should cover my face because I’m scary…
Narrator (Adewunmi’s POV): I pulled her into my arms immediately.
Adewunmi (gently): It’s okay, my dear. All will be fine, okay? You are beautiful inside. If they don’t see what I see, that’s their blindness. Now come and eat.
Zulaykhoh (curiously, without malice): But Mom, why is her face like this? Why isn’t she as beautiful as I am?
Adewunmi (furious): Shut your dirty mouth! Who told you you’re beautiful? Have you checked the mirror? Instead of encouraging your sister, you’re adding fuel to the fire! If I ever hear any of you speak badly about her again, you won’t like what I’ll do!
Narrator: I held Summayah close, served her food, and watched her eat.
But my heart would not rest.
How long will the world keep hurting her?
When will she finally know peace?
(Lights fade. Later that night. A dim room. Summayah is doing her homework. She hears her father shouting.)
Narrator (Summayah’s POV): It was 8:30 pm. I sat at my small desk, trying to focus on my assignment, but then I heard Bolaji’s voice.
Louder than usual.
I moved closer and peeped.
It was Adewunmi again.
My chest tightened.
She was suffering because of me.
Bolaji (dragging her to the food): What kind of stupid food is this? Come here!
Narrator: He grabbed her and forced the food into her mouth. She struggled, choking, trying to breathe.
My siblings began to cry.
Bolaji (furiously): Did you tell me who that stupid child’s father is? Did you?!
Narrator: Something inside me broke.
Summayah (pleading in tears): Dad, please… you’re hurting Mom!
Narrator: The moment I spoke, everything changed.
He turned.
And then he pushed me.
Hard.
I fell, my face hitting the ground again.
Adewunmi (screaming): Please, Baba Suliyah! See how you pushed her! Let her be!
Bolaji (furious, walking to Summayah): How dare she interfere? Did the rest of you talk? Who gave her the audacity to face me?!
Narrator: He grabbed me and began to beat me mercilessly. Blow after blow. My body burned with pain.
Adewunmi fought to reach me, but he pushed her away like she was nothing.
I screamed.
No one came.
Adewunmi (POV): My husband beat my innocent child without stopping. I tried everything I could, but he shoved me away until I fell to the floor. My body was weak, my strength gone. I could hear her siblings crying loudly, but I could do nothing except beg.
Adewunmi: Baba Suliyah, please, for Allah’s sake, don’t kill her!
Summayah: Mom!!! Help me, save me!!
Zhulaykoh: Daddy, stop! (in tears)
Adewunmi (POV): We all froze when she stood up. Even in fear, she found the courage to face him.
He stopped.
That was my chance.
With the little strength I had left, I rushed forward, pulled Summayah away from him, and held her tightly. Her body felt weak in my arms, her skin burning with heat.
Something inside me shattered.
I cried out, loud and broken, like something trapped with no escape.
Babatunde: I will let her go for your sake. Do you know why? Because you are so beautiful and intelligent, just like me. You are indeed my daughter. The rest are bastards, even you, Abdullah! At least you are not ugly, but there is nothing in your head, just like your stupid mother! (panting and sweating)
Adewunmi (POV): I saw the shock on Abdullah’s face. The words hit him deeply.
Babatunde: You know what? I will use your school fees to pay for a DNA test, because I can’t live in this house with bad luck like you. We are going to the hospital tomorrow. But if I find out you are not my child, I swear I will piece your flesh like a butcher pieces cow meat, you and your mother! I won’t spare either of you! Since you were born, my business has been running down. I can barely enjoy my life like I used to. You better wish you are a bastard, because the way I will make your life a living hell, you will wish you were never born! (yells angrily and walks out of the house)
Adewunmi (POV): The door slammed.
Silence followed, heavy and suffocating.
I held her tighter.
Adewunmi: It’s okay, my baby. Mummy is here. I will protect you till my final breath. (in tears) I wish he was dead!
Adewunmi (POV): Zhulaykoh and Abdullah came closer and wrapped themselves around us.
Then we all broke.
Our cries filled the room, loud, helpless, and endless.