Her birthday eve……….. A short story
Annie rolled on the bed and checked the time for the umpteenth time that night. It was her 18th birthday’s eve and for the first time in three years she was excited about her day. Annie‘s mum came inside her room and smiled at her beautiful daughter, she sat at the side of the bed and drew her close to herself. Annie , her mother called and said to her, ‘we could stop the preparations if you want’. Annie looked into her mother’s eyes and smiled,
she was indeed happy and joy filled her heart. The mother could not fathom the change in her daughter and ever since she has requested for a birthday party she has been scared to question her wish. In a moment she flashed back to the day her daughter made the request.
It was a bright afternoon after a heavy rainfall that kept the inhabitants of Lagos indoors for hours; Annie came back from school and rushed inside the living room. She hugged her mum and said mum, I will be 18 next month mum, her mum was shocked at the excitement in her daughter and her heart sorrowed. Annie shook her mum passionately and said aloud, jumping up, ‘mum I want a big party and please inform dad about it as soon as he gets back because I might have gone to bed’. Mrs Okon was surprised at her daughters sudden change and after watching her sing happily to her room, she called her father. ‘Honey, I can’t understand Annie, she is asking for a birthday party, ‘I am scared’ Mrs Okon related to her husband who reassured her that all is well and that he will soon be home.
Mr Okon came home early and they all ate dinner together as a happy family. There was an unusual silence at the table that night and Annie decided to break the silence. Mum, dad I want a big party for my 18th birthday she said with all smiles, the couple looked at each other and again at Annie. The statement she made caused a sort of tension and to ease the tension Mr Okon held her daughters hand lovingly and said to her ‘anything for my princess’.
The clock chimed eleven times and Annie’s spirit was brighter than before, she hugged her mum sweetly and said ‘mum its one hour to my birthday, please I need some time to be alone, I love you mum’. Mrs Okon’s heart raced and fear gripped her, Annie could sense the fear in her mother’s eyes, she smiled and told her mum, ‘mum , I am healed’. With a heavy heart, her mum left her room and closed the door behind her. Even though she was happy that her daughter has been happy for some months now, she was scared that her birthday could spoil the happiness.
Mrs Okon couldn’t hold back the tears from her eyes, as she flashed back to her daughters 16th birthday.
Annie being the only child of her parent was loved and pampered; the couple watched their young beautiful daughter grow into a young lady. They have planned a classy sweet 16 birthdays for their beautiful daughter and the party was to start by 12 noon. By 10 am Mrs Okon knocked Annie’s door to check on the beautiful birthday girl only to find her daughter in blood and breathing faintly.
She was raped by four boys, and she couldn’t remember who they were. Within 1 hour on her 16th birthday her chastity was destroyed.
Since the incidence, Annie was not been the same, she was depressed and for several months she had to take sessions with psychologists.
The thought of the memory scared her and she rushed back to her daughter’s room, she opened the door gently and peeped on her. She was surprised to see her daughter on her knees praising and worshiping God. Mrs Okon knelt beside her daughter and praised God along with her, by 11:45 pm, she said amen and she smiled at her mother
Annie held her mum’s hand and said mum am healed, this is a new Annie. My pains are gone and I am set free, I can’t continue to dwell in the pains of the past. All my pains have been nailed to the cross and I am a new creature.
One day, am going to love a man and spend the rest of my life with him like you and dad. I will soon be 18 years old mum, and the best gift I can give myself is to forgive. Even though the memory is still there but the pain is gone. Christ has healed my pain.
The clock chimed 12 times and Mr Okon knocked the door, happy birthday my princess, I have been waiting at the door for about 15 minutes, waiting for 12 am so as to wish you a happy birthday.
