“Father-in-law, my marriage is falling apart. I don’t know what to do.” Jessica said, unhappy.

“Maybe what the two boys did is coming back to them.” Gerald said, confused. Jessica stared at him quietly; there was something he was not telling her. She wanted to know but he wouldn’t say.

*****

Bright sat in his office confused, wishing he had made his move on that girl at the restaurant. That type of woman was the one he craved for.

Cynthia brought cooked meals to his office. He wasn’t himself.

“Baby, I need money to do my hair,” she nagged him. Bright was in his own world, he didn’t even hear what she had requested. “Bright, can you even hear me?” she shouted loudly.

“What? What did you say?” he asked, confused. Before she could answer, Gerald entered his office. Bright was surprised. Was there trouble at home?

“Dad, what are you doing here?” he asked as he stood up. Cynthia stood and up looked at them both. Bright made a sign for her to leave. Gerald waited for the woman to go away.

“Who is she? You have a wife,” he scolded him and sat down.

“A woman who cheats with my own bother and is pregnant with his child,” he said rudely.

“Don’t forget your own sins, son,” he calmed him down.

“Baba that’s so unfair…” he sighed.

“Was it fair when you raped an innocent child, your blood and your sister?” he said quietly.

Bright remembered how innocent Shamiso was when he used to give her sweets. To know that he and Lovemore forced themselves on a little girl, he wondered what made them do that.

“My son, this seems to go in on our family.” Gerald spoke calmly.

“What do you mean Baba?” he asked anxiously. Gerald told him about him and his brothers raping their step-sisters.

The matter wasn’t reported; they solved it as a family. All the brothers cheated when they married. Their family was full of secrets and they carried on for generations. Bright sat on the chair behind a desk with his mind feeling as if he could pass out. These fornications will always happen in the family and the brothers rape their sisters.

As the day ended, Bright went straight to the bar. He ordered a Castle Lite and drank. He then noticed the same girl in the restaurant. She was with a man looking cosy. They were laughing and holding hands. The man stood and went away and she sat alone. It’s time to make a move, he told his head.

“Hey baby girl, I see you around…” he chuckled. He sat down and Shamiso stood up. He then grabbed her hand.

“Do you think you can rape me and keep quiet?” she shouted angrily.

Bright let her go after she uttered those words.

“Who are you?” he asked calmly.

“I am the girl you raped. I am Shamiso. Stay away from me or I will report you,” she shouted, offended.

Everyone stared at them both. She rushed away and left.

Bright’s heart couldn’t settle down after the incident in the bar. He met Shamiso and didn’t recognise her. He was ashamed. He sat in the darkness, watching his wife sleep beside him.

If only they didn’t lose contact, but how? Shamiso would never forgive him for raping her. She was a sister whom he should have protected, but what did he do instead? He raped her so many times.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think families still keep secrets like this or are women and children speaking out more?