My mother bought food and we ate. Three hours passed and we were in Marondera, left with an hour before we got home. My heart rejoiced because all the agony was over, I would tell my mother the truth so that I will never return. It will be sad for my father and my second mother who were bonding with me. If it wasn’t because of my stepbrothers, I wouldn’t let my father and second mother down.

We arrived in Harare and dropped out of the bus in town. My uncle was waiting for us, he hugged me and carried the bags to the car. He drove us to my mother’s new place. She stayed in a 4 roomed flat with a fitted bathroom.

“Finally we are home,” she shouted happily and threw herself on the couch.

“Sister I am going. Shamiso enjoy your stay, will see you soon, bye,” he said and walked out as soon he put the bags in my mother’s flat. We were now alone. I sat on the other couch and my mother sat properly and stared at me.

“Now tell me what’s going on,” she said, taking a breath. I didn’t know where to begin. I started to cry. She stood up and sat close to me. “What did they do to you? Shami?” she said in low voice, holding my shoulder.

“You won’t be angry with me?” I asked and stared at her eyes. She was my mother. I had missed her calling me Shami and her wanting me to be happy. “Bright and Lovemore raped me,” I said avoiding her eyes. I began to shake; my whole body shook as if I was cold. I was so afraid.

“What? How the hell can they do this to you?” she shouted and stood up. She couldn’t digest what I have said. I told her everything then she sat there and cried with me and consoled me. “I am sorry, my child. I will fix this I promise, they must be punished,” she sobbed on my shoulder.

“I…. I… I don’t want to go back,” I screamed. She hugged me tightly as we both cried.

My mother called my father on his phone with no reply. She promised to protect me and find justice for me. She assured me that rape will never happen to me as long as she lives. I felt safe and free but was afraid of any males, even from my mother’s family.

A week passed and my father arrived at my mother’s place unannounced. I was in the kitchen doing dishes when I heard his voice.

“Saru, what is so urgency?” he said harshly.

“Sit down Gerald, we need to talk about Shami,” she answered. My father sat down and then my mother took a breath. I went by the door to hear what my mother will say. I hoped my father would believe me.

“What is so urgent? Did something happen to her?” he asked curiously.

“I don’t think she can come back to Mutare. I will look for a school here, she is not safe with your sons,” she said in a low voice.

My father looked shocked and took a deep breath. “What about our agreement… Wait, you said she is not safe with my sons? What did they do to her?” he asked curiously.

“They continuously raped her. She is not safe there,” she said as he stood up to face the other wall.

“What? How did it possible happen? The boys love her. I’ve never seen them…” he said ambushed.

“It happens when you are back at work,” she said louder. He sat down to digest what my mother had said. I stood by the door and he saw me eavesdropping on them.

“Shami, come sit down,” he said waving his hand. I went and sat next to my mother. I was scared so I looked down. I was wondering what he would say. “Is it true, Shami, the boys have been raping you?” he asked.

I knew he cares about me but was afraid he would call me a liar and believe my stepbrothers. I was so emotional and tears dropped down my face. I started to cry, thinking of the way they kept abusing me without anyone knowing.

“It’s OK Shami, I just want to know if it’s true,” he said and knelt before me and held my hands. I nodded. I told him everything that the boys did to me. He consoled me and I could see in his eyes that he was hurt. He sat down and looked at my mother as if he was trying to find a solution in her eyes.

“Saru, please don’t report this to the police, it will separate my family, I will discipline my sons,” he said perplexed.

“What about Shami? She deserves justice?” she answered angrily.

“I will sort it out,” he answered and leaned back on the couch.

“I can no longer give you my daughter but you have to pay maintenance,” she said her heart aching. He nodded and hugged me and left. I could see my father was embarrassed and offended. The news came in as a shock to him. I hoped he punish them. I hated them.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think of Gerald’s decision to keep this a secret? What would you do if you parent did that?