Do not walk in the same path I did.
Do not be afraid.
Speak out. Do not be silent.
Do not suffer in silence.
You deserve to be heard.
Or else, you will end up just like me.
Six feet underground!
I kept silent; endured the abuse.
Praying to God to please make it end.
Everyday I was a punching bag,
Each time he lost his temper.
A slap after slap; a kick after kick and a punch after punch.
And I blamed myself,
“Why did I make him angry?”
No one really cared.
It was my pain all alone.
But why wouldn’t it be?
With a society so uncaring and just looks the other way?
His family: “What did you do to him?”
My father: “He is the head of the household. Just listen to him.”
My mother: “Do not anger him.”
Community: “Submit to him. You are his wife.”
The makeup was to mask the bruises.
The long skirts and sleeves to hide the shame.
The pills to help ease the pain.
And the lack of friends of not wanting to raise suspicion on your father.
It was a struggle to get through each day.
And now today
You are standing on my blood.
He went too far this time.
He couldn’t stand being questioned or his ego getting hurt.
His fists did the talking for him.
And here you are
Staring at your mother’s lifeless body.
Because I kept silent.
For professional help and counselling, call one of these numbers: Reach out to SADAG counselling 0800 567 567 (toll-free counselling between 8am and 8pm), STOP Gender based violence: 0800 150 150