13 years old, lying on the bathroom floor,

crying.

She just gave birth to a baby.

What is she to do?

She can’t have it.

There is no way she can keep it.

She picks it up and wraps it and

heads out.

She hid her pregnancy so well.

It’s not like anyone would’ve noticed.

Mother an alcoholic and father unknown.

Her mother’s life revolved around the bottle.

Oblivious to the fact Noni was sexually abused

by her uncle.

Everynight, her mother went gallivanting, he would

‘visit.’

Taking advantage of the girl’s innocence and

her mother’s neglect.

Noni kept quiet.

Maybe because she didn’t know what was

done to her was wrong or

she didn’t have anyone to tell it to.

Assaulted by a molestor, who would give her

money after each ordeal,

probably to shut her up.

Noni is still a child.

She is scared and doesn’t know what to do.

With the baby in her hands, her arms are shaking,

about to do the biggest sin of them all.

She does the unthinkable and then takes the road

that leads home.

Now she returns to normal life with scars for life.

Returns to her life with a dysfunctional parent.

Who doesn’t know she has a grandchild

somewhere, lying and crying in a rubbish bin.

Cold and hungry.