ABUSED

Day One: At Home.
Arinola couldn't fathom her daughter's recent behaviour. Ever since she returned home after her SSCE, she had chosen to live like a recluse, locking herself in her room and barely desiring to come down even at meal times. Just then, her husband walked into the room. "Ade mi, I was just thinking about Tumininu. Have you noticed that she has been rather quiet these past four months she returned from school." His brows arched, "Really? I thought she was spending time preparing for her SAT and TOEFL exams. She could also be experiencing some hormonal changes or she had a terrible breakup. She might be missing her friends, you know how children of nowadays can be."
She shook her head. "Hmmm, No. I think it's more than that, but I just don't know how to figure it out. Besides, I don't even have the time", She spread out her hands. "I'll be out of town tonight to meet with some clients. I think I'll just take her to Amaka, that my psychologist friend, she should be able to help", she said.
"Okay then, if you think that'll help our daughter, why not" He shrugged. "You have my full support, dear."
Arin got up from her dressing table, bag in hand and walked out of the room to Tumininu's room. She opened the door and saw her reading a book.
"Tumininu, get dressed. There's someone I want you to meet today." she ordered. "And please be fast. I'm already running late for my meeting as it is." She added.
Tumininu rolled her eyes. "Yes, ma." It was just typical of her mother to expect her to do something without enough notice.
"You better not be rolling your eyes at me, young lady!" Arinola shouted from the stairs.


Day 1: Doctor Amaka's Office.
Amaka observed the girl seated in front of her. She was slouched sideways on the chair across her desk, eyes distant. The girl couldn't be more than fifteen. Amaka noted she had pretty eyes just like her mother, Arin. But in those same eyes, Amaka could see a frightened child. Arin had mentioned on the phone that she felt there was something wrong, Amaka couldn't agree more.

"Hello dear", Amaka tried to engage her.
There was no response.
"You know, your mother and I have been friends for a while now. We met in secondary school. We were just about your age." she smiled as she added.
Silence.
"Wow, this must be bigger than I thought," Amaka muttered.
She decided to try another approach.
"Look, I’m guessing you don’t want to be here, but you can at least try to say something, like tell me what your name is, so you’ll be out of here fast, and I can have something to tell your mother when she asks about how our session went."
"Tumininu, and you know my name already. My mom must have told you." She replied, without looking at Amaka.
"Riiight." Amaka pursed her lips. "Well, that’s a beautiful name dear." She added.
Tumininu shrugged.
"So, why do you think your mum brought you here?"
Silence.
"Hmmm -seems like we’re back at square one- Tumininu, can I call you Tumi?" Amaka asked.
She shrugged.
"You know your parents are quite worried about you. They think there’s something wrong. They love you that’s why they brought you here."
"They don’t!" She replied sharply.
Amaka was taken aback. "How do you mean they don’t?"

She faced Amaka. Her voice was stern. “They don’t. My mom doesn’t have my time. She’s always away on some business trip, and when she’s home, she’s locked up in her room writing reports. She can’t love me.” She seemed to be lost in thought again as she continued, her voice dropping so low that Amaka could barely hear her. “And my father, he’s just a beast.”

Amaka was shocked at how Tumininu felt about her parents. She desired to convince her that she was wrong. But what if she was right?
"Have you tried to talk to them about how you feel?" she asked softly.
"It wouldn’t matter." She replied with a glint in her eyes.
Amaka leaned forward, "I’m really sorry you feel this way, dear."
"Look, I just want to go back to my room okay. You can tell my mom that our session went just fine" Tumininu interrupted. She stood and walked to the door.
Amaka sat straight and folded her arms. "Fine. We’ll continue tomorrow. That’s what I’ll tell your mum"
Tumininu stopped and looked back at Amaka. "What?" The lady must be joking. She must think she was like her one of her patients who had a few missing screws in their head.
"I said I’ll tell your mom that we agreed to have another session tomorrow."
Tumininu chuckled mirthlessly. "Whatever" she said as she slammed the door.
Amaka sighed, "This one’s gonna be tough."


Day 1: Back at Home.
"Tumininu, you're back already?" her dad smiled as she entered the living room.
She nodded. "Good afternoon sir."
"So, how did your session with the psychologist go?" he asked
"Fine sir."
"That's good. Why don't you come and give your daddy a hug?"
She declined. "Come now" He smiled at her sheepishly. His arms were stretched out. She went to him.
"That's my Tumi baby", he said as he rubbed her back, pulled her closer and started to cuddle her.
She pulled back and tried to wriggle her body out of his tight embrace. "No daddy, not today. I'm tired. I want to rest."
"What do you mean no?" His demeanour changed suddenly. She caught the flash of his eyes just as he grabbed her shoulders and threw her against the sofa. "I'm your Father and you will obey me, you hear that!" She curled up and was shaking her head. 'Daddy please!' she cried. He yanked at her, his nails clamping into her flesh. She winced and fell to the cold tiled floor. Her back hurt from the impact.
'I said do you hear that?' He bellowed as he grabbed her left arm. His bulky figure bent over her.
"Yes, sir." She whimpered. He hissed and dragged her into his room, and threw on the bed.

Day 2. Doctor's Amaka's Office
Tumininu sat on the couch in Amaka's office this time. She leaned back, feeling relaxed by the ocean view from Amaka's office. The waves were soothing, reminding her of childhood; when she was still innocent and when her parents were still caring. The days before her father transformed into the devil that he now is. What kind of father decides to abuse his only daughter? If only she had enough strength to fight him or even some gut to tell her mom. She sniggered - Mom?- Mom is subsumed in her own world. She probably wouldn't believe her anyway. Tumininu hated them, both of them! She just wanted to pass her exams and escape from their reach forever. They could be sure they were never going to see her again.

Amaka had been watching her since she came in. Her face twitching and contorting in different ways like a woman in labour. What could be plaguing the girl, she wondered.
"Tumi dear", she sought her attention.
Tumininu sat straight, called back from her thoughts.
"Errrm, tell me about your childhood dear"
Tumininu smiled. At least there was a time when things were good. She recounted experiences from her childhood to Amaka. How she had received tons of love being the only child. Her father, now a senior advocate married her mother, a successful business consultant in her thirties. They had to wait for another nine years before they had her. Her mom was forty one when she was born, and dad would be fifty-eight on the same day Tumininu would clock sixteen. But things changed. Mom got promoted at her job. She had to travel a lot, so she wasn’t available anymore. Dad opened his private practice as a lawyer, and he worked from home most times. "That was when he... that’s all." She heaved a sigh and stared out of the window.
"That was when what, Tumininu?" Amaka asked, ignoring her last statement. It was obvious there was more.
"Nothing." She replied.
"Tumininu, you can talk to me. That’s why I’m here. That’s why you’re here." Amaka said imploringly.
"I can’t." She broke into sobs. "You wouldn’t understand."
"I can try" Amaka pleaded.
Tumininu held her face in her hands, "Mom wouldn’t understand."
"But you’re hurting, Tumininu. If you don’t tell her then you’ll be right, she would never understand. But dear, that was why she brought you here. She wants to understand what’s going on, Tumininu." Amaka pressed.
The sobs got louder this time.
Amaka prodded some more, "Is it your dad? Did he hurt you?"
'I can’t talk about it’, she screamed amidst tears.
Amaka wasn’t going to let the matter off so easily. "Did he tell you that?"
Tumininu still crying, spluttered.
It’ll destroy our home -and everything he’s worked for- Mom, mom will be broken, she’ll be shattered if she finds out.”
Amaka walked over to sit by her on the couch. "Finds out what?"
Tumininu shook her head vehemently.
"Finds out what Tumininu?" Amaka urged.
"He’s been making me sleep with him, Doctor Amaka. Ever since I returned from school, he forces me to do it every time mom is away. He says he is my dad and I cannot disobey. I don’t know what I did wrong, Doctor Amaka. I don’t know why." She sank into Amaka’s arm, weeping uncontrollably.
Amaka’s heart broke. The girl was shattered. Another case of sexual abuse. This one had to be reported.
Tumininu’s body shook like a frightened little child in her arms.
"I’ll make sure he doesn’t do it again, Tumininu. I’ll make sure he doesn’t."
She picked up her phone, called Tumininu’s mother and then the police.


Day 2. At Home
The maid opened the door to see who had been knocking.
"Oga, na police people o."
"Good day, Mr. Ademola." One of the officers greeted.
"Good day officers. I must confess I wasn’t expecting you." He said with a smile.
"We’re sorry sir but you’re being arrested for charges of rape and continuous sexual abuse made against you by Miss Tumininu Ademola."

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