His Village Girl (BWWM)

Chapter 1: Death

It is morning in the village of Ejura. The sun takes its place slowly, his yellow robe painting the clouds orange and pink. The swish-swash of the clothes being dunked up and down into the river by the women in the early morning, their musical voices filling the air. They glance momentarily at the sun, before resuming work. They smile because the clothes will be dried by lunch.

The men walk out to the forest, more orderly than a row of ants but louder than the elephants, their hearty laughs resurrected the forest and scaring timid creatures. They look up at the sun and groan. It is going to be a hot day.

The children are simply delighted. New day, sunshine, more play!

Meanwhile, in a little hut a girl tends to her grandmother. She is only 18, with short wooly hair and dazzling brown eyes. She is petite and is dressed in a black dress. Her eyes are tinged with sadness, a little ray of hope still left in them. Her granny is ill, but she hopes, like other times, she'll be alright.

As granny falls asleep, she gets up, grabbing the basket of clothes to take to the river. She bites her lip, realizing that she didn't cook. She sighs sadly, knowing that there wasn't anything left in the house. She would have to ask the grocer to give more groceries on credit.

Since her parents died, only granny was left in her life. Granny always seemed to get sick all the time, but she knew that it was old age. She puts the basket on her head then heads out of the hut.

She walks in the village. The children run from her before she could say hi. She knew of the rumors about her, but said nothing. The rumor was that she was a witch, who killed her mother as soon as she was born and because her granny was too strong, she was killing her slowly. She shakes her head, blinking the tears away. She was not gonna cry, she never cried.

When she got to the river, the women stopped and stared at her. They all shut their eyes and began muttering prayers. Had she been 6 again, she would've asked what they were saying.

But she wasn't six. She wasn't going to ask, to be gripped by the shoulders and shaken while slapped and eventually suffer a burn to the arm. She knew better, she knew they were praying to God to protect them from her.

What harm could she possibly do?

"This is all we pray in Jesus' most holy and precious name."

"Amen." everyone chorused.

She set her basket down, stooping down like she'd seen the women do and washed the sheets. She washed everything, humming a little song she made up.

This infuriated the women, who thought that she was calling on her "special powers" to curse them. A younger woman got up and pushed her down.

"You demon! I rebuke your curses in the name of Jesus!"

She looked up to see who it was. Edith, her own cousin. Her family disowned Granny, meaning that they disowned her too.

Edith had grown exceedingly pleasing to every man's eyes, with her long lashes and her dark complexion. She had hips that swayed as she walked and also possessed a violent temper.

"Cousin, I would never curse you! Why do you think such of me?"

The women began murmuring. Edith got angry and slapped her and spoke whilst kicking her.

"I,"

Kick.

"Am"

Kick

"Not"

Kick

"Related"

Kick

"To"

Kick

"No"

Kick

"Witch!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kick

Kick

Before she could kick again, her mother slapped her. The girl was unconscious.

"Amma, why did you do that?" shrieked Edith, clutching her cheek.

"Why would you soil your skin by hitting a witch? Do you want to remain unmarried for the rest of your life?" asked her mother.

She bowed her head. "No Amma."

Her features softened. "The clothes finish washing, let us go."

She nodded and they left, along with the other women, singing as they left the girl all alone by the riverside.

A few minutes later, she woke up, crying out in pain. Her skin was covered in bruises.

But she ignored it and washed the clothes, wincing now and then as the soap touched her wounds.

And that's when the tears came.

She cried and cried and cried till she was out of tears.

What did she do wrong in her past life?

Why did her parents leave her?

Wiping her tears, she picked up the clothes and put them back in the basket.

Looking up, she realized that it was already afternoon and Granny would be up.

Suddenly she heard a shout.

"The old woman is dead!"

Her heart sank.

She ran and ran towards the village.

"No!" she screamed, bursting into tears as they poured fuel on the hut.

She tried to save the hut, but two women held her back. She fought them.

"Let go of me!" she cried.

The priest slapped her.

"Quiet unholy one!" he shouts, chanting something as the men poured more fuel.

They eventually stop pouring the fuel and light torches.

She blinked back tears, looking at the women who held her.

"Please aunties, I beg you let me go. Let me do my grandmother's last rites." she said.

They only held her tighter, shaking her.

Taking a razor, they cut off all of her hair, despite her screams and cries. Then they let go of her.

The hut was burnt.

Every memory she had with her granny was gone, reduced to ashes and all she could do was watch.

She officially had no one to call family.

She was alone in this world.

Everyone dispersed, returning to their homes.

Night had fallen, generously giving the sky the moon for a lantern.

There was hearty chatting and laughing in every home.

It was as though they had forgotten about her.

About her dear Granny.

She sank to the ground, throwing dust on her body and crying. Putting her hands on her head, she bawled. All the tears she held all those years flooded her face.

She then threw a handful of the ashes on her body.

"Grandma, it is over now, your troubles are over." she said, weeping.

"But my troubles have only begun."

She balled up in the ashes and cried herself to sleep.

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Like lol, I just saw the previews for my chapters and I nearly screamed and contemplated on using the Ouija board I gifted myself for my birthday.

Feel free to comment.

Anyhoo.

Ciao!

-Safiello