Chapter Seven: A Cry from the Past
732 Words
Ayaan sat on the small balcony of her room in Nairobi, staring at the noisy streets below. The city never slept—cars honked, traders shouted, and children laughed as they chased each other down the alley.
But inside her chest, a deep ache lingered.
Despite the therapy, despite the safety, something was missing.
Her people. Her past. Safiyo.
She had tried not to think about her. Had tried to push away the guilt. But every night, she heard her voice in her dreams. “Ha i daynin, Ayaan.”
(Don’t leave me, Ayaan.)
She couldn’t ignore it anymore.
She needed to know.
She picked up the old Nokia phone Misky had given her and dialed the only number she knew from back home. An old woman who sometimes traveled to the town’s market and had a secret phone.
The phone rang. Once. Twice.
Then, a tired voice answered. “Allo? Waa kuma?”
(Hello? Who is this?)
Ayaan swallowed hard. “Hooyo, waa Ayaan. Waan kaaga mahadcelinayaa inaad wacitaanka iga qabatay. Ma nabad baa?”
(Mother, it’s Ayaan. Thank you for answering my call. Is everything okay?)
A heavy silence.
Then, the old woman’s voice shook.
“Ayaan... Hooyo, adigaa baxsaday. Laakiin Safiyo waa la qabtay.”
(Ayaan… my dear, you escaped. But Safiyo was caught.)
Ayaan’s breath stopped.
“Maxaad ula jeeddaa?” she whispered.
(What do you mean?)
The woman exhaled sharply. “Waxaan ka xumahay. Waxay ku qasbeen gudniinka. Dhiig badan bay lumisay. Waa bukootay maalmo. Hadda waxay diyaarinayaan guurkeeda.”
(I’m sorry. They forced her circumcision. She lost a lot of blood. She was sick for days. Now they are preparing her marriage.)
Ayaan felt like she was drowning.
Her mind spun—forced circumcision. Forced marriage. To the clan leader. As a third wife.
She gripped the phone tightly, her voice trembling. “Hooyo, maxaad ula jeeddaa? Ma waxay ku siinayaan odaygaas?”
(Mother, what do you mean? Are they giving her to that old man?)
“Haa. Todobaadkan ayuu aroosku dhacayaa.”
(Yes. The wedding is this week.)
Ayaan gasped, her world spinning.
No. Not Safiyo.
Not her best friend.
Not after everything.
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Ayaan Finds Her Fire
Ayaan stormed into Misky’s office, her hands shaking.
Misky looked up from her desk, surprised. “Ayaan? Maxaa dhacay?”
(Ayaan? What happened?)
Ayaan’s lips trembled. “Waa Safiyo. Way qabteen. Waa la guday. Waxay ku qasbayaan guur. Waa inaan badbaadinaa.”
(It’s Safiyo. They caught her. They circumcised her. They are forcing her into marriage. We have to save her.)
Misky’s expression darkened.
She put down her pen and folded her hands. “Ayaan… waa khatar.”
(Ayaan… it’s dangerous.)
Ayaan’s heart pounded. “Haddii aanaan waxba sameyn, way dhiman doontaa!”
(If we do nothing, she will die!)
Misky leaned back, her face unreadable. “Sidee dooneysaa inaan wax u sameyno? Waa beel dhan. Waa dagaal.”
(How do you expect us to do this? It’s an entire clan. It’s war.)
Ayaan’s nails dug into her palm. “Kaltuma ayaa i badbaadisay. Waxaan doonayaa inaan iyadana badbaadiyo.”
(Kaltuma saved me. I want to save her.)
Misky studied her, then sighed.
“Waa inaad ogaataa, haddii aan ku laabano, cidna idiinma dhaafi doonto.”
(You need to understand—if we go back, no one will forgive us.)
Ayaan straightened her back. “Dagaalkaan diyaar baan u ahay.”
(I am ready for this fight.)
Misky exhaled deeply. Then, slowly, she nodded.
“Hagaag. Aan u diyaar garowno.”
(Alright. Let’s prepare.)
Training for the Fight
The next few days, Misky prepared Ayaan for the mission.
They trained—self-defense, how to use a knife, how to move in silence.
They gathered contacts—women who worked in Mandera, who knew how to smuggle girls out of dangerous areas.
They planned—a secret escape route for Safiyo, a safe house, disguises.
Misky looked Ayaan in the eyes one evening and said:
“Dagaalkaan ma ahan mid sahlan. Haddii aad safartid, dib uma laaban kartid.”
(This fight is not easy. If you go, you might not come back.)
Ayaan’s heart pounded. But she didn’t flinch.
“Haddii aanaan hadda wax sameyn, Safiyo nolol dambe ma heli doonto.”
(If we don’t act now, Safiyo will never have a life.)
Misky nodded slowly.
And just like that—the mission to rescue Safiyo began.
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- Writer
