Writing Expedition Thursday || Bruised by @rossnenye

Esther is the second child out of the three children her parents gave birth to. They were an average family trying to survive. Things became difficult for them when her mom got pregnant and give birth to another baby.

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Esther's senior cousin called Mimi got married and asked her mom to help her look for a house help and Esther was send to live with her. On getting to Mimi's house, the first few months of her stay in her house she was nice to her because her mom and husband that stays abroad was around. After they left, Mimi started maltreating her. She registered her in an afternoon session public school.

She maltreated her cousin to the extend that she denys her food most times. The poor girl was only allowed to wash her school uniform twice in a week. She calls her all sorts of names and beats her at any slightest provocation. She was not allowed to watch movies or sit in her sitting room.

Mimi always insult Esther, she tells her that she is very an evil child and that her mother is a wicked woman. One day, Mimi told her that the reason she is maltreating her is because her mom maltreated her when she stayed in their house to write JAMB which was all lies.

Esther being a small girl of 8 years couldn't open up to any one because then phone was not common and her senior cousin was always there any time her parents calls.

Light shinned on Esther's path when Mimi accused her of being a witch and told everyone in the house to avoid her like a plague. Mimi later took her back to her parents and told them that their daughter is possessed. When Esther came home, her family members and neighbors cried because she was so thin and looked like someone suffering from kwashiorkor.

Esther's self esteem was badly affected, she finds it very had to relate with people. She was bruised beyond repair but with the help and love of her family, she rised again. She studied Guidance and Counselor in school and currently, she runs an NGO which takes care of abused children and women.

Moral lessons

No matter how bad the situation is, don't send your child/chily to live with someone.

No matter how bruised you're, pick up the pieces of your life back.

Thanks for reading through, I invite @joshlud, @akareem and @joymm to participate in this contest.