Malisa's POV.
I still can't believe that I am turning eighteen soon, it still felt like yesterday when I and Princess Gabriella said our goodbyes.I miss my only best friend and comforter, she was the only one that understood me the most.I am very grateful for all the times we spent together.She taught me a lot about life, if not for her, I will be a girl with no direction.
I still remember vividly the day we last saw each other.
How we both became emotional as we knew that this was probably the last time we would see each other.It's funny how she made me make a promise to her that I wouldn't give up on my dreams no matter what.Well, I don't plan on giving up on my dreams but...It's hard, very hard I must say.Today is the beginning of a new month, March 1. My eighteenth birthday is in 24 days.I am supposed to be happy about it but I am not.
I feel suffocated, I wish I could change my fate.I want to fulfill my dreams.I don't want to get married to Ronaldo Jones, the 50-year-old man my parents chose for me.Not only is he almost Thrice my age, but he also has Five wives and Twenty children with most of them older than me.Why would he want to get married to a young girl who is younger than his daughter? I haven't gotten my answer.I wish I had a choice.Getting married isn't the only thing I am sad about but I am also sad about the fact that I would be violated. I have to get circumcised on my 18-year-old birthday, this isn't a new thing as all girls my age go through this but it's crazy. Well, I thought this act was Normal until My best friend, Princess Gabriella told me that most countries of the world don't practice this.Really?, Then why is our Village practicing it? ' I had asked her but she only replied to me with one word.' Tradition. 'I don't want to go through all of this, I am scared.
I could remember how Stella one of our neighbor's daughters who was a year older than me, bled to death after being circumcised.
Well, this circumcision isn't safe as there are often complications.Some women end up becoming an Empty shells because of it but as they say, Tradition is tradition.I wish I wasn't born here.
A place where girls don't have a voice.We are seen as nothing but Tools, we are been nurtured and trained to become instruments of pleasure for men and also childbearing tools.We aren't respected at all.Sometimes I ask myself the question.
' Why am I here? ' But then a spark in me will be felt then.Am I here to Break the rules? Well, would I be courageous enough to do this despite knowing the consequences of it?But I can't just accept my fate.I deserve to be able to choose.I am a human, not a thing.I wish people in my village understand this.But sadly none of them do only my best friend does.Speaking of Princess Gabriella.I would never forget her love and care.She was very kind and lovely, unlike her older siblings despite being the youngest child of the One and only king of our village.She respected me and treated me like a little sister, I would never forget her act of kindness.
I often wonder how it felt to be like her.She lived in luxury.She was well respected by all including her father who loved her unconditionally.She didn't have to worry about being circumcised or being married off to an old man at a young age as she would have the right to chose.She had traveled to different parts of the world.She was well educated.She could speak multiple languages fluently.I often envied her, her life seems so perfect, I wish my life was like that.[ Is Gabriella's life that perfect? ]Though I am not that Ignorant as she taught me a lot.
She thought me how to read and write, yeah she did.She'll be a good teacher, I guess.From here, I knew how to read novels and that's when I came across one of best selling writer Francine Rivers books, The book was titled Marta's Legacy
As soon as I started reading it, I soon got hooked and didn't stop till I completed reading the book and then I realized that the book had a book two which was titled, Her Mother's Hope.I also made sure to read that too.
And that's how Francine Rivers became my best writer.I started to wish to be a writer but can my dream be fulfilled?Also, I became a fan of Celine Dion after listening to her two Emotional songs, My heart will go on and The Prayer.
I especially loved her voice and the way she sings, I also began to admire her too.Who knew that while I was enjoying all this luxury at the palace, I was building up hate, unknowingly.
When Princess Gabriella finally left the village for the city to further her education, I became an outcast.
All the friends I had before avoided me like a plague.I often overhear them Gossiping and saying awful things about me.Even my mom began to treat me differentlyIsn't this too much? I thought.
I soon got used to all this and began to focus on things that matter and yes in the blink of an eye, Two years have passed.I am almost eighteen ready for marriage.Am I ready? The answer is obvious but do I have a choice? No, I don't.My fate had been decided the minute I was born in this village.But...Is that how my story is going to end?
Of course not.I have my dreams waiting to be fulfilled.I made a promise.To who? My creator.Myself
And Princess Gabriella
That I would fulfill my dreams.I'll be persistent no matter the cost.
But what to do?There are only 24 days left!
That's enough to change my Destiny.
I am Malisa Bree and this is my Story!
Enjoy! I hope you'll learn a lot from it.Thanks for reading.Malisa's POV.I sat down on my wooden bed, just staring at the wall.Time is passing, seconds are becoming minutes, and minutes into hours.I'll be Eighteen soon.I wish I could change all of this.Soon, I felt a presence in my room, it was My Mom.What does she want now? ' I thought." Good day, Mom. " I greeted." Hm, what are you doing idling away? , Just because I asked you to stay away from the kitchen till you get married doesn't mean that you'll have to sit around doing nothing. " She ranted.According to our tradition, an engaged girl is not allowed to enter the kitchen a month before her marriage to avoid injuries or bruises." But mom there's nothing else to do. " " Really?, What about the drums of water that need to be filled? "
Two days later, I was summoned early in the morning by my Dad to the family living room.After getting dressed in a simple Lemon Knee-length gown I went out of my room and headed to the family parlor. ' Why am I summoned so early in the morning? , What do they want to talk to me about?, Or do they want to talk about my marriage? , I hope it hasn't been brought up. ' With all these different thoughts going to my mind I reached The family parlor in no time.It was a Mini large room with Five Single Brown Sofas which were as old as me or even older, it also has one large Study table and an old portrait of my Dad while he was younger, I guess, The room was painted Dull Yellow, though the colors were already fading.The room happened to be the largest in our Five bedroom home which was single-handedly built by my Father and his Workers.Well, my Dad isn't as poor as you guys think he
The next day.I woke up very early in the morning as soon as the cock crowed, I checked the old wall clock and saw that it's just 4:00 am. ' 6 days more to go. ' I thought sadly.The morning was a little colder than usual just like my mood, who would be happy to know that they'll get married off soon to an old geezer. ' What a life! ' I mumbled.I then decided to do some meditation before going back to bed as it's too early to be awake.I stood up from my bed and walked towards my cupboard and after searching briskly for minutes I finally found what I was looking for.It was a book with a black hardcover. It's The Bible.I kept it in a secluded place because I knew that I'll be dead meat if my mom or dad should find it there. My village
Chapter Seven: Circumcision.* Happy new month, readers! I hope and pray that this new month brings you lots of joy and happiness! , Happy new month my Dearests! *Days went by and now it was the day for my circumcision.I was very nervous and sad.I don't want to be circumcised, I don't want to be violated.I don't want to alter God's creation.He created me perfectly so why should people go to lengths just to alter his creation? Why? He created the Clitoris in women because he knew that it was needed and necessary so why should I be removed? It wasn't stated in the Holy Bible that women should be circumcised so why?Why should we have to go through pain and torture just because of some useless culture and tradition? Why? Women are humans too? ,
MeanwhileLittle Mary walked towards a large mango tree nearby in a secluded area, she sat on a small bench beside it and after relaxing for a minute, she spoke." I have done as you instructed, brother. " She said and almost immediately a Young Man with a Rasputin -blue eyes which were as clear as a calm lake, he had a Wavy black hair, bristly eyebrows, he was very light-skinned and tall about 200cm. he also had a hawkish nose, he looked quite handsome and dashing in a casual White top and Sweatpants." Alright, I hope you are finally happy and satisfied now? " He asked in a deep but soft voice." Not yet, brother, I can't be happy yet as Sis is still going to be forced to get married to an old man in two days. " " I know, Mary but what can you do? This is not our territory remember? We are just Strangers here so you can't
In case I didn't mention it readers then note, Malisa Bree is a Black girl, an African actually, I'll post the picture I imagined her to be on my Instagram account.Follow me on Instagram @qebunoluwa to see it.So see you there.******It's been two days, two whole days and I had been thinking of my life, my situation.I was still left wondering how someone took my place and was circumcised instead of me as I was told by little Mary and what was most amusing about this whole scenario is that I realized that little Mary always arrive just in time to save me though it was only being twice.Lest I forget, though there's no way in hell I was going to forget the fact that today is my wedding day.I was to be married to Mr. Aldron Jones though I don't want to.I have no other choice.
---- Malisa -----I had been debating on the pros and cons of running away and after hours of thinking, I realized that running away is indeed the best solution for me at this moment.I decided to escape after breakfast as it would be a very stupid move for me to escape before then.As I didn't even know where I was going to escape to or whether I'll be able to eat while I am at it.'' Lord, please show me away. '' I muttered.Perhaps it's because I have been crying all night as I just couldn't hold back my tears.I found out that crying makes me light-hearted and better.So well.My voice feels very hoarse now from all the crying.I badly needed a cup of brewed tea.As if my Wish was granted the next moment.
Chapter 8.The next time I awoke, I found myself back in my room.I was tied to my bed from all sides like a mentally ill patient.I tried to recollect what happened earlier but failed.' How did I get back here? ' I thought.Then I heard the door opening and my mom's displeased face came into view.' Did they know about my escaping? ' I thought." I never knew that you will still attempt to escape despite knowing the consequences of your actions, I am very disappointed in you, how could you do this? Don't you care about the reputation of our family? , How dare you to try to drag us down with you! " As she said this, her eyes were blazing red with anger." If not for the fact that you are getting married today, I would have given you a tight slap. " She added.As expected.She then moved closer to me on the bed and carefully untied