Child of the World - Seyi Dinma Samuel

Growing up without a dad isn't so bad, well that's if you have a mother like mine, she wasn't all the way supportive, but she helped make sure I bagged a degree in law, great woman.

One day I picked the phone, I needed a job to see me through law school, and uncle peter had promised to get me one when I was ready. 

"Hello sir, good evening" ,

"Yes , hello who is this" he replied,

"Lydia sir, you don't have my number again daddy" I laughed,

"My daughter, your brother helped me set this my new phone, but I don't know how to use it well" he replied, 

"What phone sir?" 

"Me I don't know oh! One spark spark something like that" he laughed, I laughed too,

"Daddy, I need a job oh!" 

"Okay my daughter, come to the house on Friday evening so we can talk" 

Fast forward to Friday evening, my fathers brother raped me, I was a virgin at 24 for a reason but he didn't think it was important, worst ,I was his twin brothers daughter, anytime i see my fathers photo I see the man that raped me, as if that wasn't bad enough, i went to the clinic for check up, just to realise i am tested positive with HIV. 

I've spent the last 5 years spreading the virus to boyfriends and lovers, now I'm tired, tired of blaiming my dad for dying, or blaming my mom for not noticing the changes in my life, I'm tired of blaiming uncle peter, most importantly I'm tired of blaiming myself. I'm on medication now, running a rehablitation centre for women who have been abused in the past, and also people living with HIV to help them get back to the society, its tough for them.

Uncle peter faces jail time as he was sentenced yesterday. The only regret I have now is, I should have spoken up earlier. 

This story was inspired by the song "child of the world" by Falz