Zakia - Episode 18

The Police had arrived at the scene almost immediately after I dropped the call, and they hadn't inquired anything from me, nothing at all, before cuffing my nervous hands.. 

That was how I became a criminal in the police custody, when I was really just a victim of circumstance. 

"That's all I have to say your Honour," I said conclusively, refusing to meet anybody's gaze. 

It took a while for the Judge to announce her long awaited judgement, but the moment I started to perceive her voice, my head tilted upward almost subconsciously.

My judgement was here, and it was either going to kill me or save me. 

"Miss Zakia Ibrahim, you've evidently been through a lot, you've had to deal with quite a lot, I must say.. I personally sympathise with you, hence, regarding the death of Mojeedu Rufai, I'm duly accepting it as self defense, I'm freeing you of that criminal charge," She said to me. "And even though you were once part of a terrorist sect, I still refuse to blame you regarding any of that. For this reason Miss Zakia Ibrahim, you're hereby found not guilty of any charge labelled against you." 

Honestly, no one could possibly imagine how heavily my heart dropped. I suddenly felt free

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/zakia

. I felt.. relieved. 

"Order!" The Clerk had yelled against the happy screams from the audience. 

And then the Judge went even further. "However Miss Zakia, you're not entirely free for now. The court needs to be sure that you're mentally fit to be allowed back into the world.. You're going to need a few months, or maybe just weeks of therapy," She explained. "And not to worry, those we are handing you over to are real therapists, so there's nothing to worry about.." 

Apparently, the Judge didn't tell a single lie. Almost immediately, I was released out of the dinky prison cell that I'd been caged in for quite sometime, and my therapy session started almost immediately likewise. 

They were really professional therapists, and thankfully, they were also women. Honestly, I felt like I needed a break from the opposite gender in general. I needed to feel that sheer safety at least for my unborn child's sake. 

All through these relieving moments, my lawyer,- Barr. Abass,- and his wife stood by me. And even after my therapy sessions ended two months after, they both happily harboured me in their custody. With them, I finally found peace. I realised some good people still existed. I experienced how it felt to have a family again. In fact, at that moment, they were family. 

My unborn child was happy as well, she was healthy, and to showcase her utmost delight, she'd kick every once in a while. 

Nonetheless, despite how happy Barr. Abass' s home was, he and his wife, Sekinah had one little problem: For a marriage that had spanned almost twelve years, they didn't have a child yet. And perhaps, that was why Allaah (God) directed me to them, though I hadn't comprehended it fully at the time; It only became extremely clear at the time of my childbirth.. 

My water broke sometime around noon that sunny day. It'd been a happy, yet overwhelming moment. I felt the beautiful pain of my child struggling to come out to life, and the pain still didn't stop even when I was eventually wheeled into the Labour room. 

"Push!" 

"Push!" 

"Push!" The nurses and Doctor wouldn't stop yelling sporadically. 

And at every point, I would push painfully. I pushed several times, so many times, but at one point, I realised I just wasn't going to make it.

Read " After Grad " by the same author ( Ishola Ubaydah )

. I realised there was no way I was going to survive it. Nonetheless, I didn't want to take my baby along with me, because at that same point, I also realised why God had handed me over to Barr. Abass and his wife, Sekinah. God sent me to them so I could offer them a child. 

By His grace, I was able to make a final push: the same push that led to the birth of my child, and my life being slowly taken away..

*   *   *

First, I just want to say that this story is dedicated to any one who's ever being held hostage, anyone who's ever being physically or sexually abused, anyone who's ever suffered from a terrorist attack. This is to tell you all that you really matter! You guys are important, and there are people who cares genuinely about you, there are people who wants to help.. You just have to take that risk and let them help.

Secondly, I'm also dedicating this to my Mum and Aunt for standing by me from the beginning of this story, up until this very point. They've been my major source of inspiration even at times when my head was literally blank. 

And lastly, I'm also using this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who ever read, liked, or commented on this book, Zakia.. Fabian, Abigail, Ola, Nana Hauwa, Fareedah, Obinna, Paul, Favour, Mojisola, Wisdom.. I really can't mention you all.  But thank you so much, cause you really made Zakia seem so real. 

Oh well, this is a goodbye from me.. but only for now though;)