SCARS THAT BLEED IN SILENCE
Daniel never knew the warm embrace of a mother or the firm guiding hand of a father. His parents died in a car accident when he was just a baby, leaving him with nothing but an old photo and the fading stories told by his grandmother, Mabel. Grandma Mabel, affectionately called Mama Mabel in their neighborhood was a small, wrinkled woman with silver hair that always carried the faint smell of anointing oil. Despite her age and struggles, she raised Daniel with all the love she could muster, teaching him to pray before he could properly read.
When Daniel got admission to the University of Lagos to study International Relations, Mama Mabel cried tears of joy. She laid her frail hands on his head the morning he left for school and whispered:
"Danny boy, never forget whose child you are. You belong to God. This university world is full of wolves, but the Lord will keep you."
Daniel hugged her, his eyes misty. His heart burned with a quiet determination: he would study hard, honor God, and never betray the sacrifices of Grandma Mabel.
But while Daniel was stepping into his new life, somewhere across Nigeria, another story was unfolding dark, painful, and tragic.
Lizzy: The Daughter of Pain
Lizzy was the only child of Mr and Mrs Akpan, a wealthy family based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. From the outside, their two-storey mansion painted in cream and gold reflected success, power, and prestige. Mr Akpan was known in the community as a successful businessman,an importer of luxury wines, automobiles, and exotic clothes. He was wealthy, flamboyant, and feared. But behind the high fences of his house lay a nightmare no outsider could ever imagine.
Mr Akpan was a violent man. Stingy to a fault, proud to the bone, and wicked at heart. He loved his bottles of alcohol, late-night parties, and endless stream of women. But worst of all, he loved exerting his power through violence as his wife was his favorite punching bag.
Mrs Akpan, on the other hand, was everything her husband was not. She was hardworking, kind, submissive, and meek. Even without the luxury of attending church because her husband forbade it. She prayed every morning and night, whispering tearful words to a God she hoped had not forgotten her.
Her neighbors Mrs Adele, Mrs Taiwo, Mrs Tomori, and Mrs Kuku often rushed in to save her life when her husband's rage became unbearable.
The Night of the Bathroom Incident
One evening, Lizzy, just ten at the time, sat quietly in the sitting room with a storybook in her hand when she heard it again:
"Margaret!!! MARGARET!!! Where are you, useless woman?"
It was her father's voice, thunderous and charged with alcohol.
Mrs. Akpan was in the bathroom, soap lather covering her face. She shouted faintly:
"I'm coming, just a minute?"
But those words only fueled his fury.
In a drunken rage, Mr. Akpan stormed into the bathroom, dragged her out half-naked, soap still stinging her eyes. With his heavy hand, he slapped her so hard her nose bled instantly.
"Do you think I'm a fool? When I call, you answer immediately! Or are you seeing another man in there?!" he barked.
She cried out, "Please?please?it's not what you think?" but her pleas were drowned by the sound of his belt whipping her back.
Lizzy ran forward screaming, "Daddy stop! Please stop!" but a push sent her sprawling against the tiled floor.
The neighbors soon arrived. Mrs. Adele screamed at the sight: "Jesus! Margaret again?!"
Mrs. Taiwo grabbed Lizzy, pulling her away as the poor girl wailed uncontrollably.
Mrs. Kuku cried openly: "Ah! This man will kill this woman one day!"
Mrs. Tomori tried to shield Margaret, but Mr. Akpan shoved her aside.
"You women should stay out of my family matter before I deal with all of you!"
That night ended with Margaret unconscious, bruised eyes, a swollen mouth, bleeding nose, and battered legs. The neighbors carried her to the hospital once more. Lizzy, clinging to her mother's weak hands, cried until her small body shook with exhaustion.
A Death Foretold
Years of this routine finally broke Margaret. Her body, though gentle and resilient, could no longer withstand the constant slaps, kicks, chokes, and blows.
One morning, after another night of beating because she "served the soup too late," she collapsed in the kitchen. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, internal bleeding had eaten away her strength.
The doctor's verdict was heavy: "She suffered severe internal injuries from repeated physical abuse. There's nothing more we can do."
Lizzy held her mother's cold hands, screaming: "Mummy please don't leave me! Please wake up!"
But Margaret was gone.
Her last words, whispered to Lizzy before slipping into unconsciousness, were:
"My child? no matter what happens? don't hate? hold on to love? God sees you."
The Step-Mother From Hell
Barely three weeks after her burial, Mr. Akpan brought another woman into the house - a tall, flashy lady he had been secretly having an affair with for years. She became Mrs. Akpan Number Two, and with her came hell.
She despised Lizzy from the very start, calling her "a useless carbon copy of your foolish mother." She constantly lied against Lizzy, whispering venom into Mr. Akpan's ears. Whenever she did, Lizzy received merciless beatings from her father.
"You'll end up like your mother! Foolish and useless!" he spat at her one night.
Eventually, he sent Lizzy to Lagos, to live with his elder sister, Aunty Clara, a woman beautiful in shape, wealthy, and notorious for running a club where young girls were introduced to rich men for "hook-ups."
Wolves in the House
At just 14, Lizzy's nightmare deepened. In Aunty Clara's luxurious house, no one cared for her. Clara barely paid attention, leaving her in the company of her workers. That was when Mike and Kunle, two idle young men, started abusing her. They came under the guise of errands but stayed behind to defile her.
Fair-skinned, curvy, and fully developed for her age, Lizzy became prey. She cried at first, resisted, and fought, but with no one to defend her, she broke.
By the time she entered secondary school, she had already learned to monetize her pain. Men were willing to pay for what had been stolen from her. Aunty Clara didn't care about her feeding, clothing, or fees so Lizzy did what she had to do.
She survived through prostitution.
Arrival at the University of Lagos
Years later, with scars hidden beneath expensive clothes, Lizzy arrived at the University of Lagos. She was a fresher, but her beauty was already legendary. Men, lecturers and students alike fell at her feet.
And then came the lecture hall scene?
The First Encounter with Daniel
The lecture hall buzzed with noise as students awaited POL 101: Introduction to International Relations. The chatter grew louder until it was abruptly silenced.
Tap?tap?tap? Lizzy's designer heels echoed as she entered.
She was a vision, pink micro mini skirt, matching crop top revealing her flat tummy, long black human hair cascading down her back, gold earrings glinting under the fluorescent light, latest iPhone in hand, spinning her car keys.
The hall fell into hushed admiration.
"Chai! See as she fine!" whispered Jide.
"Ahn-ahn, na Barbie be this?" Bamidele muttered.
"Forget it, I must get her number today," Austin bragged.
Even some girls, though jealous, couldn't hide their awe.
Lizzy ignored them all, her eyes scanning for the best seat at the front row. That was where Daniel sat, quietly flipping through his notes.
She walked up, swaying her hips, and stopped in front of him. With a seductive smile, she leaned forward, her perfume overwhelming.
"Please? can I have your seat?" she asked softly, her voice dripping with allure.
The boys nearby went wild.
"have my seat!" Gbenga almost jumped.
"Take mine, abeg!" Ayo pleaded.
"Baby girl, over here!" Dipo shouted.
But Lizzy ignored them all. Her eyes locked on Daniel. She wanted his seat.
Daniel looked up, his calm eyes piercing through her facade. He closed his book gently, stared at her for a moment, and said firmly: