Osaro was still recovering from the scars on her body and in her mind after the incident with Omege.
The pain had not completely disappeared. Every movement reminded her of what she had endured, and even when she tried to forget, her mind kept taking her back to the previous day.
"Osaro! Osaro!!"
Oge called as she opened the woven curtain.
Osaro's eyes slowly locked onto Oge's concerned face.
"Osaro, I've been calling you for ages! Are you okay?" Oge asked, rushing to her side.
Osaro flinched as she tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her side. She gasped and immediately clutched her ribs.
"I'm... I'm fine, Oge. Just feeling a bit vertiginous."
Oge's expression softened.
"You need to rest. You've been through so much."
She gently pushed Osaro back onto the mat.
"I'll get some water. You must be thirsty."
Osaro nodded weakly.
As Oge was about to leave, Mama Adana entered the room.
"Ahh, Osaro, I heard what happened, and I'm so sorry. I have not come to check up on you since. I was absorbed in work and duties assigned by our husband. You know we dare not go against him, as he has positioned eyes everywhere in this village."
Mama Adana sat beside her.
"How are you feeling? How are your wounds? Are you okay?"
"I'm hanging in there, Mama Adana," Osaro said.
She paused before asking, "How's everyone doing?"
"We're fine, dear," Mama Adana replied.
Just then, Oge entered with a cup of water for Osaro.
She carefully placed it beside her.
"You should drink this, Osaro. You need to stay hydrated."
Osaro slowly reached for the cup.
Mama Adana nodded.
"Yes, dear. Rest now. We'll take care of everything."
Osaro smiled weakly.
For the first time since she had arrived at the compound, she felt a strange sense of comfort around these women. They could not protect her from everything, and they were also afraid of Mr. Okhizu, but they still tried to care for one another whenever they could.
She took a sip of the cool water.
The water soothed her dry throat, and she slowly lay back down.
Oge pulled a soft blanket over her.
"We will get through this phase," Oge said.
Mama Adana nodded.
"Yes, we will."
Their voices became softer as they stayed beside Osaro.
For a while, the three women talked quietly, almost as though they were trying to make Osaro forget the pain that surrounded her.
Eventually, Osaro's eyes became heavy.
She drifted into sleep while Mama Adana and Oge continued watching over her like she was a baby.
For the first time in what felt like a long time, Osaro slept without immediately waking up in fear.
However, the peace did not last forever.
Osaro's eyes suddenly fluttered open.
She was still groggy from her short sleep when a loud voice echoed through the compound.
"Tomorrow, we celebrate the Yam Festival! Everyone is expected to join in the preparations!"
The voice belonged to Mr. Okhizu.
Osaro immediately recognized it.
Her heart skipped.
Mama Adana and Oge exchanged tired, knowing looks.
Osaro struggled to sit up, but her head spun slightly.
"Osaro, lie back down," Mama Adana urged gently.
"We'll handle the preparations. You need to rest."
"I know that I need to rest," Osaro replied, "but you know our husband. He said everyone is expected to join in the preparations. I can't afford to be in his bad books now."
She lowered her eyes.
"I'm still recovering from yesterday. The pain still lingers."
"I know that, but you can just"
"I'm not taking chances, Mama Adana."
Osaro looked at both women.
"Our husband is no joke, and I am already getting tired of his constant abuse, even when we all know I haven't even reached half a year here."
The women became silent.
They understood what she meant.
There was a limit to how much a person could endure.
"We know, Osaro," Oge finally said.
"But since you're insisting, we will leave the minor work for you to do. Don't push yourself too much."
Osaro nodded.
"I'll try."
The preparations continued throughout the day.
The compound became busier than usual.
Women moved around carrying baskets, washing utensils, sorting food, and preparing the things needed for the following day's celebration.
The Yam Festival was supposed to be a time of happiness and thanksgiving.
People in the village looked forward to it every year.
There would be food, music, dancing, laughter, and gatherings.
But Osaro found it difficult to feel excited.
She had barely been able to recover from what happened to her, and now she was expected to participate as though nothing had happened.
Still, she forced herself to help whenever she could.
She knew that refusing could bring another confrontation with Mr. Okhizu.
By the time the day began to fade, Osaro was exhausted.
She returned to her room and lay down.
The pain in her body was still there, but she tried to ignore it.
Her mind wandered to her mother.
She wondered whether her mother had received any news about her.
She wondered whether Omege had reached home safely.
Most of all, she wondered whether her life would ever become normal again.
She eventually fell asleep.
Osaro was still sleeping when Mama Adana entered.
She gently tapped Osaro on her thigh.
"Osaro."
Osaro stirred.
"Osaro."
Her eyes slowly opened.
She looked better than before, although the tiredness was still visible on her face.
"Osaro, I'm sorry, but our husband calls for you."
The moment Osaro heard those words, the little peace she had found disappeared.
"Why?"
Fear immediately filled her eyes.
Her breathing became shaky.
"What have I done again?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to stand.
Mama Adana quickly offered her hand.
"I don't think you have done anything questionable, Osaro. Just go to him and give him listening ears."
Osaro nodded slowly.
"Okay."
She wiped her tears and changed into something better than her oversized sleeping clothes.
Before leaving the room, she looked at herself.
She looked tired.
She looked frightened.
But she forced herself to appear calm.
She stepped outside.
"Osaro!"
Mr. Okhizu's voice immediately made her stop.
"Yes, my husband."
"I haven't seen you today."
He looked at her with an expression she could not understand.
"I thought you died last night, but hearing no cries and receiving no news this morning, I realized you were still alive."
Osaro lowered her head.
"Do you know it is a crime for a wife to wake up and not send salutations to her husband?"
"No, my husband."
"Must I remind you of everything? Do you think you're better or special?"
"I'm sorry, my husband."
Osaro tried to explain herself.
"I was not feeling too energized this morning, and I have been sick…"
"Does being sick make one lack respect now?"
Osaro became silent.
"I have come to know that young girls don't learn until they're taught lessons. I will make sure you never defy me again."
"Please, my husband. I was very sick."
"I don't want to know what was wrong with you."
He paused.
"All I want you to do now is to get inside my inner chamber and get yourself ready for me."
Osaro's heart sank.
She immediately understood what he meant.
She knew that refusing him could lead to another punishment.
She reluctantly complied, hoping that obedience would prevent another confrontation.
Inside the chamber, she moved carefully because of the pain still lingering in her body.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She wished she could run.
She wished she could return to her mother's house.
She wished she could wake up and discover that everything had been a nightmare.
But none of those wishes could change her reality.
Osaro's body ached deeply, and her sickness made every movement difficult.
Despite her pain and weariness, Mr. Okhizu showed no concern for what she was going through.
Osaro closed her eyes as tears slipped quietly down her cheeks.
She felt more alone than ever.
She thought about her childhood.
She thought about school.
She thought about the dreams she once had.
She remembered the conversations she used to have with Omege about the future.
Back then, the future had seemed so bright.
She had believed she would grow older, complete her education, make something of herself, and become someone her mother would be proud of.
Now, those dreams seemed very far away.
"Is this how I am going to continue?" she whispered as she cried silently.
She wondered how many more days she would have to endure.
How many more times would she have to apologize for things she did not do?
How many more times would she have to pretend that she was fine?
How many more times would she have to convince herself that tomorrow would be better?
Osaro opened her eyes.
A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
She remembered what Omege had told her.
"You have dreams."
Those words remained in her mind.
She did not know how she would fulfill those dreams.
She did not know when she would be free.
She did not even know what the next day would bring.
But somewhere inside her, a small part of Osaro still refused to give up.
She wiped her tears.
"I will survive this," she whispered to herself.
Outside, preparations for the Yam Festival continued.
The village was getting ready for celebration.
People were making plans, preparing food, and looking forward to the festivities.
But inside Mr. Okhizu's compound, Osaro was fighting a battle that nobody outside the walls could see.
Tomorrow was supposed to be a day of celebration.
For Osaro, it was simply another day she had to survive.