A life of suffering: My experience with a cousin

By Suliah Lawal

I still remember the day my parents passed away in a horrific car accident. I was just a child, and my world was shattered. 

My Uncle, Ella’s father, took me in, and I was forced to live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, Ella. From the start, I felt like Ella resented me, and her actions towards me were cruel.

Every day, Ella’s mother would ask her to bring me my meal, but instead of giving it to me, she would throw it away and give me garri without sugar. When I complained, she would slap me. I was constantly hungry and felt so alone.

Things got worse when Ella discovered that my school fees had been paid. She would sneak into my room and add an overdose of sleeping powder to my breakfast, making me sleep throughout the day. I couldn’t understand why she was so cruel to me.

No one knew about the sleeping powder, and Ella would act like an angel when her parents were around. But as soon as they left, she would continue her mistreatment of me. I felt so trapped and helpless.

One day, Ella’s father found out that I had been sleeping instead of going to school. He was furious and beat me with an iron scourge, leaving scars on my back that would remain forever.

I became withdrawn and lost interest in life. I felt like I was all alone, and no one cared about me.

But one day, something changed. Ella’s parents were at work, and I went to her room to plead with her to stop treating me badly. She was taken aback by my words and promised to change her ways.

For a while, things improved. She stopped giving me garri and started serving me my proper meals. But then, something strange happened. One Monday morning, Ella served me my meal as usual, but I didn’t fall asleep after eating. I went to school happily, but I never returned.

My family searched for me everywhere, but I was nowhere to be found. My classmates said I never came to school that day. It was as if I vanished into thin air.

That was the last anyone saw of me. My life was cut short due to the cruelty and mistreatment I suffered at the hands of Ella.