.....Everyone should have the right to choose their own valentine.
My own mother had fashioned me a crown of clay,soon to hit the hard floor and shutter into a thousand pieces. I hate to believe I trusted this woman with my whole life,but who would blame me? for a mother symbolizes a being of integrity who stops at nothing to see a smile on the faces of her young ones. He who has a good mother has everything he needs and more.My case was however different,the woman I trusted with every fibre of my existence held my destiny in her hands and did not hesitate to shutter it into a thousand pieces.With it went all that this black child had ever dreamt and hoped for.
...Misozi,the ill fated child.
I had finally woken up after what seemed to be the longest night of my life. I felt a bit numb and sore.I looked all around the room and everything looked blurry.My eyes drifted from the little window on my left to the little stool beside my reedmat,after minutes of analising my little bedroom,I later realized I was part of the scene myself.
I began to drift back to what had happened the previous night and why I felt so sore.My thoughts were accompanied by a splitting headache and then the flashback appeared. I could see my mother walk into my room with a plate of my favorite traditional meal.She was accompanied by my younger siblings Mabvuto and Nancy who eyed the plate in mother's hands with big round hungry eyes.
I payed no attention to the food because my mind was in turmoil,I sobbed greatly. My parents had decided to have me married to one of the wealthy village elders.This man had many wives and children enough to build a village of their own.He was nicknamed 'Njovu' a local name for 'elephant',this was because of his massive stature.
I had tried pleading with my mother but the idea of selling me off was already stuck in her mind.There was nothing my father could do about it because he too was in the habit of chasing after young girls like me.
..."Misozi!" my mother yelled," think about your younger siblings,their future lies in your hands."look at them",she continued,they have not eaten anything since morning because the only food left if what I have brought for you. She wiped a tear from her eyes and gave out a frustrated sigh and then walked out.
I remained looking at my younger siblings.I looked at their hopeful eyes,I could feel bitter tears threatening to roll down my cheeks.I could not let them see me at my breaking point,I decided to hold my tears for later.I gave my plate of food to them and they ate it as if they had not eaten in a while indeed,this broke my already fragile heart.As soon as they finished their food,they got up and walked away slowly,I was left alone with my bitter thoughts.
.....My life had come to this,i lay between a rock and a hard place,between the mud and the dirt.I had nowhere to hide.
I was brought back to reality by a loud,angry knock on my wooden door.I couldn't help but shudder at this act of aggression.I then heard people singing loudly outside my little window.The type of singing I only heard when a child was born and at wedding celebrations,
...wedding celebrations!!
I began to panic because this marked the beginning of the end of my life.My mother was selfish enough not to put the plea of this poor child into consideration.I was being sold off to an older man for money and pleasentries,indeed..money is the root of all evil.