Born at seven months , my baby needed special care . I spent most of the money I had saved looking after my child .
Regardless, I worked day and night designing and sewing clothes. I didn't have so many customers because of my reputation but I did manage to make a K10 a day for food .
Once in a while a man named Jerad Tooton would buy some of clothes and leave me some money to keep my business going . He was white . He offered to take me to school but I turned down the offer because I had to look after Malumbo...my baby .
Mr Tooton visited me on a Saturday and left me some money and materials for my business. He then told me he was going for work outside Zambia and would be back after two months .
My business was doing great till Malumbo fell ill . I spent all my earnings and even got into debt trying to save my child. On a Friday morning his condition got worse . I was told to buy medication costing K150 but I could not afford. The next morning my son was pronounced dead.
....I had failed as a mother, I couldn't fight for my child . I had done exactly what my parents had done . After that I promised to work harder and build a better future for myself.
My Tooton was back in town , he came to see me and I explained what happened. I then told him I would like to go to school .Mr Tooton sponsored my primary ,secondary and university education . After 20 years I was a successful lawyer who had helped a lot of men and women speak out .I went ahead and registered my own organization. Which helped those with financial difficulties get into school.
I decided to pay my parents a visit..... I got to my village and realized nothing had changed. Parents were still marrying off their children.
I found out my sister Nancy had died while giving birth. Turns out the white man that named her decided to marry her and while giving birth she died .
The woman that helped me escape had also died . She was HIV positive because her husband Mr Monde did not allow any of his wives to take ARV's while he took his medication.
I failed a complaint and stood for the women . Mr Monde was then arrested and locked up .
I avoided my parents but they gathered the courage and approached me . I forgave them but left them in the village.
Yes there were times in my life when I thought I would never make it but God had his own plans for me . I achieved everything because he was always my strength. I am a happy woman today because I get the chance to help the vulnerable.Even though I had originally planned to be a doctor,fate led me to Becoming a lawyer because I felt it was an obligation for me to speak up against the many injustices in society.
...In my euphoria..I had been convinced that could conquer the world.
The End....