Shadow of Innocence
I couldn't believe it when I heard it. My childhood friend with whom we started from primary school till secondary school was arrested on a murder charge.
I blinked severally as I waited for the news to register. I was on a call with one of our friends as well, Ahmad.
"Are you serious?!" I exclaimed as I waited for the gist.
Bala was referred to as the parrot of our time and he has lived up to the hype. He was the one who created our primary reunion group and made sure that most of us were now in contact with each other. His Hausa accent was so pronounced that he was referred to as Pish; his pronunciation of fish and even when he was being teased about it, it never bothered him.
"I can't believe it too." He breathed. I imagined his eyes twitching as it always does when he is excited about something.
"But what actually happened? I know Fatima to be a really nice person. How could she have gotten herself tangled with Musa...."
"Ha Ahmad!" Bala interrupted me. "Do you think the saying do not judge a book by its cover is nothing? Or is it because she was your crush? Besides, when was the last time you spoke to her? The Fatima you knew before cannot be the same one now".
"I guess you are right. I was just trying to picture her from before." I sighed. "So what happened."
"Well, from a reliable source, or let me just be honest. I found my way into the family and got to talk to her elder sister." He gave a small laugh. "It was alleged that Fatima was seeing Abdul her parent warned her about. She was not in love with him but he had to tolerate him because of his obsessive nature. loved him and was willing to do anything to be with him. Well, you know how it is, they got together and he impregnated her."
"God!" I shook my head even though I knew he couldn't see me. "She was one of those willing to pursue knowledge."
"Well, love does a lot of things. I was told she met him about 7years ago. We were in ss2 then but we never knew. Well, he made her abort the first pregnancy claiming she was young and she believed him."
"Women can be so naive." I scoffed.
Bola continued. "Things got heated after she got pregnant with his child again and had to drop out of school at 200 level. He tried to make her abort it but she refused so he abandoned her. She couldn't take it and you know keep pursuing. I guess at a time she was obsessed with him and kept stalking him."
"He was in the wrong but when he noticed her aggressive behavior, he could have gotten a restraining order," I suggested.
"Is Nigeria Canada?" I heard his frustration from his end. "Being in Canada for only 4 years has changed you. There is nothing like a restraining order here."
"Sorry." I offered. "Continue."
"Even after she put to birth, He just refused to have anything to do with her and that must have triggered her. She stalked him 2 months ago to the girl's house he was seeing and it was bad. She was able to kill him and his girl. I guess they must have taken a lot of Alcohol for a woman to overpower two adults who couldn't do anything to stop her."
"This is actually terrifying." My eyes were misty. "How was she caught."
"The neighbor heard screams and came to enquire. Thank God they were early as she was just starting to slash her throat but they stopped her and help came. It was a bloody crime scene."
"This is so unfortunate," I commented.
"It is. I don't know if she is going to get out of it." He puffed.
"I doubt. Killing two people is not a joke." I shrugged. "I wish her the best."
"When are you coming back to town?" Bola asked me.
"Not sure, but I wouldn't miss her trail for anything. I will fly back when the date for the hearing has been announced. Keep me in touch.."
"I will Musa. Take care". He said and hung up. I sat at my table thinking about life and how suddenly it changed. I felt bad for Fatsimo. Love is a dangerous thing I know but that would be another thought for another day. I shook my head and continued my work.