The next morning, Adewale stood by his decision. He gently took Abeni’s hand and said, “Come, my daughter. Today, you will see the village.”
Adunni’s heart pounded. She grabbed Abeni’s other hand. “No, she is not ready!”
Abeni looked between her parents, confused. “Mama, why can’t I go?”
Adunni knelt beside her, cupping her face. “Because the world is dangerous, my love. People will not understand you. They will fear you.”
“But why will they fear me?” Abeni asked innocently.
Before Adunni could answer, Adewale spoke. “Because they do not know you. That is why they must see you, Abeni. You deserve to live, to play, to be free.”
Adunni hesitated, but seeing the hope in Abeni’s eyes, she reluctantly agreed. “Fine. But she stays by my side the whole time.”
With that, the family stepped out into the world.
Abeni’s First Glimpse of the World
The village square was alive with activity. Women balanced baskets of fruits on their heads, traders shouted about their goods, and children ran around laughing.
Abeni’s eyes widened in wonder. “So many people…” she whispered.
Some villagers stopped and stared. It was the first time they had seen Adunni’s daughter up close.
“She is beautiful,” one woman whispered.
“But why does she never come out?” another asked.
The village children noticed Abeni and ran up to her. “Come play with us!” they said.
Abeni smiled brightly and turned to Adunni. “Mama, can I?”
Adunni clenched her hands, fear creeping into her heart. “No, stay close to me.”
But before she could stop her, Abeni ran toward the children. They laughed and played, running in circles, tossing small stones, and singing traditional songs.
For the first time in her life, Abeni felt free.
But then, something happened.
One of the children tripped and fell, scraping her knee. She started crying. Without thinking, Abeni rushed to her side, placing her tiny hands over the wound.
A soft golden light shimmered from Abeni’s palms, and right before everyone’s eyes, the wound disappeared.
The little girl gasped. “It doesn’t hurt anymore!”
A hushed silence fell over the crowd. The villagers exchanged nervous glances.
“She is not normal,” someone whispered.
“Did you see that?”
“A witch!” another voice said in fear.
The whispers grew louder, turning into murmurs of suspicion. Fear gripped Adunni’s heart. She rushed to Abeni, grabbed her hand, and pulled her away.
“We are going home,” she said firmly.
“But Mama—”
“Now!” Adunni snapped, her voice shaking.
As they walked away, she heard the murmurs behind her. The very people who had once celebrated Abeni’s birth were now afraid of her.
Adunni’s worst fear had come true.
That night, she held Abeni tightly and whispered, “You see now, my child? The world does not understand you. This is why I must protect you.”
Abeni, confused and frightened, nodded. “I will stay with you, Mama.”
But what Adunni did not know was that she was not protecting Abeni—she was trapping her. And soon, the child’s true power would break free in ways no one could control.
TO BE CONTINUED...