Rejected episode 2

REJECTED....
chapter 2

.....I joined the other boys and we worked for some hours more,it was 5:30pm,and we were set to go back to prison.
I had become acquitted to my fellow inmate, unlike when I came newly, I saw hell on earth.I was beaten by the inmates i met,it was the timely intervention of a warder that had saved my life, the boys were punished, they continued maltreating me,because I didn't bring anything for them, as if I knew I was to go to prison that day,may be they had expected me to come with some coolers of Niger jollof and even soft drinks to announce my arrival....but as some persons were freed,and some killed we became less,as new ones started coming the attention on me became less,it was shifted to the freshers,I soon became free from their bully and beaten....
Days,had run in weeks and weeks into months,I was still in prison,the most painful aspect, was the fact that my dad didn't come for me.I know my mom would never do, it was a good riddance to her,I was a burden and a terrifying sight, so having me in jail was a dream come through....i wanted to see my dad,at least to tell him I didn't do it,and would never bring such shame to his name, it broke my heart each day when I didn't hear the warder say,Jeffrey someone is here to see you.
Was daddy disappointed in me,did he believe I had robbed, had mom convinced him not to come and see me,was I adopted, was i a replacement for a debt,these words kept resounding in my head,but unfortunately no answer,,,I watched inmate being freed everyday,whose parent did all they could to get them out,whose relatives and friends comes visiting on weekly or daily basis,,,but I seems REJECTED, by my own family.....After having my hopes up for months and dad not showing up,I gave up,and accepted my fate and the road destiny had made for me...
In prison,you have the good,the bad,and the terrible... They good,were the innocent like me,who were just victims of life misfortune... They were the bad,who made some mistakes and they found themselves here,they were the terrible who had done something grievous, or even killed and had found themselves here, and not even willing to repent.... I know who I am, I an not evil and as such I didn't allow the environment I had found myself determine my life's path... I believed in God and knew this night mare wouldn't last forever, there is always an end to a tunnel.and no matter how dark the night is,there must be a break of a new day.....
I had turn 18,and was still in prison,it was three Years already,I was still in prison, and no one had ever visited me.I gave up on family, and understand I am alone.But I kept praying,believing God for a miracle.I found favour in the eyes of most warders,they loved me very much,according to them,I was different and do not belong in prison, my case was not that serious if I had someone to speak in my favour or reopen my case. But of course I had no one
After four years of my stay in prison,I was granted a state pardon with help of the warders, I didn't know where to go,left to me I wouldn't have thought of going to my home,but I had no choice and no one,I had to go....
So I soon found myself in my father's compound,unfortunately my parent had relocated ,I asked around for their new address, none seems to know their whereabouts, more like they disappeared...
But I could hear some women gossiping about me,"no be this boy e mama say na bad Pikin say he even kill person na jail e go die put,how he come take come out"one woman said to another"my sister na him oh,the matter tire me,maybe he don run commote from prison,chai we no safe for this area again ohhh",the other woman responded...
I felt I had died, my own mother,making such remarks and comments against me,I knew I wasn't safe anymore, people already sees me as a criminal in this area,I decided to leave Edo state, and begin a new life else where.I have heard so many good tales about Onitsha and how people make it there...
Soon I was set to leave for Onitsha with some money the warders had given me.I had no idea what to do there or where to stay, I just hoped and prayed God guilds me.

Written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi