EPISODE 1
Adaobi was only fourteen. Too young to understand the weight of the world, but old enough to be crushed under it. She was brilliant in class, always sitting in the front row with her notebook pressed neatly on her d£sk, her uniform ironed even though it had begun to fade from too many washes.
Her widowed mother, Mama Ada, sold garri and beans by the roadside, struggling to pay school fees. Every evening, Ada would help her count the coins, promising, “Mama, I’ll study hard and become a doctor so you won’t suffer again.”
But sometimes, dreams die too soon.
Her class teacher, Mr. Bamidele, was not just respected but feared. Tall, with glasses that always slipped down his nose, he was the type who students avoided crossing. Yet beneath his calm smile was something darker, something Adaobi couldn’t see until it was too late.
It started with small favors—“Adaobi, stay after class, I’ll help you with your mathematics.” Then gifts—meat pie, soft drinks, and sometimes transport money to “help Mama.” Ada thought he was just kind. After all, teachers are meant to guide, aren’t they?
But kindness turned to touches. Touches turned to whispered promises. And whispered promises soon became something Adaobi could not tell anyone. She didn’t even understand it fully—only that her teacher said, “This is our little secret. If you love me, you won’t tell.”
Three months later, the morning sickness started. Ada thought it was malaria. But when her belly began to change, her mother saw it first.
“Adaobi…” Mama’s voice shook as she dragged her into their one-room house, locking the door. “What is this I am seeing?”
Tears welled in Ada’s eyes. She stammered, hands trembling, “Mama… it’s Uncle… I mean, it’s Mr. Bamidele.”
Her mother staggered back as though lightning had struck her chest. “Your… your class teacher?” She pressed her hands to her head and wailed, “Chineke! What have I done to deserve this shame?”
That night, the whole compound buzzed with whispers. Neighbors gathered outside their window, pretending to fetch water but listening for every cry. Some blamed Ada, saying she was too forward for her age. Others pointed fingers at the teacher, calling him a predator.
But the worst was yet to come.
Because when the matter reached the school, and then the church, and finally the police—something happened that no one in the community ever expected.
To be continued......
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