Episode 7 Hanatu's story

Tope was Mrs Nafang's niece. She was a student of the university of Jos and came during the weekends to visit her aunt. She was fat and very beautiful. Kind and sweet. But beyond that she changed my life.

Even though I was rude to her and unwelcoming, she never stopped smiling at me and trying to be my friend. She would tell me that I was beautiful and attractive and she just loves me. I hated her even more because i felt God was partial to allow some people have it all rosy and let the rest of us suffer. But Tope was not moved. She said she knew the rude attitude wasn't the real me, that something was fueling it and that she could help me but I didnt care. I bluntly told her I didn't want her help and then stood up and walked away.

But she never stopped being nice to me. She always made effort to ask about my well being and always left me with either a kind word and a gift which left me confused many times. I have never seen someone intrested in another person's life like this. What does she stand to gain?

One saturday morning, we were washing beans together to make moi-moi and she softly touched my hand, looked at me and said

"You seem to be carrying so much burden and you dont think you should share with anyone but everything will be fine.. Just make sure you fight till you win" I quickly retracted my hand and starred at her strangly but I couldn't fight the tears.

"Fight". I remembered my dad, the rape, the pregnancy, the twins, my mother's illness. Everything flashed through my mind in a split second and I got up and walked away.

Tope came to meet me and there I told her everything that had happened. I told her how hopeless my life was and how I wished death on many occasions. But all she did was smile. She told me it was people with tough experiences like me that God normally uses to change the world. She told me my life was being crafted out by God even through the bad experiences but I was the one who would determine if my story will end beautifully.

She said "there can be no victory without a fight"

I asked her who I was supposed to fight and she gave me the answers my heart had been searching for all these years.

She said it wasn't a "who" that I was fighting, that it was a "what".

She told me I had to fight the fear, hatred, depression, bitterness, hopelessness. She said I had to to fight to forgive the men that raped me and my sisters, fight against failure and every other emotions that has held me down over the years and rise up and win the battle of life against all odds.

Her words seemed to go straight to my spirit just like when my dad said his last words to me.
Tope came to the house more often because of me. She took time to paint a new picture of life for me. She spent so much time with me that I didn't even realise when I began to change. I was softer and more gentle, just like her.

My new attitude made my madam to love me even much more that she put me in school. I began to put on weight and my skin was smoother. For the first time in my life, I had hope. I loved me.

Two years later I went back to see my family and they couldn't believe it was me. Chubby, fresh and full of joy. I brought clothes and shoes for all of them including my babies. I couldn't believe I ever hated these cute innocent girls. I was so blessed to have them. I told my sisters all that had happened to me. I told them I would teach them how to fight. Of course they were confused. Lol. But with time I'm sure they would understand.

I told my mum there was hope. So much hope and that life was going to get better soon. She cried but not tears of sorrow this time, tears of joy.

I'm now back to the city with so many dreams. A passion in my heart to teach women, young and old, how to fight and win internal battles. To fight every negative emotion that is limiting their lives till they win. That's what I want to be in future. That's what I want to be everyday. "

"A fighter"

I hope my story inspires and challenges you to become that too.

Lets be strong women, become a fighter and everyday, teach another girl how to fight.

Lets change this world together, one girl at a time.

My name is Hannatu..

The end.