MY NEMESIS

It was on a Monday, but not like the usual Monday morning or other mornings when I take to my usual routines which were stretching out my big biceps allowing them crack up hundreds of times before running down to my bed for my breakfast which consists of hot push ups, a glass of water and a normal wash off, and then off to the Government Residential Area – or GRA as it is fondly called – to see if anything good would come out of my years of studying Public Administration with a Second Class Lower which I managed to get. Before now, I had written several job exams but on this particular one, I have been able to scale through two orals and a written test. This Monday was the crowning of all my efforts; I was just one step away from getting my appointment letter.

But this particular Monday morning was just too cold, my bones wouldn't crack, I was weak and felt an ill omen about this Monday, I couldn't take my usual breakfast, everything seemed weird, things were not falling in place; my toothbrush hurt my gum, my faeces came out hard and hot, the sponge down was unusually painful with the water annoyingly cold. I perceived something was wrong, but no, it is normal to be anxious and feel sick when one is to appear before the boss of bosses.

As soon as I walked out of my room, I hit my left feet against a stone, 'a sign of good luck' I said to myself even when I know the general notion of hitting one's left feet against a stone is a sign of bad luck,  I disagreed. Just a stone throw from my house a speeding blue Volvo with rickety body and sonorous music wafting from its speakers, which alerts every willing and unwilling listener to turn around, dashed into a pothole nearby and gave me a bath, as though I forgot to have one, while the driver only waved his hand expressing how not sorry he was. I rushed back home, without having another bath, I changed hurriedly into another shirt and trousers.

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When I finally got to the gate of Aldon Group of Companies, I was already twenty eight minutes late and sweating as though my sweat gland had leakages. Sitting with other awaiting candidates, I felt a bit relieved, though I knew something was wrong with today, maybe something awful had  happened to Mama, Matthew, or Beauty who would not just say 'yes' after four months of me asking her out. It took seven hours before it got to my turn, just when I was about getting up, I felt nauseous, my bones were heavy, I could not breathe, my saliva was dried up, I needed water but it was too late. I knocked and heard a sweet welcoming voice. "Come in," the voice ushered.

For the first time in my life, I couldn't open a door. I struggled with it as though I needed a manual. Just as I gained entrance and closed the door behind, I became transfixed and my heartbeat stopped for several seconds. Finally my nemesis has caught up with me. All these years, I thought I had asked God to pardon me and forget about the horror I caused a female corps member eight years ago. I ruined her inner and outer being by my action. My legs became heavy and I dropped on my knees.                                                         

Some years past, I had joined a notorious highway robbery gang and on one of our missions, my group members challenged my sexual prowess and dared me to exhibit my sexual skills on one of our victims. I took pride in raping her severally in order to prove them otherwise. I made sure I left a lasting scar on her face and on some parts of her body. I did all these just to prove them wrong but as I stood transfixed to the ground, I realized I don't know who to prove right or wrong.