‘Yeah. That’s it. Just the way I taught you. Ughhhhhhhhh!’ He grabs my head like he usually does, pushing and pulling me up and down. A movement I’ve gotten used to with time. ‘Yesss. Oh yes! I’m coming sweetheart.’ Sweetheart. I remember the first day Tosin’s dad called me that. It meant something to me. …
‘Damn it! Lola. I had no idea you went through so much. First with your dad and then mine… and all while you were so young. I can’t even imagine what you had to go through.’ No matter how many men I fuck, no matter how many times I fuck them, I just can’t forget …
Mr Tosin’s dad said he’ll take care of me. Does that mean he’ll make me work just like daddy before I eat? Will I have to go to someone’s house to take something too before I’m allowed to live here? I don’t understand. ‘What do you mean by “you’ll take care of me”?’ ‘You’ll understand …
I feel this sinking feeling in my stomach like I’m going to throw up. He was fascinated by little girls?! So it wasn’t just me? Many other girls had been bought and sold like property for his amusement. It seems Tosin notices my reaction and puts his hands on mine but that doesn’t help. I …
“You’re friends with the weirdo next door. I had no idea.” I say to Amaka. She affords me a distracted grunt and continues scrolling through Instagram. I pad to her bed and plop down. Then I snatch her phone. She looks at me, her face contorted in protest. “I didn’t know you’re friends with the …
What? Why is he looking at me like that? What does he mean? I slowly get up from the bed and move towards the door. ‘Mr Tosin’s daddy, thank you for giving me daddy’s gold watch. Tosin and Daddy are waiting for me and I want to go.’ As I move towards the door, he …
After twisting my ankle, I allow Tosin to carry me into his house. A place that holds a lot of painful memories. I can’t help but wonder if this is really the house I had walked up to many years ago. That daddy had sent me to steal from. Thinking back, the house seemed a …
‘Dad! Wait! It’s my fault. I brought her in.’ This man is strong. Maybe even stronger than daddy. What am I going to do? Daddy warned me not to let anyone see me and now not only did Tosin see me but his daddy too. What is he going to do? And daddy, he’s still …
‘What the fuck?! Where are you taking me?’ ‘Just trust me.’ I can’t believe my ears. Did he just ask me to trust him? This guy who I slept with once is suddenly asking me to trust him? I’m about to scream but instinct stops me. What if he’s actually crazy and screaming makes it …
I hold Tosin’s hand as he leads me into the house. It’s dark and I can’t see anything. I hold him tighter, the way I used to do with Mummy when it’s dark. Tosin turns on the torch and points it down, it helps us know where to go. ‘Shhhhhh. Be quiet. Don’t say …