Tee's Musings

Yesterday, I saw a glimpse of the beauty that still exists in our world... So today, I woke up with a smile… knowing that outside of Aunty Ìrètí’s screams of pain…Augusta’s tears… and my ‘broken’ heart, love still exists... and it lives right in our compound… in the Oyéwọ̀s’ flat.

Days following the event at dawn, Mama Augusta told me what she had heard about the incident. She heard Aunty Ìrètí had gone out with friends the night before...danced and partied all night long...and only returned at dawn.  She heard Mr. Atiládé had waited all night for her... and it was her entrance that woke him from the chair he had sat all night. She heard he became so angry... he lost control... so he beat her... but he regretted it...so he went out and bought her new clothes and bags to show how sorry he is... Aunty Ìrètí forgave and all was well again.

*Image by  Ben Rosett  via https://unsplash.com* Yesterday evening, Aunty  Ìrètí's  scream filled the air. We knew what it meant...Mr. Atiládé is beating his wife again. Mr. Atiládé is a man’s man... many would say he's a leader amongst men...it shows in every step he takes... Strong, Confident, and impressive. And Aunty  Ìrètí  is his ‘beauty queen’ wife.

Our walk to the house was slow… and quiet. I glanced at Augusta… she was looking straight ahead... the relief she felt after Aunty nurse gave us the report was long gone… and now replaced with foreboding... a feeling of doom she could not escape. I wished I could find the words to assure her but even I was not sure how her mother would react.

Earlier this morning, I asked Mama Augusta if Augusta could accompany me today when I go into town... I promised I would bring her back on time. “You know Augusta is your sister, just call her whenever you are ready” she had said. I smiled... yet worried that the information I would later bring will change this mother forever.

copied from unsplash.com Augusta came knocking yesterday.  Although there was nothing strange about her visit for she is a regular guest in my room but yesterday was different... Her signature smile was in place as I opened my door to her... but deep in her big beautiful black eyes was a sadness I had never seen in the always bubbling Augusta. Augusta is one of the gifts the township gave me... I noticed her eyes immediately... even before she spoke a word. They were a beautiful contrast with the sad ones that accompanied me from the village. She had the kind of eyes that always seem to smile in a way that says ‘I know a secret no one else knows’. It draws everyone to her... just like it drew me.  She and her kind mother had helped me arrange the little room I was to live in when I had first moved to the township many moons ago. That evening, after we were done arranging, Mama Augusta left to make the night’s meal but Augusta stayed, insisting she would play wi...