It was just a week after we graduated from high school, I and two other friends were discussing in the room I share with my other siblings, we were talking about how we would be able to make it since we are not so sure of going to college (university). Things weren't that smooth in our respective homes, everyone was basically struggling, our mums have helped us with high school and now we felt we need to help our selves with the rest or with life it self.
Grace, ese and i had been friends for like forever, we attended the same school from elementary to senior classes, our parent knew each other but are not that close. We go to school together and come back together, I would say we were basically triplet. The only time we are not seen together is when we are going to church, our parents attend different churches and so we have to also attend with them.
We were thinking how we would support the family and we decided if we could help some business owners to sell and then we get paid. That was a good plan and we did it for a month, we fortunately saw someone that was ready to employ the 3 of us but we would be doing different things. At the end of the month we were not paid in full because the boss said that the business was really slow. Afterwards we left and decided not to work there again.
Anyways to break down everything uncle Jones our neighbor called us one day and said he have a good news for us and then he explained that his elder sister who was in Italy is looking for people preferably young girls that would love work with her and they would be paid handsomely. This sounded too good to be true but then it was a good news. We asked him the amount of money we would pay for all this and he said we wouldn't pay a dime, his sister would sponsor our passport and visa, including food and personal things but then we would give her a certain amount of money after we are been paid for working.
He proceeded and said we should try and convince our mums because they might not want us to go. We started planning on how we were going to tell our mums, because this felt like a good opportunity and none of us wanted to miss this. Finally we gathered courage and we spoke to our various mums, i told my mum that this would bring us a good money and we would upgrade our style of living and it would also help to cater for my other siblings. At first my mum refused but then she said if that I what I wanted then I should go ahead. I was super happy and luckily my friends mum some how agreed.
They later met up with uncle Jones and he also convinced them more that we would be safe and also make alot of money and also send some home. Within 2 weeks our papers were ready according to him, he only showed us the passport and told us to start packing up that we would be leaving in the next 5 days. I remembered how I was very restless and nervous at the same time, I packed my bag, my friends did theirs too and we were ready to travel.
The D-day came and it was an emotional thing for us, we were sad we would miss our family members but at the same time happy we are leaving the country. We entered a bus which we believed is taking us to the airport, but later we found out we would not be traveling that day instead they drove us to a hotel inside a faraway place because I could hardly see any buildings around. Immediately we got there I noticed we weren't the only girls traveling , there were also another 15 girls in the hotel. I was surprised but then I felt the job must be very big and good for almost 20 girls to be traveling for.
Suddenly in middle of the night we were all sleeping and i started hearing people talking outside cause I slept beside the windows. Normally I wouldnt check but this time I decided to, I just had this strong feelings that I'm supposed to check, I tiptoed to a corner that is closer to the people talking and that was when I heard shocking things, in pidgin I heard them Saying they are waiting for a boat that would come and carry us and I also heard we aren't going to Italy instead they were taking us to Libya.
I knew I wasn't that dumb but I do clearly understand that we have be decieved and traveling on a boat is quite dangerous not even a ship, and also going to Libya when he clearly said Italy (which means we would be sold) and I knew I also have the fear of water which was quite scary for me. I was so confused and almost started crying but I held my tears and quietly went back inside, i wanted to go and wake my friends but I remembered we were separated in the hotel, i didn't know if I should start knocking on those doors or just find a place to hide. I knew if I knock I might get the attention of those men and maybe they might hurt me but then I decided to run for my life, i tiptoed out of the hotel by luck without anyone knowing.
I never had a phone then, so there was no one I could call but then I started running for my life. I ran in the middle of that night even though I was really scared. I ran as much as my legs could carry me, some how I was able to get to the main road and this was in the morning. With the help of some people I was able to get home after 4 days. I got home and every one was surprised to see me, I later told them what happened and they started screaming.
We searched for uncle Jones and he was no where to be found, somehow news got to us that there was a boat that sank and it was said to be carrying a group of girls and some men. We weren't sure if it was the same boat that was supposed to carry me and the other girls or another one, but up to this days we haven't heard from anyone. I don't know if my friends are alive or even dead but we haven't seen them for the past 8 years now. We reported to the police but nothing was done.
This incident reshaped my life and made me realize that I'm supposed to take life one step at a time and not rush, It also help me not to trust people at all, although I lost my two best friend but I'm glad i survived to tell the story. It been so many years. I might not have achieved all I wanted but I'm glad life is treating me fair.
Thank you for reading 💕 💕 💕 🙏
