KEEPING SECRETS

Leah was unsure of what to say. It was the first time that Aunt Fatness had ever spoken about what she did to Uncle Phiri. After it happened none of the adults talked about it so Leah had pieced the story together by reading the newspapers and from local gossip when she was not supposed to be listening. Leah had always wondered why Aunt Fatness had almost killed her husband but now Aunt Fatness was right in front of her, she couldn’t ask.

‘My problem was I kept all the hurt, anger and humiliation of being abused inside me. I kept it all a secret. Had I opened up I would not have reached boiling point and snapped. Also, if I had spoken about it, I would have had witnesses in court to testify that I was abused,’ Aunt Fatness said suddenly looking sad and very tired.