Life As We Know It
Fifteen years of war and counting, I, just like every other Mpape resident, have forgotten what it means to have a quiet day. Explosions every now and then, women and children scurrying for safety during sudden attacks. One minute you’re walking the streets in search for food and the next minute, you’re hiding and praying not to be caught up in crossfire, this is how we live now.
I was in search for some food as me and siblings were dying of hunger, when another attack started.
I found myself huddled with a male stranger in the nearest hiding place. Out of fear, we held each other’s hands tightly.
The explosions grew louder and closer. How long would it be before it got to us?
I turned around and asked him to have sex with me. “But what about hell? Aren’t you scared?” he asked. “This is how we live, this is how we know life, we’re never truly sure what tomorrow holds. But I’m sure I don’t want to die a virgin” I replied. So I tugged at his zippers and his trembling hands moved round my body. The rest was just like I had read in novels