STIGMATISED

The sun rays shine into Valeria's room waking her up from her beauty sleep, she yawn and her phone rang.

"Hello Daisy" Valeria greeted with sleepy eyes wondering why Daisy called her this early

"They are hurting us" Daisy said from the other side of the phone with tears

"What do you mean?" Valeria asked jumping up from bed with fear

"They are hurting us, please help" Daisy said with more tears and Zarah could be heard screaming in pain at the background

"I'm on my way" Valeria said and rush out of the room. On her way to the door, she met her mother who was coming from outside.

"Where are you going to in your night wear?" Geraldine asked stopping the panicked Valeria

"Daisy called and I could hear Aunt Zarah in pain" Valeria said breathing heavily

"Calm your nerves young lady" Geraldine said

"Mother, I think they are in danger" Valeria said trying to pass by her mother

"Dress up properly and don't forget your manners, I will go there with you" Geraldine said and Valeria rush to her room to dress up. She was back before the blink of an eye and she rush out with her mother who keeps asking her to stay calm.

****

Getting to Daisy's house, the scene in front of them made Valeria break down, few women are in front of the house with cane and cardboards that has different writings 'Drunkard starting a business in our society? We won't let that happen!', 'Our society deserves better', 'Beg your husband shameless woman'. One of the woman raised the cane up to hit Zarah who is sitting on the floor, Geraldine couldn't take it, she walked up to the woman and collected the cane.

"How dare you?" The woman asked facing Geraldine.

"I should be asking you that!" Geraldine said with anger

"Why are you meddling in other people's business?" Another woman asked

"That question should be directed to you" Geraldine replied furiously

"Stop that woman and go home to take care of your families" Another woman shouted from behind showing Geraldine the cane

"You all are the shameless ones" Geraldine said pointing to them

"You are here beating a fellow woman who faced alot in her marriage. You are here punishing a fellow woman for her husband's mistake. Yes, she didn't take the heartbreak well and did the unthinkable, how you can help her should be your next move not here with canes and cardboards. If you act like this, how will your children act if a similar situation happens in the future? Zarah realised she took her heartbreak wrongly and is ready to make amends but we are the one stopping that amendment. If we the women, the mothers doesn't welcome her with open arms, how will our children and husband welcome her?" Geraldine lectured with anger and the women throw the canes and cardboards away.

"We are sorry for this" one of the women said and they leave one by one after apologising. Valeria help Zarah and Daisy inside the house and the injured carpenter went home.

"It comes with the culture" Geraldine said with a smile

"Thank you for today, I will forever feel indebted to you" Zarah said with tears

"That doesn't mean I will forget what you did in the past. I'm only here because my daughter was dead worried about you" Geraldine said leaving Daisy and Valeria puzzled

"Let's take care of your wound" Valeria said collecting the first aid box from Daisy, the room became awkward and Geraldine walk out of the room with tears.

"I will be right back" Valeria said running after her mother

"Mother! What's wrong?" Valeria asked and Geraldine hugged her tight

"I thought I was over the pain but seeing her right now brings back all those memories" Geraldine said with tears

"What memories mother?" Valeria asked confusedly

"I and Zarah were best friends in college, I got pregnant with James when I was in my final year in college, I confided in her and let her know the pregnancy won't show until after college. My pregnancy became a news in the school after a week, I dropped out from school, disowned by my family and stigmatised by the society. Even after giving birth to James and getting married to your father, that early pregnancy stigmatisation is still there and the person that caused it is right there in the house" Geraldine narrated with tears. Valeria didn't expect it which makes her understand why her mother overreacted the day before.

"This is huge but you can't hold grudges" Valeria said consoling her mother

"I can't forgive her and I will never" Geraldine said angrily

"You will mother. You saw everything that happened to her today, that's like a pro max of what happened to you. Nemesis caught up with her and she's being stigmatised by the society" Valeria said and Geraldine looked at her with surprise, she never expected Valeria to be that smart. After much pleading, Geraldine decided to forgive her old friend and also hear her out. They went back inside to talk to the crying Zarah

"You two should talk it out" Valeria said and pull Daisy away from them. The two of them did few staring game before hugging each other in tears

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to say the secret out" Zarah said in tears

"I forgive you Zarah" Geraldine replied in tears.

"Nemesis caught up with me" Zarah said and Geraldine burst into laughter

"You don't deserve to go through hell but it's fine you did!" Geraldine replied teasingly and they both laugh.

They did few catching up before Geraldine and Valeria leave for their house. Getting back home, Valeria read more on stigmatisation and how it can affect the mental health of the person being stigmatised, she felt sorry for her mother and Aunt Zarah.

"They must have been through alot" She said still reading her search answers on the web.