JASMINE’S SECRET
FIVE
Healing Hearts.
Jasmine built the NGO from scratch to cater to victims of any form of sexual abuse. As the name implied, the centre provided victims with the necessary help needed to heal from the pain and trauma they had endured.
Jasmine worked mostly with children at the centre, and she loved every one of them fiercely. Having been in their shoes herself, connecting with the kids was easy. Often, she succeeded in forming a bond with a new child where their in-house counsellors failed. It was for this reason that one of the counsellors, Doctor Abbey, knocked on the door to Jasmine’s office, a young boy, not more than ten years old behind him.
Jasmine looked up from the files she was working on. “Come in.”
Dr. Abbey stepped in and seated the child on the couch by the window. Tipping his chin at the boy, he walked up to Jasmine’s desk, leaned in, and whispered:
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“Jas, your ‘expert touch’ is needed here. I’ve been unable to connect with him- and he’s been here for four hours. I suspect he’s a run-away.”
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“What makes you say that?”
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Jasmine glanced at the boy, who was looking out at the city below a faraway look in his eyes.
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Dr. Abbey shrugged. “He walked into the building and told Linda that he needed help. She brought him to me, but he’s not uttered a word since then.”
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“Alright, I’ll see what I can do,”
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“Work your magic,” Dr. Abbey winked and left her office.
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Jasmine rose from her seat behind the desk and went to crouch beside the young boy.
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“My name is Jasmine. What’s yours, sweetheart?”
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He turned to face her, and she smiled at him. Although he held himself rigid and seemed aloof, his eyes revealed his true emotions. They mirrored a lot of pain. He remained silent, and Jasmine was sure he contemplated whether to trust her. Finally, he looked down at his feet and mumbled:
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“My name is Damilola.”
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“It’s nice to meet you Damy. Can I call you that?”
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He nodded. Satisfied, she held out her hand. He paused for a second before he took it.
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“Would you like some refreshments, Damy? You must be famished.”
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He nodded slowly. She went over to the snack tray and picked him some biscuits with a pack of Ribena drink. He accepted the snacks and thanked her.
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“I have seen you on T.V you know. That was how I knew to come here.” Damy pronounced in between mouthfuls.
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Jasmine felt she was making headway. “Oh really?” she breathed. “Is there any particular reason you wanted to be here?”
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Damy stopped chewing and literally froze. Jasmine held her breath, afraid he had clamped up. After a while, he whispered. “I was… raped.”
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Jasmine took his hands in hers and spoke to him gently. “That’s horrible. Would it make you feel better if you talked to me about what happened?”
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Damy told her everything. He had been raped by their neighbour, Jim who was a bachelor and lived alone. Damy’s parents worked a lot and they often requested Jim to look after him when he returned from school and whenever they had to go out on weekends. Everything had started with Jim touching him inappropriately. Damy reported this to his parents but they refused to believe him.
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The last straw for Damy was when he had reluctantly gone to Jim’s house after school the day before. He made sure to remain at the front door and refused to enter the house. Jim had then forcefully dragged him inside and carried out the disgusting deed.
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Fortunately for Damy, before Jim could finish, he got hold of a baton and hit him over the head with it. Damy took his chance and escaped, making his way to the Healing Hearts. The centre had been closed then. But Damy spent the night in the garage and had come into the offices in the morning.
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Jasmine listened to Damy relive his experience without interrupting. She felt a myriad of emotions- pity and rage both at the fore. Pity; for the poor boy who had been let down and violated by people who should have protected him. Rage; at Damy’s parents for not believing in him and at Jim; the randy, paedophile neighbour.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to console him.
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“It sounds like you have been through hell, Damy. It’s no wonder you seemed angry when you got here.” She sat by him on the couch and put her arms around his shoulders. “It’s going to be alright, now that you are here. No one is going to hurt you anymore, I promise.”
