JASMINE’S SECRET
NINE
The auditorium at Healing Hearts was full to the brim. Parents, teachers, counsellors, and even some of the crème de la crème of society, were present for the organisation’s fifth-year anniversary. The room erupted in loud applause after the MC introduced Jasmine and asked her onto the stage. Kay joined in the clapping as well and kept his eyes glued to the podium, determined not to miss a thing. He was glad he had accepted Jasmine’s invitation to the event. The few hours he had spent at the centre allowed him a glimpse into Jasmine’s work life and what he saw made his respect for her climb several notches. Jasmine was passionate about the work she did, respectful to her employees, and loved the children she helped.
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Kay was not one to mix business with pleasure, but he couldn’t deny his growing feelings for Jasmine. He was getting more and more attached to Jasmine and he knew without a doubt that she felt the same way too. Thoughts of her constantly plagued his consciousness and he always had a hard time focusing on the job at hand. Kay realised that he needed to get a grip on himself because his entire career was at stake, but that was easier said than done.
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“Thank you” Jasmine’s voice cut through his musings. She was about to give her speech.
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“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Jasmine Adewole-Smith and I am the founder of this organisation. I started Healing Hearts about five years ago when I was still recovering from a very difficult phase in my life. Healing Hearts was found to cater to the needs of children who have been traumatised by sexual abuse. I am a survivor of the same, and I wish I had a community like this to hold my hand through the tough times.” She paused.
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To say Kay was surprised by this piece of information would be an understatement. He never guessed that she had been abused as a child. Looking back now, it all made sense; her very reserved nature, constant brooding, and non-existent social life. Greatest of all was her aversion to the male species. It was a wonder Kay had gotten this close to her. Watching Jasmine on that podium, speaking about her struggles made him feel very protective of her. He continued to listen with rapt attention.
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“Five years in now, our superb team of volunteers and I have had the privilege to work with over two thousand children from different parts of the country. I like to call the children I work with; Heroes. I would like to say to all of you that: I love you. Yes, I know you may feel angry, hurt, and maybe even disgusted at yourself. The words of Krishna Das that; ‘If you feel hurt by people, recognise that they are not hurting you because you are you, but because they are them’; are very true. The pain you endured was due to no fault of yours. So, do not let these emotions define you, rise above them and your future self will thank you. Trust me, I know because I have also weathered the storm. It’s going to be tough, but you WILL make it through this, I promise. Just believe.”
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“Twelve per cent of the children at Healing Hearts were abused by a trusted family member. These numbers tell us that sexual abuse and paedophilia are alive and well in our society and it is up to us as parents and caregivers to try to put an end to it.”
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At this point in her speech, Jasmine paused and leaned forward just a fraction of an inch. The expression on her face grew more serious, sobre even. Kay concluded that whatever she was about to say next, was very crucial. He chanced a look around the auditorium. The attention of every person in the room was fixed on the inspiring woman on stage, waiting for her next words. Kay smiled and turned his own attention back to Jasmine as she continued her speech.
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“Sadly, we receive at least two children who need access to our services, every week. Sometimes even more. This means that we cater for at least ten children maximum, in one month and our resources are slight. Healing Hearts survives thanks to our dedicated volunteers, who go above and beyond the call of duty. At times our in-house doctors and counsellors may not be at hand and fees for external consultations must be settled in cases like these. The electricity, medication, and phone bills are also not free. We do not pray for a day that we will have to turn any child away, nor do we want our organisation to fold up. It is for this reason that we are seeking donations from you, good people. Official donation pages have been set up on Facebook and Instagram. Your little donation can make a huge difference.”
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Jasmine smiled, and Kay’s heart melted. “I will leave you with this quote by Martin Luther King, Jnr.: ‘The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people.’
Thank you”.
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The audience erupted into loud cheers and a standing ovation. Kay had indeed been inspired by the speech. Amanda who was standing beside him wiped tears from her eyes. He felt a tugging at his heartstrings, but he refused to acknowledge the feeling.
