MY AWFUL EXPERIENCE

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My uncle contacted me from the city at 6 p.m. on Friday and instructed me to visit his home on Monday to pick up a few items of food and other supplies for the family as Christmas is fast approaching.

Fast forward to Monday, I woke up extremely early, took my bath, and got ready in my pink gown with my flat shoes and my rainbow handbag. Since it will only take an hour to get from my town to the city, I decided to return the same day.

I left the house early, walked a minute to the junction, and took a bus going to the city, I plugged in my earpiece and started playing music as we traveled. When we arrived in the city, I got off the bus and waited by the roadside for a taxi to take me to my uncle's house. I was at the roadside when a guy approached me and said, "Good morning sister" I looked at him and replied, "Good morning," and turned around to face the other direction.

I initially ignored him since he was trying to talk to me and I was rushing to meet up with my uncle, but later I gave him my attention to hear him out. At first, all I could think of was that he wanted to ask me out, but what he wanted was very different from that.

"Please, I need your help," the man murmured as he turned to face me.
I told him, "I don't have money to give you this morning," and he said, "I lost my way, can you help me?"
"I came to the city to meet with a medical doctor, but his number wasn't connecting," he said.
"I don't know the person you are talking about," I replied.
He then gave me the address of where he was going and begged for my assistance.

Time had already passed at this point, so I instructed him to stop a motorcycle and give him the address so that they could take him there. However, the guy was not after the motorcycle rider but insisted that I take him instead, I disagreed with him on that, he was pleading seriously saying his father was about to die and he needed urgent medical attention, at this point I felt sorry for him and I decided to help him by taking him to the address.

I stopped two motorcycles, hopped on them, and drove off, my motorcycle was leading the way, when we arrived at the location we were going, I showed him the house and instructed the motorcycle rider to take me to my uncle's house, but this guy requested that I follow him and meet the doctor so he would appreciate my effort.

I agreed to see the doctor because I was naive and thought that everyone was created equal. When we arrived at the compound, I met a man who happened to be an herbalist. I fidgeted, but I managed to keep quiet. "Good morning sir," I said. "Good morning my daughter," he responded.
I was about to depart at this point because my uncle had been calling to ask where I was.
"Thank you for helping my guest," the herbalist said to me
"It is nothing Sir" I replied to the herbalist
"I will bless you for what you did," said the herbalist
"I did it out of my goodwill, there will be no need for you to stress yourself Sir" I replied the man
At this point, my phone was ringing non-stop because my family didn't get through to me, the missed calls were numerous even from my Uncle.

I abruptly ended the conversation and excused myself by saying that I would be leaving right away. He asked where I was going, and I replied that I was going to my uncle's house. At this point, I was not myself anymore, I had been captured by their charm, therefore he told me to go to my uncle's house, pack all the money there, and then bring it to him. I responded Okay without any disagreement.

I left the place and went right to my uncle's house, but he was not at home. I called him to find out where he was, and he instructed me to wait and where to get his house key. I opened the door and was searching his home for cash to give to the herbalist, my phone rang, and when I picked it up, the herbalist's voice was heard. I didn't give him my number, but he called and informed me that my uncle didn't have any cash at home, he told me that my mother had money at home and in her bank account, so I should leave his house and return to my town to bring all the money I can find.

I left my uncle's house with the food and disregarded the instruction to wait for him. I stopped a motorcycle to take me to the pack. This herbalist was on call with me during that time; it felt as though he was watching me through his mirror. I arrived in my town and got off the bus. Instead of walking home, I hurried to stop a motorcycle to take me home, When I got home, the man started outlining to me every room in our house and how I could acquire money and give it to him.

When I returned home, my mother and siblings had already left for work. I went into my mother's room and looked through all her luggage, I noticed some money. The herbalist told me to open my mother's closet and bring out all the money as well. I looked everywhere and found a lot of money but couldn't find my mother's ATM. He told me to bring all the money to him and told me not to tell anyone unless I was going to die. I was terrified to hear this and kept my mouth shut.

I packed up all of the cash in my mother's closet and left the house. On the way, I ran into my cousin's brother, who asked me where I was going. As I was about to answer, my phone rang, and I saw that it was the herbalist. I picked up the phone, and he warned me that if I told my cousin what had happened, I would start coughing blood and die. I was too afraid to speak, so I immediately discharged my brother and continued walking towards the junction.

I was fidgeting, my eyes were heavy with tears because I did not want to die, I left my town with the money and made my way to his house. After arriving, I gave him all the money I had packed from my mother, and he took my phone and released me. I got home before I realized what had happened, and I ran to my mother and told her everything that had happened. This was the moment I realized I had been duped.

Although my mother was hurt since not all of the money belonged to her, she tried to comfort me and give me advice so I wouldn't make the same mistake again out of love.

This is my response to this episode of #theinkwell prompt #52