In The Shadows(Melody Kuku) I looked at the little girl that was huddled in a corner of my office.
Her hair was scattered. Her clothes, torn in unlikely places. She covered her face with her hands while silent.

A good samaritan had found her trying to scavenge food from a public wastebin. Instead of taking her to an orphanage, he brought her to the rehabilitation center I run.

I moved closer to her and she flinched then moved farther into a corner.

"Don't be afraid, we want to help you", I said reassuringly.

She glanced at me in fear then in doubt. I smiled.

"Would you like something to eat and a change of clothes maybe?" I asked.

She shook her head but I sent my assistant to get her food. She grabbed the tray of bread and tea placed before her, eating rapidly.

Her face was dusty from not having a shower in a long while. She was beautiful still but for the finger marks and boils on her face.

"Tell me you name".

"I hate my name", she replied, finally looking up at me.

She hated her name and told us to call her anything we wanted. So we named her Angel. She indeed looked like one. She was barely eleven years old and behind the dirt and rag was a sweet and vulnerable face.

Her eyes however were dark and deep with stories and experiences too much for someone her age. She had known pain before she even knew the meaning of good and love.

"Angel, it's okay. No one will ever hurt you here", I said, bending over her.

She flinched again and pulled away from my touch. It was hard for her to understand that she could find love and that the days of her suffering or being abused were over.

"Don't you think you deserve love, don't you think you deserve to be happy?" I asked softly.

She shook her head and stared at me with tears filled eyes that broke my heart.

" I am an orphan. My mom is died and my dad is dead to me for all I care".

I reached out for her hands and this time she didn't flinched or move away.

"I'm so sorry about your mom and your dad... well, I don't know how he hurt you but you should talk about it so I can help you".

"I can't. I hate myself, I just want to die. He abused me. Everyone used me. I don't want anything", She said hysterically.

"It doesn't matter how you feel, you deserve happiness dear".

She looked up suddenly at me, her eyes glittering yet dark.

"Can you help me? Can you kill me?" she asked.

I shook my head..

"Let me tell you a story sweetie. I was once like you. I too had lots of terrible experience so know you are not alone. Do you want to hear it?"

She nodded and I sat down beside her, staring at nothing as I went back into time.

"My parents died when I was your age. So, I went to live with an Uncle. He was a policeman. He treated me well during the first week of my arrival at his house.

After that, I was introduced to hell. He raped me one night when I was asleep. I woke up to find him trying to force himself into me. I tried to scream but he covered my mouth with his big hands. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone.

The following days, months and years went with me being raped whenever he felt like it. I was scared and I didn't have anyone to tell.

I decided to tell the wife one day. I was shocked to discover that his wife knew whst he was doing to me. They had no kids and were a perverted couple. Soon, it became usual for them to molest me together.

When I turned thirteen, they sent me to a public school because people told them that they were being mean by not sending me to school.

I channelled all my anger and hurt into my studies. I needed freedom and the only way to get it was through an education. I hated people touching me. It brought memories I didn't want.

Angel, I went through a lot of depression and self-disgust. I hated myself for being so helpless. I hated my parents for dying. I hated my uncle and his wife for abusing me.

One day, I had enough. I had gathered enough courage to slit my own throat with one of the knives in the school cafeteria. I was about doing that in the school kitchen when one of the Cooks stopped me.

She pulled it away from me. I broke down in her arms and told her everything. I still don't know where the courage to tell her all that came from. But today, I'm glad I did.

She told the principal who agreed that she should take me to her home. They got lawyers for me who ensured that my Uncle and his wife were jailed.

I continued with my education. This time sponsored by NGOs who took interest in me.

I had a new and happy life. But it took me time to understand that I could be happy. I had to learn that the gift of love is free, it took me time to accept the fact that people could love me.

Eventually, I was determined to step out of the shadows of fear, hurt and resentment. I was ready to be free, I wanted to see the live not just exist and now I'm doing so.

You need to confide in someone in order to heal Angel".

Angel was in tears now. I put my arms around her.

"You can be what you want to be. You can be an Angel, you can be great. You can be happy".

"How can you help me?"

"It's easy, start by stepping out of your shadows. You've been there too long".

She stood up and in her eyes, I saw hope.

"My name is Claire", she said.

"It's nice to meet you Claire".

She smiled at me; her first step out of the shadows.

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