The Thing Between My Legs | A Fiction by Micheal Ace

You would never know how tormenting life can be until you begin to read your misery from a thousand faces. The first time I experienced such trauma was when we all came back from church one afternoon.

Daddy drove into the compound and parked beside the newly planted flowers. We all rushed inside to bounce on the breakfast we had preserved before leaving for church, but dad stayed back. He wanted to listen to news from the car radio.

“Lora! Go outside and call your dad. His food is getting cold” mum called out from her bedroom.

 

I am Dominic Lora, a HND1 student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I’m studying banking and finance and school life has been a wonderful experience to me.

Immediately, i got out, leaving the television remote on the table. I ran as much as I could because the movie I was watching was a television series. I could not pause. Something gave my eyes a strange blink seeing dad from afar but I was so engulfed with the movie that I couldn’t comprehend what it might be. I got close, closer, and finally, I touched dad who had already gone cold.

I made a gentle push on him and there he fell flat against the windscreen.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” I did not know when my voice began to tremble, I did not know when everyone inside heard me and rushed outside. I did not know what happened next until the day we all marched in black, alongside an ambulance. Mum was held by two older women. She was crying her eyes out. Everyone wore a face that had been either painted with gloss or beaten to wet.

Pastors came, not to wake the dead, but to teach us how to sing a goodbye song to dad.

Most times when we lose something, we know when, but we would never know why, we would never know how.

No! I actually know how it happened because three days earlier, dad had come into my room that night when I was about taking my bath. I watched him move closer to me with a mind I couldn’t tell what he intended. He held me by the shoulder, strolled his hand down my chest to where my nipples are. I looked straight into his face but I couldn’t tell if those balls were actually the eyes I used to see. He wore an hungry smile, blocked my mouth with one hand and held my back with the other.

Six minutes later, he was breathing heavily. He told me to wipe my tears. He apologized for making me go through the pain. He promised me heaven and earth if I forget about what had just happened. I did.

Most times when we lose something, we know when, but we would never know why, we would never know how.

That was fourteen years ago

Before I continue my story, permit me to introduce myself to you…

I am Dominic Lora, a HND1 student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I’m studying banking and finance and school life has been a wonderful experience to me.

I am the first of three children. My siblings are still in the secondary school and mum is doing fine in her business.

I love Ice cream, pizza and I drink a bit of alcohol. My friends often call me ‘Lorabae‘ even though most of them are haters in disguise. Maybe because I have things that make married men take a deep sigh whenever they look at their wives.

My fiance and I were planning our marriage this years before history repeated itself in a dynamic turn.

I met Nath immediately I left secondary school. I was attending a Jamb lesson then and Nath was one of our teachers. After months of plea from this handsome, cool and innocent guy, I gave in and we began our relationship.

I became fond of Nath that a minute without him would seem like three hours in an exam hall. He was my first love and everything about him seemed natural and unique.

Nath was the only child of his rich parent. He was a very brilliant guy that everyone would love to be around him.

The first night I had no choice but to pass by Nath’s house. We were coming from a friend’s house when the sky began to sweat, leaving some drops on our skin. We thought it was nothing to worry about but nature proved us wrong that day. The rain began to fall as if the sky was going to crumble.

I called home to tell mum I was going to pass the night in Nath’s house and she did not object. Everybody loved Nath.

We found our way to Nath’s house. He was living alone as he had come for his service year. At first, I found it hard to feel at home because that was actually the first time I would be sleeping in a guy’s house. But after some minutes, everything changed.

It was really a memorable one for me. I would never forget how Nath made history on my body, how he rode me over the insurmountable hills and mountains. I remember how I opened my world for him and how he tasted the thing between my legs.

I remember all and one more thing;

I remember how the heaven collapsed the following morning.

I woke earlier that morning, I quickly went into the bathroom to have my bath and get myself ready for home. Lo and behold, I moved close to Nath and called him gently. When i got no response, i moved him by the shoulder. Still no response. I was beginning to shiver, like a Christmas chicken being slaughtered. I got on top of Nath, cried into his ears but he was cold, he was stiff, he was lifeless.

What was I supposed to do? Who could I have called? What would I have done to this tragedy?

I hurried down to my bag, picked my phone and called mum. I could remember the long ‘ewooooo‘ she shouted when I narrated all to her.

After few minutes, the Nigeria police came around and I was cuffed to the station. Despite all pleas to release me on bail, they turned deaf ears. Maybe because they never believed my side of the story, maybe because Nath’s parents wouldn’t stop at nothing till they see me sentenced to death. Maybe because God was trying to punish me for a sin I could not fathom how and when I had committed it.

After three days in a Nigeria cell, I was charged to court.

You may never understand what I went through if I fail to describe how the cell looked like. The first night I spent behind the metal bar was a typical brought-down of hell. Every corner of the four-walled room smelt shit. I remembered when a female police officer came to threaten me after I screamed, seeing rats all around the room.

The cell directly facing mine had three men who I was sure had become criminals, even if they weren’t before. They had scars all over their body, and something unusual to me happened at the middle of the night.

Around 2:30am, I was still awake but had my eyes closed. A lot of thoughts clouded my mind. I was lost in this when I began to hear someone moan. The sound could not have been a lady’s. I got up to check and saw this three men fondling one another. That would be the first time I’d see gays practice right before me.

The sight of this was enough hell for me. From the time they were sucking one another, to the moment one of the them bent touching his toes and the other two were penetrating one after the other. This lasted for almost one and a half hour, then I regained my peace.

You may never understand what I went through if I fail to describe how the cell looked like. The first night I spent behind the metal bar was a typical brought-down of hell. Every corner of the four-walled room smelt shit. I remembered when a female police officer came to threaten me after I screamed seeing rats all around the room.

On Monday morning, around 9am, I was called out of the cell. I was led to a Black Maria which conveyed me to the Magistrate court. On getting there, I sighted my mom and siblings, all with eyes that were already drained of tears. I tried to calm them down.

I was sure things was going to work out well since my dad’s lawyer was a very competent one and I was earlier told he had gone ahead to get an autopsy report from the hospital where Nath’s corpse was dressed. Still, I was scared because of the pressures from Nath’s parent.

I understood their plight and sincerely, they were not to blame.

The case was adjourned twice and on the day of the judgement, I was discharged but not acquitted; I kept reporting to the police station every now and then.

I moved on. Indeed, I had no choice but to move on. Memory of Nath still lingered in my head and I wasn’t very sure if I’d be able to find someone like him ever again.

Six months later, I got admitted into The polytechnic, Ibadan. A new and giant leap in my life.

On 3rd February, 2014. I was at the front of my hostel when a guy walked up to me. He introduced himself as Samuel, an ND 2 student of Urban and Regional Planning.

After weeks of chats and all, he made known his intentions but I wasn’t ready for any relationship then. I told him what my desires are at that moment but this guy would never listen. He kept pressuring me till I reluctantly gave in.

On the day I was to have sex with Samuel, something happened again.

That day was Samuel’s birthday. I had been in his house since morning, helping in entertaining guests- at least that was my duty. Everyone ate and drink till they began to break bottles and chairs.

That day, I saw exactly what alcohol can turn a sane person to. There was this handsome guy who was actually Samuel’s friend. He had arrived earlier than others and I could not but crush on his gentle-manliness. He was reserved, quiet, neat, corporate, and looked responsible. His spoken English was enchanting and grand that if you were not firm on your grip against the ground, you would unconsciously fall on his lips.

He had these eyes that makes a woman melt like a balm seeing the sun for the first time. I was forced to smile at him on every occasion the wind blew his sight to mine.

I was a bit taken aback when I saw him lifted the bottle of Goldberg onto his lips- only bad boys do that, good boys use cup, learners use straw. But who cares, almost every young guy drinks these days.

After some hours, I came back and saw seven empty bottles on his table. Who could have done this? Who could have emptied all these? Maybe some people came to drop them, I convinced myself.

He had these eyes that makes a woman melt like a balm seeing the sun for the first time. I was forced to smile at him on every occasion wind blew his sight to mine.

Around 8:00pm, the party got dirty. I had left to settle somethings in town. When I arrived, I met this guy on mere underwear; dancing around with one bottle of magic moment. He was screaming so loud that his voice almost sent that of Olamide coming from the speakers to exile.

He kept banging his hips against the air that his manhood slipped out of his boxers. I felt bad for him but he couldn’t even feel nothing. He was high.

What an highness!

We succeeded at sending everyone off. That’s was around 11:30, everywhere was dark but we put their safety in the hands of a God they had mocked earlier.

Samuel told me to leave all cleaning till dawn and we went ahead to shower.

I was a bit taken aback when I saw him lifted the bottle of Goldberg to his lips- only bad boys do that, good boys use cup, learners use straw. But who cares, almost every young guy drinks these days.

Few minutes later, I was on bed with Samuel. He began with kiss, that lasted for about twenty minutes before he unbuckled my bra. He tucked my nipple between his teeth and that was enough ignition to open my tap.

What I noticed was that every attempt I made to get hold of his dick was futile. He hid them between his thighs so firm but when I had the chance, I was surprised there was actually no erection.

What could have happened? I was holding his manhood which was as calm as fallen leaf. He told me it happened at times and he couldn’t even tell why. I looked at my body to see if there was any deformation which could have sent his urge back but there was none. I got up, wore my nightie and slept.

Early the following morning, my phone rang. It was mum.

Few hours after I had spoken with my mum on phone, I rushed down home and we both went to our family pastor. She had narrated a dream my younger sister had to me.

Few minutes later, I was on bed with Samuel. He began with kiss, that lasted for about twenty minutes before he unbuckled my bra. He tucked my nipple between his teeth and that was enough ignition to open my tap.

” I was coming back from the market that afternoon when I saw a large group of people gathered around something. Out of curiosity, I moved closer to see for myself and to my surprise, I met Aunty Lora naked. I quickly roughed my way forward and when I got to her, I saw flies around her private part. Those flies were all tucked around her pubic hair and I could hear people murmur.”

My sister continued…

” Yes! People engaged their lips to things I couldn’t hear. I ignored them and when I tried helping her up, I woke”

I kept shivering throughout our meeting with the pastor. He prayed and mandated us to had a three days fast and prayer.

Something must have happened. Maybe to me, maybe to Samuel. I never planned to leave him and I was sure he would never have wanted that but love was missing. I realised I began to think less of him and at the same time, his calls drastically reduced.

Time went by and I stopped seeing Samuel. The next time we had a cause to meet was when he contested for the SUG president and lost. I did vote for him and told him about my support but it didn’t work out.

Three months later, I had issues with one of my departmental courses and the lecturer turned a deaf ear to all my pleas. He even returned the money I sent to him. He was forming James Bond until he finally told me only my body could get me the pass mark. I had never slept with a lecturer before. But this, I had to do it.

Something must have happened. Maybe to me, maybe to Samuel. I never planned to leave him and I was sure he would never have wanted that but love was missing. I realised I began to think less of him and at the same time, his calls drastically reduced.

It happened in his office. He only locked the door, shut the window, and told me to raise my skirt. He was going to come through my asshole.It was painful but I had to do it.

Fifteen minutes later, he released and told me to clean up in his restroom. I did and watched him write 60% right before my name.

I got to the department the following morning. Everywhere was quiet, doors were closed.

What could have happened? I kept asking myself questions I wasn’t sure anyone had answers to.

I called my course rep and what I heard left a huge scar on my being for months…

John– hey Lora
Me– Rep, how far
John– I’m fine
Me– Where are you and why are people not in school? Is today lecture free?
John– Oh! So you haven’t heard. The excursion bus had an accident last night while coming from Akure.
Me– What! You mean our students were involved in an accident
John– That’s it o. The worst of it is that there were no survivals.

Have you ever experienced silence before? No! Not the ones we have at night; not the ones at the graveyard; but that of a man waiting earnestly for his own death, that of a man willing the time would just come to an end.
Yes! That’s that kind of silence.
We were four hundred in my class and almost one hundred went for the excursion. I could not go because I had some issues to attend to.
I forgot where tears do come from when I saw the bodies. I could not recognise most of them anymore.

We had a candle night and each body was released to their respective parents(family). Sometimes I do wonder what state such parent would be. Having spent almost a million on a child and just within a blink, everything disappeared, every hopes, dreams, joy, lost.
It took the school one whole month to get over the incidence.
The dead are always the vanquished. Life continues.

Have you ever experienced silence before? No! Not the ones we have at night; not the ones at the graveyard; but that of a man waiting earnestly for his own death, that of a man willing the time would just come to an end

The lecturer I had sex with was hale and healthy except for the rumor of bad odour that often came from him. Three weeks later, it became evident that Dr. Adelani had become a nuisance everywhere. He was first given a compulsory leave to find himself an adequate treatment.
Everyone visited him and the day I planned to, I received a call from the Nigeria Police that my attention was needed. I called my mom immediately and we both went there.

” We found a note that was left behind by the deceased(Nath). The note reads that the deceased had been dealing with an ailment for months and that he knew he could die any moment from then. We just called to inform you that the ailment described by the deceased was similar to the autopsy report. On this note, the boys parent has dropped all charges”
The DPO finished his statement and passed me a form to sign. That was how I got my absolute freedom.
But who could have believed Nath had heart failure? The question should be how could he have kept It a secret? From me, from his parents?
I got home that day. I was happy for the freedom but it was really hard to forget Nath. His love, care, attention……

The dead are always the vanquished. Life continues.

Two months later

Dr. Adelani was standing right before us in the class. He was smiling as if something tragic had just happened to his enemy. He moved closer to me, gave me a pat on the back and walked past.
“When I was sick, many of you wanted me dead that you couldn’t even come to greet me.” He laughed bitterly and continued…
” So you fools think I’d die like that? You think your prayers has been answered?” He laughed again.

I took a quick glance at my wristwatch. Then he continued…
” Some of you are even checking the time. You want me to leave so you can plan on how to attack me again. Don’t even try it o. See, I have marked your faces and only God can save some of you from me this semester. ”
The class began to murmur but he ignored it. He talked and talked and when he realised his period was over, he walked out hitting his sole against the tiled floor.

That afternoon, I was about leaving for home when someone came to tell me my attention was needed in Dr. Adelani’s office. I got there and after series of dry jokes he cracked, I stood to leave. He watched me turn and smacked my ass. I turned back at him, gave him a sour look and hissed. I walked out.

The class began to murmur but he ignored it. He talked and talked and when he realised his period was over, he walked out hitting his sole against the tiled floor.

This time, I was beginning to notice that something was wrong because Dr. Adelani made me sleep with him again and the next thing I heard was his death. His own death was different- he had an accident.
I became terrified on what could have been the cause. Why must everyone I have sex with die? My dad died mysteriously, Nath had heart failure which finally claimed his life, Dr. Adelani had an accident.
This made me keep my thighs glued. Until I find the solution to this mystery, no way for anyone.

But sex came my way again…..this time, it was my very own brother.

To tell your own story, you have to be a victor, or a vanquished who refused to let go of life. Life is precious and I love it. If not, I wouldn’t have fallen in love again.

I met Stanley after my National Diploma Programme at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I applied for HND immediately and I was given admission. Then I began a serious relationship with him.

Life with Stanley was a very pleasant one. He didn’t seem to have a heart attack, that alone assured me I have found my own man.

On the 3rd of July, 2015, I received a call from home that my mum collapsed. I hurried home that same day. Mum had been rushed to the hospital. When I got there, I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw. My mum was on life support and my tears did nothing but stressed my eyes.

Doctor assured me things would be alright and I went back to school. My aunt had come to stay with her and I kept giving them regular calls and visits.

To tell your own story, you have to be a victor, or a vanquished who refused to let go of life. Life is precious and I love it. If not, I wouldn’t have fallen in love again.

One Sunday afternoon, Stanley had made me tell him all what I have passed through concerning life and relationship. I began from Nath, to Samuel. I talked about my dirty experience with my Late lecturer. But Stanley asked a question that made me sink into the mud of my own heart.

“I know you are no more a virgin. Actually it’s nothing but I wish to know that lucky guy that stole what could have been mine” Stanley asked in a soft voice.

I looked straight into his eyes and I began to cry. He drew me close, placed my head on his chest.

” My dad” I responded

” What happened to your dad? Thought you said he was dead” Stanley asked

” Yes, he is dead but one of the things he took with him was my virginity ”

I felt a tense heat came out from his nose. He raised my head, looked at me with an eye that was actually searching for a lost sanity. To make him realise I was alright, I repeated the statement and he went mute.

“It happened one night when….” Stanley held my lips and moved closer to me.

“ If I had known that it was a sad and painful experience, I wouldn’t have asked. I would never hurt you Lora” he wiped my tears and left the story for the gods.

My relationship with Stanley continued peacefully until one day I received a call from home. My mum wanted to see me.

Stanley decided to drive me down there so he could say hi to my mum for the first time. I agreed and when we got to some kilometers to the hospital, the car developed a fault. Stanley tried all he could and when all his efforts went futile, he gave me some money to continue with my journey and promised to join me. I wrote him the address of the hospital and left.

I felt a tense heat came out from his nose. He raised my head, looked at me with an eye that was actually searching for a lost sanity. To make him realise I was alright, I repeated the statement and he went mute.

” Lora! How many time have I called you?”

“ Mama, leave all that and say what you wish to say. You are supposed to rest now” I replied

” Lora! Listen to me carefully. I don’t know when this illness will claim my life but I need to tell you this.

Twenty eight years ago, I was living with my parent and i was in SS3 when I met this man. He promised me heaven and earth, he showed me love and made me believe he indeed loved me better than my parents. He promised he would marry me. Finally, I opened my legs for him and he got me pregnant. It was hell on heart for me after this man disappeared. My father disowned me but my mother would never let me go. She hid me in one of her cousin’s house. That was where I gave birth and continued my education.

I got my life back, started my business and got married”

I did not wait for her to continue before I asked about the whereabouts of the child.

“ I gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl and i named the girl Lora. She is sitting beside me now” she said

Immediately I heard this, I stared at her and began to smile.

“ So the man who raped me wasn’t my father?” I asked myself.

My mother was surprised to see me smile but she couldn’t tell why. I was surprised too but what could I have changed. It was fate. Though I was silent for minutes- thinking about those times I shared with the man who fathered me. I was not sure If any man could accept such condition from a woman and marry her.

I got my life back, started my business and got married

There was one more question I had to ask

“But mum, what of my twin brother?”

“I left him with a friend I later lost contact with” I gave her a sharp look and she continued…

” When I met my late husband, I could not tell him I had had twins because of the fear that he might run away. I left the boy with a friend. Few months later, my friend went missing, with Stanley ”

“Which Stanley?”

” Your twin brother”

Just at that moment, I heard my phone ring. It was Stanley.

Knowing that the man I had been in a relationship with was my twin brother was more than a dilemma. The man I had had sex with was actually my own blood.

This was not enough misery than the feeling that I had to leave Stanley. I had to cut all ties with him for the moment, as culture demands.

That also was not enough doom than the fact that I had lost my mother. Which mother would know about what had happened between Stanley and I and still wish to live?

Life became a book- a collection of poems written by a being who has no face, no origin, no cloth other than fire. A being who lives where men don’t. A being who rules in spirit. A being whose existence began from letter ‘G’ and perhaps would never end even though men had lived him in letter ‘O’ and killed him in letter ‘D’. A being who men call GOD.

The last time I heard about Stanley, he had died of cancer.

History had repeated itself, in a dynamic turn.

Life became a book- a collection of poems written by a being who has no face, no origin, no cloth other than fire. A being who lives where men don’t. A being who rules in spirit. A being whose existence began from letter ‘G’ and perhaps would never end even though men had lived him in letter ‘O’ and killed him in letter ‘D’. A being who men call GOD.

I am in another relationship now and i have kept my thighs closed ever since I met this man. I had lied to him that I am a virgin and today being the 13th of February, 2017. I know what may happen tomorrow. I know denying him sex may make me lose him.

I know about the pressures but I am not ready to let another man die by the thing between my legs.

What actually could have been the killer between Lora’s legs?

Mystery unveiled in THE CHRONICLES OF LORA.

WATCHOUT !!!

Written by Micheal Ace

About Micheal Ace

Oyedokun Micheal Adedotun Ace widely known as Micheal Ace is a poet, essayist and fiction/nonfiction writer from Osun State, Nigeria. His literary works have appeared on both local and foreign blogs and journals including ACEworld, WRR, Lunaris Review, AFAS Review etc. His poem “DO NOT COME HOME” was picked as one of the best poems from around the world in 2016.

          He is the author of “SERMON FROM A STAMMERER”, a collection of poems, and some other hit poems like ‘Awero and its sequels’, ‘Six Six-feet’, ‘Three virgin sisters’, ‘Song of life’ etc. He has written published fiction and nonfictions like ‘Hell is fake’, ‘Blackout’, ‘7 O’clock’, etc.

          Micheal Ace is currently the Vice president, World Union of Poets, Nigeria. He is a poet  who never stops learning and exploring. He believes so much in his own quote…

“The world is too complex for a pen to remain idle”

©ACEworld

Originally posted 2017-02-14 00:06:48.