Part 5: Running for My Freedom at Thirteen

 

Part 5: Running for My Freedom at Thirteen

The morning was thick with fog, and the air was still. It was almost six o'clock, and not a single soul was outside.

I crept out of the house slowly, making sure not to make a sound. I couldn't risk my family waking up and seeing me. Once I was clear of the door, I started walking as fast as I could. I had pulled my brother's oversized hoodie over my head so that no one in the village would recognize me if they happened to look out their window.

As my feet hit the dirt, I kept repeating a single phrase to myself like a prayer: "Everything will be okay. I am a strong girl."

Looking Back at the Village

Then, I started running. For nearly an hour, I didn't turn my head back even once. I just focused on putting distance between myself and my home.

Finally, needing to catch my breath, I stopped and looked behind me. The road was completely empty. I had reached higher ground, and from up there, I could see my entire village resting in the distance. Surrounded by lush trees, it looked so peaceful and beautiful from afar. But I knew I couldn't stay.

I turned around and started running again towards the next town, which was 60 kilometres away. Occasionally, a car or a bus would kick up dust as it passed, but otherwise, the long road was silent.

As the sun rose higher, I grew hotter. I pulled off my brother's hoodie and tied it tightly around my waist. I didn't know how long or how far I had been moving, but it felt like forever.

A Mysterious Encounter

Exhausted, I pulled off the road to rest under the shade of a large tree. I was so worn out that without realizing it, I fell almost asleep right there on the ground.

"Hello? Are you okay? What are you doing out here all alone?"

I woke up with a start. A man was standing over me, calling out. In a panic, not knowing how long I had been asleep or who he was, I scrambled to my feet and ran away as fast as my legs could take me.

After running for a while, I slowed down to a fast walk. But then, a new challenge hit me: severe hunger. My stomach was empty, and there were no houses or shops anywhere in sight.

"I must eat. I must look for food," I said aloud to myself.

When I look back on that time now, I can hardly imagine how I survived it. I was only thirteen years old.

Why I Had to Run

To understand why a thirteen-year-old girl would run away into the foggy morning alone, you have to understand where I came from.

My father was a farmer, and he had many friends who were also farmers. One day, one of his friends asked my father if I could marry his 17-year-old son.

When I heard this, my heart sank. I told them clearly: "I want to go to school and learn." They tried to reassure me, saying that I could still go to school after getting married. But I knew the truth. That was what they always promised the young girls in our village, but it never happened. Once married, the girls ended up managing a household and having children, their dreams of an education forgotten forever.

I knew that if I stayed, my future would be decided for me. And so, with nothing but my brother's hoodie and a dream to learn, I ran away from home to fight for my own life.

Standing on that unfamiliar road, looking around at surroundings I had never seen in my life, a wave of reality suddenly hit me: I was far, far away from home.

Panic set in. I was only thirteen years old, completely alone, and terrified. Standing there in the silence of the countryside, the tears finally broke through, and I began to cry.

I was very tired and crying, but I said to myself: "Don't give up." I kept walking and walking. Soon, it was almost night. It was getting dark and scary.

Then, far away, I saw a small light!

A Surprise Strength

When I saw the light, I felt new energy. I do not know where the power came from, but I started running again!

When I got close to the house, a dog started barking. I heard a man and a woman talking inside.

I called out with my last breath: "Hello! Hello!"

A Kind Woman

The woman ran to the door and opened it quickly. She was so surprised!

"Oh God! Where did you come from?" she said. "Come in, come in!"

I went inside, but I couldn't speak. My throat was too dry, and I had no voice.

The woman understood right away. She went into the kitchen and brought me food and water.

Resting at Last

I was so thirsty. I didn't eat the food, but I drank a lot of water. Because my stomach was empty for a long time, the water made my belly feel sick.

The kind woman sat with me and said gently: "Take it easy. You will be okay in a little while."

In that warm little house, I knew I was finally safe for the night.

To be continued in the next post...

Thank you so much for reading my life story. Standing up for your dreams often requires immense sacrifice. Have you ever had to make a tough choice to protect your future? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

 Kidist