7

There has never been a longer forty-five minutes in my life as these have been. I feel like I have been in here for days. And I'm almost losing my mind with thoughts of what happened to me.

The door is opened suddenly and a gruff looking man steps in, "Time to get off, humans." His eyes scan the room and lands on me. There's something in his eyes, like he's thinking 'This one is ready to eat'. I hope not

I shiver and try to hide from his eyes. Maybe it's because I'm the only one who looks a bit plump here, I kind of stand out among all the other woman. Not to talk about my clothes are rather different from the rest of them. Their clothes are tattered and made mostly of African print. And the style, well, I have never seen it before.

Maybe that's why he's staring at me like that cause though I'm wearing normal jean and tshirt, I'm the odd one out here.

Everyone start moving out and this tiny, skinny and short girl comes next to me and whispers, "Don't be scared of him, he won't do anything to any of us. He's a good man. They're all good men."

I look at her and she nods. I stiffen as we pass by him at the door. The little girl takes my hand in her very tiny one as if to reassure me. I let her and it helps somewhat, we are the last ones out of the room.

"Make your way to the lift area and wait," He says as he follows behind us. I don't like him behind us but there's nothing I can do since we're at the end of the line.

When we reach the lift area, I notice the lift is gone. And so is my savior. He's no where in sight and I want my things back. I forgot to get it from him when we got here earlier. I hope I will be able to get my things and thank him before I leave.

I can not even explain to you how much I'm looking forward to a bath but mostly my bed. I feel like I can just collapse and woke up in the morning with how exhausted I am.

That would be great, I don't think I can handle another sleepless night and survive tomorrow. Especially after the excitement I just went through.

Just so you're wondering, I am not going to be tolerating any thoughts of what has taken place tonight. Maybe tomorrow or the day after if I can delay it, longer.

Hhh

A door opens besides the bench I sat on earlier and I see it leads to a jet bridge. We are ushered through and I notice immediately that we are a bit high up. I can see some lights shinning in the distance.

If I were to take a guess, I would say we are like two or three stories high. Maybe if it was daytime I would have been able to see a few places that I know. I'm just glad we have arrived in Harare.

Some people with white coats, who look a lot like doctors, on and they start taking the women away one by one through the same door they walked through.

When they get to me and the little girl, they look us up and down then take the girl away first.

She looks back at me and smiles, "See you soon," she says.

I just blinked at her, she seems to know exactly what is happening here while I'm totally in the dark. If I had known, I would have asked her earlier. But I'm thinking these women need a doctor that's why they were brought here.

The one who had been standing on the side watching the proceedings walked over to me. He looks at me and I notice his eyes are much lighter than any eyes I have ever seen. They're light brown like honey. I stare back at him, since he's not saying anything, I don't say anything either.

"You look exhausted, when was the last time you had some sleep?" he asks and his voice is so soothing to my ears.

I stare at him still without replying. Though I can't see the bottom half of his face, I imagine he's very handsome.

"It's okay if you can't talk. Let's get you a bed and we can talk when you are ready. Come on," he says ushering me out of the room into a busy hall like room.

I look around and I see the other women all getting some kind of treatment. Some are getting drips, some their blood is being drown probably for testing and others are eating while they sit the bed. I see the little girl from earlier and she'd standing on some sort of scale, I think.

"This way, please," says the doc, making me look back at him. He leads me away from the noisy room into a corridor.

I'm suddenly so tired and I can tell it's really late, since they're offering, I will sleep here first then go home in the morning.

"Here you go." he opens a door after we pass a few doors and the noise from the hall fades away. "I believe you will be able to get some sleep in here comfortably. Please rest, or else you will collapse of exhaustion."

I walk past him into the room and spot a comfortable looking bed and my legs lead me there without my consent. I fall on the bed and I can't resist the sigh that escapes through my lips.

I hear the door click behind me and I am so sure I'm going to sleep right away. I close my eyes and will myself to sleep. I need it.

I don't know how long I lay there and I almost fool myself that I'm asleep but I'm not.

I groan in annoyance as I toss and turn. I can't even tell what the problem is exactly. The bed is comfy, even better than my own. I'm not thinking about anything. My mind is literally blank. The lighting is soft. There's no noise whatsoever.

Maybe I need a shower, I decide. I can see a door and I wonder if it's a bathroom. I go to check it out and it is a bathroom.

I strip and walk into the shower without a second thought. I take my time washing my body with the soothing hot water. I feel much better when I finish.

I'm sure I will sleep now. Definitely will...