A prostitute reveals her story (Part 2 of 2) [Archives:2006/930/Reportage]
Hakim Almasmari
[email protected]
My aunt was very happy that my husband agreed to have her move in with us. It was also okay with me. This way, I could help her deal with her personal needs and keep her company instead of her living alone throughout the rest of her life. It took her just days to pack everything she had and then she finally joined our family.
Life was normal at first, until suddenly everything began to change. I noticed that my aunt and husband were getting along very well. Based on our society's experience, it was somewhat of a miracle for families of married couples to get along. My aunt began staying in the house more often and rarely was she seen leaving the house, even in the most critical situations.
Returning home from university one day, I walked into the house and shamefully saw my husband and my stepmother wrestling. They were basically the same age, with my husband in his 50s and my aunt in her late 40s.
I was surprised and angry at first, but then I calmly told my aunt to act her age, not like a small child. She replied, “Oh daughter, what do you mean? You are both my children. I love both of you with much respect.” I was ashamed and apologized to her and then I forgot it ever happened.
Two weeks later, when I returned home from school, the house was very quiet. Minutes later, my husband walked into the house with my aunt beside him. They said they had gone out for breakfast, but I felt a little suspicious, as it was already noon. They asked why I was home so early. I explained that I felt dizzy and couldn't study properly, so I decided to come home.
The next day, my life was virtually ripped apart. It was late afternoon when I decided to visit my best friend's house and give her some cake I had just made. We talked for about 20 minutes and then told her I had to return home.
Upon reaching our house, I tried opening the door but it was locked firmly. I was surprised it was locked, as I was sure I had left it open. I took the spare key from under our doormat and opened the door. I walked inside and everything seemed suspicious.
I went upstairs to my bedroom, but the door was locked. I tried opening it without making any noise and I succeeded. I opened it and found the unexpected. I couldn't believe my eyes. I saw my husband having sex with my aunt.
All my dreams were destroyed. I asked myself, “How could this happen to me? What wrong did I ever do to them?” I was a good person who never wanted harm to anyone. Was it because I was too innocent or was I too selfish? I cried and screamed, but to no one. Life lost its meaning completely.
I wish I never had opened that door, for it was the reason my heart closed to all people. Never again will I love. Never again will I trust. Never again will I live a life full of glorious memories.
I immediately ran away, not knowing where to go. My father had died just months earlier, while my mother had passed away years ago. My father did not have a good relationship with his relatives, so they rarely met each other. The streets were crowded and people were smiling and laughing with each other. I asked myself, “What now? Who can I trust? How are you going to live the rest of your life?” All of these questions remained unanswered in my mind.
Midnight drew near and I was sitting on a curb in a small side street near the Hasaba zone of Sana'a. Three women suddenly approached me kindly and asked me what I was doing out alone so late. I couldn't help myself, so I told them what happened.
They invited me to their house and I happily agreed, as I had no other place to go. It was late at night when I reached the house, so I slept as soon as I arrived. I was treated nicely and I felt more relaxed and calm. I stayed there three days. Every day I met different girls my age living in the same house in different times of the day. I had no idea why they were all living under one roof. Every one of them treated me like the sister they never had. Unfortunately, things quickly changed.
The old woman in charge of the house approached me and asked me to pay for the time I had spent there. I tried explaining to her that I had no money, no job and not even a family to support me. She said, “Well, we all work here. If you want a job, we'll give you one immediately.” I immediately said I would accept any job given to me. Little did I know I was on my way to losing my honor and dignity.
As the evening passed and I was sitting alone in my room, the old woman approached me with two men beside her. I tried covering myself from them, but they came near, ripped off my clothes and raped me. After finishing, they threw me a bundle of money and said, “Go and pay off your rent.”
I couldn't move, eat or sleep for three days. I considered committing suicide to end such a horrifying life. I was living in a house with more than 30 prostitutes. All of the girls living in the house continuously came to me, trying to calm me down after what had happened. Each narrated her own story and hardships experienced in her life and I began to calm down.
Just hours later, many of them began encouraging me to try prostitution, saying it was their only way to live. At the beginning, I completely refused. They began inviting their boyfriends to the house, having me slowly meet them, then shake their hands and then it progressed to different degrees from there. I convinced myself to begin prostitution for only a week, get enough money to move out and start a new life.
The rest of the girls were exceptionally happy that I fell into their trap. They called customers right away, as if there already was a line. Eventually, I was sleeping with three men every day. As time passed, I gradually started using drugs. Wine replaced the Coke I always used to drink. I became addicted to drugs as well. I spent all my money on drugs and clothes. In order to buy them, I had to have sex as often as possible.
This situation continued for more than six months. Then one day, the unexpected again happened. One of my customers who wanted to have sex with me was a classmate who knew me from university. He immediately recognized me and was shocked at the way I had changed tremendously in only a year.
Not believing his eyes, he said, “I have been committing these unlawful actions for a long time, so I have my reasons. But you have always been one of a kind, very special in many ways. We all adored you and respected you for the honest and respectful person you always were.”
I couldn't bear the hardship of listening to him, so I ran away and began crying excessively. My tears were like rainfall from my eyes. His words ran repeatedly through my mind. I decided it was time to repent to God and return to the person I always was. The life I had experienced caused me to lose everything I ever possessed – my family, friends and even myself.
So, I just walked out of the room where I was in bed with my old classmate. I had to talk to someone and then I saw you. Please help me,” S.M.R completed narrating her story.
I couldn't believe what was said. Could this story be true or was it made up? How could everything happen so suddenly? Even if it wasn't true, why would she talk to me and tell me her tragic story?
I offered to help her find a small apartment and a job. She rented an apartment and decided to continue her university studies, hoping for a bright career to make her forget the past.
She said, “I repented to God and made a strong oath that I will not return to that destructive life again. I have changed my life for the better, but I continuously ask myself every night, 'How many families have I broken up and caused tremendous problems for? For how many husbands was I the cause of them going astray?' I have repented to God and I pray that God deals mercifully with me.”
S.M.R wanted her story told to warn innocent young girls of the dangerous doors that stand in their way. “Remember that God is the most merciful, but at the same time, his wrath and punishment is great and unbearable,” she concluded.
S.M.R has repented and always will regret her past sins. Her only wish is that God will deal with her in his mercy and forgive her hefty sins.
——
[archive-e:930-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-03-20-p:report]
