MARIA

Cassie reminisced on all those years in the university when she was what they had tagged “Slay Queen”. No party was ever said to be dope unless Cassie’s face and/or name was printed boldly in black and white as the guest appearance. She was the life of the party and every person who was indeed a person knew her or at least knew what she looked like. Men and boys alike struggled for her attention and even some ladies drooled at the sight of her in any lacy underwear or anything skimpy. Her ebony skin was flawless without any trace of lightning on her buttocks or scars on her legs. She was every guy and girl’s dream. Cassie pored over the times when she thought she was invincible and being a risk-taker that she was, she became a night marauder and freely hopped from one springy bed to another feathery one, taking pills to stop the occurrence of pregnancy and even more to remove them. She could never count how many she had got removed but she was very sure that that was the reason she was being punished. ‘God’s not dead’, they say and now she believed that the sea of souls she had cast away from the warmth of her stomach had cried out for vengeance and now she would never have one of her own, not even a reincarnation of the ones she had so nonchalantly discarded as if they were old rags not worthy to be worn by even the poorest of the poor.  Life became bitter and nothing sweet seemed to come her way, not even the warmth of her loving husband’s body pressed against her naked flawless one in an orgy of raw passionate sex performed every night. She could not see any light at the end of her tunnel because all was dark, gloomy, and miserable. She had dived into this sea of sorrow willingly but unknowingly, and she was facing the repercussions. Family was of no help and neither were friends. All had looked her straight into her eyes and reminded her of her past life, her life of a queen and her sins were laid bare, each accusing her before the sovereign Lord. Maybe this was judgement on earth for her, she thought but she would rather face it dead than alive.

On the 12th of July 2004, Cassie was reportedly found naked on her bathroom floor with her wrist neatly slit. Next to a glass of half-drunk Hennessey on the sink was a note: I AM MARIA.