“But do you think commiting suicide is ever an option” says Monka”

“What is the point of living in such a cruel world in which nobody seems to be kindhearted” i replied.

“I have been telling you times without number that our case is in the ministry of humanitarian affairs. Soon they will arrive to investigate the matter” replied Monka reluctantly.

“Enough of this fruitless assurance Monka. Should we just fold our arms to continue seeing these people playing with our future. See! I will be going and I don’t think you will see me again if nothing change” I told Monka harshly.

Monka tried to block my way but I find my going.

Monka and I have been closely together since when we were in play schools. Due to our closeness, sometimes I even slept in his family house. Now he is about to ask my hands in marriage, since we completed our degrees and national services, his parents says he better die than to marry me.

All that is wrong with me is my granny’s boldness. When she was young she refused to be circumcised after she was enlightened about the implications of Female Genital Mutilation by a person she met in Lagos when she first visited her uncle. It is an unavoidable part of our tradition for a girl child to be circumcised once she clocked 12 years. This absurd practice is still taking place among the Wurka people of Sahel Savannah area of Northern Nigeria, the tribe to which I belonged.

After my granny’s boldness my father also followed her footsteps. He vowed that none of his children was going to be circumsised. Because of this we go through a lot of humiliation. Since our childhood days, we always get insulted. Sometimes our countrymen often spit at us. Now that we are in our adulthood, and ready for marriage, none of our contemporaries come to woo us. My sisters have been waiting suitors at home since before I finished high school. I am now the luckiest amongst my sisters that Monka who happens to be the only son of our village head wants to get me in marriage but his parents say he better die than commiting abomination. Marrying me is an abomination. That is why I chose to leave this cruel word so I may find a better place in the land of our ancestors.