Alas, it was true; there is no one in the world that lived without sin. Were she to count her sins in the last day, she was sure to burn.
Malik would be the one to burn her, she thought with a shiver.
“Shall we find a private room?” Eli broke into her thoughts. “I’ll take a look at that bruise on your cheek, put ointment on it.”
Nicholas pointed to a door to their right. She gave him a nervous smile and led the way to the door. It opened into a study. There was an old desk and a pair of armchairs before it. She chose one and let out a shaky breath when Eli produced a stethoscope.
She closed her eyes when he leaned down to study the bruise on her cheek.
“Can I ask how you got this?” Eli asked.
She’d heard the question asked many times before. Concerned friends, her mother, her neighbors…she always lied. She told them stories of falling, bumping into doors, cupboards, absurd lies…never the truth. Opening her eyes, she met a kind gaze, and suddenly she just couldn’t lie anymore. Tears filled her eyes and she found she couldn’t form the words, though she wanted to say them.
“Did someone hit you?” Eli asked then, taking a seat.
She nodded, making the tears slide down her cheeks.
“Was it your husband?” Eli asked his gaze on her left hand.
Nalia fought back the shame that welled inside her and took in a deep breath.
“Yes,” she said, feeling as though she was jumping over a huddle. “My husband hit me.”
***
To be continued…Thank you for reading!
Look forward to the October 2015 Issue.
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About the Authors
Annemarie Musawale
Annemarie is an alleged female residing in Nairobi Kenya and working on owning a better class of pajamas through her writing. When she's not hunched over her computer typing stories or procrastinating on the internets, she's worrying about whether she's raising her son right (she is).
Her Books:
The Swamp is Full of Mystery
Between Death and Heaven
Single Motherhood Unplugged
Blog: Child of Destiny
Connect with her on Twitter: @amusawale
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Maureen Wakarindi
I am Maureen Wambui, God fearing, intelligent and an observer of people. I love cars, heights and sarcasm. I can be loud, opinionated and stubborn, but you’ll love me anyway. I am a lover of words and nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to use those words in my story. I have two blogs, and I also write for the Storymoja blog using the name Maureen Wakarindi. Please feel free to stalk my work, and tell me what you think.
Blog: Nepenthe
***
Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul is the author of the 2010 Nairobi International Book Fair literary awards winning collection of poems, First Words, and the sensational collection of love poems; Holy Emotions and Holy Crimes. Other works are Flights of Poetic Fancy and Flashes of Vice: Vol I & II. He has a Diploma in Comprehensive Creative Writing from the Writers Bureau, UK.
Vincent has been published online on different websites and dailies in Kenya; on Africa Creates, the African Street Writer, The Africa We Know About (TAWKA) Diaries, NaijaStories, AfricanWriter.com, African Street Writer, Artbeat Afrika, and Storymoja Africa amongst others. In 2013 he was long-listed for the Nigerian Belgian-based writer, Chika Unigwe Best Short Competition and published in an anthology of New Age African poets, Black Communion, in Nigeria.
Vincent de Paul is a member of Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), affiliate of Association of Independent (AIA), and Naija Writers Community. A freelance writer, blogger, author and poet, he is all over the cyberspace.
His Books:
More Books
Holy Crimes
First Words: A Collection of Poems
Blog: Flashes of Vice
Connect with him on Facebook: Vincent de Paul
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Dora Okeyo
Dora is a wanderer whose writing attempts have earned her some reviews. She is neither famous nor rich, but loves reading and drinking coffee. She is currently forcing her family and close friends to read her book, Fire. It is available on Amazon. To follow her day in day out life, forget reality TV, and follow her on Twitter, @herhar.
Her Books:
Water
Fire
Mist
What Happened to Us
More books by Dora Okeyo
Blog: Nilichoandika
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Elly Kamari
Elly is a romance author living in a sunny corner in Nairobi. She loves romantic stories and when not writing them, she reads them. She loves gardening and making peanut butter, and sunny afternoons in Nairobi.
Her Books:
Save My Heart
I Dream of You
Bits & Pieces (Poetry)
Shattering Zoella’s Demons
Blog: Love in Nairobi
Connect with her on Twitter: @ellykamari254
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Previous EA Friday Feature Issues:
August 2015
EA Friday Feature Anthology - September 2015 Page 7