The Bush Path

Faith ran as fast as her feet could carry her. She prayed that someone, anyone would hear her as she screamed for help. She knew the rapist, her assailant would be on her any minute and there would be no escape for her. The village was still far away and the only thing in this lonely bush path that she could use to defend herself was the pile of fire woods she left behind while running for her life.

She was about raising her voice again when she felt a strong grip on her mouth, muffling her voice. The man roughly threw her to the ground, almost making her unconscious. Like a predator who couldn't wait to attack his spoils, he admired his beautiful prey and was about taking off her clothes when he felt a blow that dazed him so hard, he needed a second to recollect what was happening.

By the time the rapist got to his feet, he had blood running down his nostril. He immediately charged at the stranger who had interrupted him from devouring his prey but the stranger had been quicker, and another blow from him had sent the rapists running for his dear life. The man gently helped Faith to her feet and offered to walk her back home.

As they walked, Faith couldn't bring herself to look the man in the face. She had remembered that earlier that day when she was about going into the bush to go gather firewood, the man had tried to talked to her but she had shunned him. She thought he was one of those good for nothing men who only wanted what was in between her legs but apparently, as he had later told her, he had earlier seen that man walk into the bush and had only wanted to warn her of the danger of being alone in a lonely bush with another man.

Faith had told her family what happened and they had been grateful to the man who saved their daughter. They thanked the gods that he didn't bear no grudges for her snubbing him but had chosen instead to save her life.

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