Linet

My name is Linet and I am 20 years old. Mother dies when I am 5 years old and is buried in her father’s land. I am left with my grandmother. My grandmother takes me to a local school where I begin my primary education. When I am nine I have to drop out of school to go and take care of my uncle’s wife who has just had a baby. I do housework and stay with my uncle and the wife. They always find a reason to beat me. My grandmother promises me that when my cousin is two years old and my uncle and the wife no longer need me I will go back to school, but another of my mum’s sisters delivers a baby and I go to her. Her husband is also violating me sexually.

Wen I am 13 I am taken back to my grandmother’s place. She still won’t let me go back to school so I run away from home to stay with friends. Life with friends is not easy for they ask me to do things I am unable to do. I don’t care that I am still underage. I get married to Ben who is a casual worker. Ben takes me to stay with his mother who insists I should go back home until I am old enough to get married. I stay on but it becomes difficult to stay with Ben and I go back home. I am expectant and I am HIV positive.

I still think I have a future for me and my baby.