After going through several interrogative and warning sessions, Ria and I were finally allowed to leave the house and that's when I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Since my other  ' Friends ' weren't permitted to leave the house as they were already engaged, Ria was the only one who was available to accompany me to my circumcision.
" Are you nervous, Lisa? " She asked me.
" I am not. " I replied, I didn't know if I told the truth or not because even I didn't understand what I am feeling.
But one thing I can say is that I am far from being fine.
" Okay, that's good. " She beamed, I wonder what was making her feel excited, at this moment we were both on the road trekking to the House where the circumcision was to take place.
   As we walked, I could feel the stares people were giving me.
Since I was wearing white cloth, it was very obvious that I was going to be circumcised today as that's part of our tradition.
" Why are you happy all of a sudden? " I asked Ria minutes later, though I didn't want to speak I knew I had to if I wanted to distract myself from the gazes I am getting from the villagers at this moment.
" Isn't it obvious why I am? " Instead of replying to me with a straight answer, she asked me a question instead.
' How am I supposed to know, I am not a witch alright to know what's going on in your head. ' Though I wanted to say this to her I couldn't, now is not the time to joke.
" It isn't. " I replied her.
" Anyways, I am happy because you are going to be a full woman soon. " She said Clapping her two hands together as she grinned.
' What's up with her, it's not like I am getting married to a president or something so why is she so happy? '  i thought.
" Really?, Am I not a woman already? "
" I know that you are but it is believed that you only become a full Woman after you have been circumcised. " She replied.
" Is the process Painful? " Instead of responding to her, I asked another question instead, this question has been bugging me for a while now.
" I am not sure as I haven't gone through it but I guess it is though, Don't forget that it involves cutting off a part of your body so of course, it'll be Painful, If you by mistake cut your fingers while chopping onions, a little bit of blood will come out and you'll feel the pain talkless of when a part of your body is being cut away. "
" Oh... " I was suddenly frightened by her answer, though I was a little aware of this I never thought of it.
" And yes I heard that you'll lose a lot of blood during the process. " She said.
" Like Menstrual blood? " I asked.
" What Menstrual Blood? , Isn't that just about four teaspoons of blood for the whole 3-5days? , I am talking about several Punches of blood here, you might end up losing up to one liter of blood, or More so you have to be prepared. "
" Oh, but why do they need to do this? , Why do they need to cut off a part of our body just because of some tradition? " I inquired anxiously.
" Well, from what I heard, it is believed that the Clitoris is a part of the male organ, The penis so it shouldn't be present in females as it is not right for a female to have two organs, and also it is believed that the Clitoris stimulates Sexual appetite in women so it has to be removed. "
" Okay. "
" Right, right, we are almost there so you shouldn't ask any more questions, try to relax and prepare for what's coming. "
" Alright. " I replied simply.
I was having a hard time digesting what I just heard from her, though I was already aware of most of the things she told me I didn't consider it to be true but Hearing it from her made me realize that it's indeed true.
Minutes later, we arrived at the place.
It was a large compound with A mini hut house in the middle, the hut has a small door in front of it.
The small hut was where the circumcision was to take place.
When we entered inside the compound, I was Suprised to Realize that there were about Nineteen young girls of my age present there too.
" Oh, Wow! I didn't know that there are lots of celebrants today. " Ria announced.
" Hm,  I thought that I'll be the only one. " I replied.
" Of course not, why would you be the only one? , You can't possibly expect to be the only girl in our village that's turning Eighteen today. "
" I know. "
" Let's go and take a seat over there. " She said pointing to the Large mat which was spread on the Sandy soil, there the girls waiting to be circumcised were seated quietly.
" Okay. " I replied as we walked towards them.
" Hey, Hello girls. " Ria who was always cheerful greeted the other girls.
" Hi. " The girls replied simply, from their tone, it appears like they were nervous.
Who wouldn't be?
Especially after knowing that circumcision isn't safe, Some girls bleed to death from it while some suffer severe complications.
Therefore I could very well understand the fear of those girls.
Am I nervous too?
Yes I am
Why because I am aware that if I should get circumcised today, I would completely lose all hope though I'll try not to it will be hard after this.
Not only will I get Circumcised today but I'll also have to get married in a few days.
' Why is life always so cruel to me? ' I thought sadly.
I started reflecting on my life and then I realized that I had it hard throughout, the only good thing that ever happened to me Is meeting Princess Gabriella and that's all.
Though my fellow mates might claim that I am very lucky to be engaged to a Rich man.
But am I that lucky?
Not only am I getting married to an old geezer but I'll also be entering into a life and death situation after marriage.
" What are thinking so deeply about, Malisa. " Ria's concerned voice reached my ears thereby interrupting me from my thoughts.
" Nothing much. " I replied.
" Are you sure? " She inquired raising an eyebrow at me.
" I am. " Though Ria seems nice I can't dare share my thoughts with her, I am very well aware that she's only with me because she's bored and needs company and not because she cared or anything but maybe she cares, whatever it is I don't have the luxury to think of that right now.
" Okay... " She was about to continue her words but got Interrupted when a middle-aged woman in a white gown approached us.
She smiled at us before she started talking, She started by welcoming us and congratulating us on taking the first step to be a full woman as they call it, she then proceeded to tell us about the benefits of the circumcision, and so on, she completely excluded the Effects of the act on women.
She claimed that circumcision will enable us to be able to satisfy our Husband's sexual desire and won't let him think of anything else and so on.
Listening to her words, I scoffed inwardly, Benefits my foot?
  Soon, The circumcision session began, since we girls present were just Twenty we were given numbers according to the way we came since I was the last to arrive, I was given the number 20 which happened to be the last number.
Each girl came with her own New Razor blade which would be used for the circumcision, this is done to prevent infection and contamination.
As if the Circumcision itself doesn't have more effects than Infection.
I'll rather get infected with a disease than getting circumcised at least that way I wouldn't be losing any part of my body.
Soon, the girls began to enter one by one.
The circumcision was done with Thirty minutes or so.
As the girls kept going in and coming out, I felt my heart beating rapidly.
From fear, Pain, and Nervousness.
My fists were clenched very tightly, my eyes were red with unshed tears but I didn't want to get Emotional in front of the other girls.
I can't show my weakness now, I can't.
I tried my best to calm my heart but I couldn't, I suddenly felt like suffocating, it felt like the oxygen supply around me, Ceased.
Luckily Ria wasn't beside me or I don't know how I was going to answer her questions.
She escorted one of the already circumcised girls home as the latter found it difficult to walk.
    " Number 19, get ready. " They announced and I immediately felt my heart sink.
One more and I'll be called.
At that moment I almost lost all hope but then I recalled a verse from the Holy Bible which says.
<< And I'll call upon him in the day of trouble and he'll answer me. >>
' Lord, I have no one but you at this moment, please don't let me be put to shame, please fight for me, please don't let me be violated. ' I said inwardly closing my eyes as I felt a tear dropped from my eyes.
Soon, I felt a presence in front of me and my tears were wiped away by warm hands.
I looked up and was Suprised to find a beautiful young girl Smiling at me, I recognized her immediately, it was Mary the girl I met at the stream last Time.
" Don't cry, Sis. " She consoled.
" But... I can't help it. " I whispered.
" Oh, but you don't need to cry anymore as your case is settled. "
" Oh? , What do you mean? " I asked confusedly.
" Well, it's simple, you are not going to be circumcised. " She said softly.
" Why?" I was shocked by her answer.
" That's because someone else took your place. " She replied.
" What? Why would anyone take my place? " I asked.
" Why ask so many questions. " She replied pouting.
" But I need to know, alright? "
" You will but not now, you'll find out later. " Mary replied mysteriously.
" Let's take you home now. " Mary said as she Held out her hands towards me and I immediately took it and was able to stand up with her help.
I went home and as instructed by Little Mary, I pretended to be in pain to avoid being suspected by my parents.
As expected, my parents fell for my pretense, I didn't need to be a good Actress to be able to deceive them, or perhaps it's because they were very well aware that there was no way I could escape Being circumcised, my mother even gave m  tablet to Numb the pain.
After going into my room, I   lied on  my bed
I was still very confused about everything that happened.
' What Happened? ' I  thought confusedly