The breeze swept across the bare and dry streets of Montero, creeping into all corners and spheres of the little town. The thunder cackled for the umpteenth time and the sky darkened instantly. Night had come in the middle of the day. People could barely see each other.

The market square, which always swarmed with people and animals, was now deserted and empty. Things were happening that had never happened before. The people of Montero had always lived in peace and harmony. They could afford food and their other basic needs. Their children grew strong and healthy, and happy, too.

“We’ve been cursed!” A man screamed, placing his hands on his head as everyone scampered away, leaving one man behind. It was Olu, the leper. Olu was not only a leper, he was also crippled, with a slimy mouth that stank. No one would save him in the chaos. They trampled upon him as they ran for their lives, leaving him wounded and bleeding, all to himself. He had no family, after all.

 When Olu was born, he looked so shriveled and tiny. His parents knew he had no future, so they put him in a calabash and watched as the stream sailed him off. He was later found by the fishermen of Montero. They wondered how a little child could have survived the tides. They took him back to Montero where he spent all of his years. However, time was unkind to Olu. He grew more miserable with every passing day. He had no home, good clothes,  or any hopes of a decent meal. The mango tree in the middle of the market square was his shelter, where he sat all day, a round beggar’s plate before him.

 Olu wriggled and waggled towards the big mango tree, trying to reach shelter so the thunder wouldn’t strike him to death. He was naturally slow, and more so now that he was wounded.

“Please help,” he pleaded, but everyone shut their doors and windows. He cried again but no one answered. Just as his hopes died off, a strange voice spoke amidst the dark clouds.

“Speak, I am listening. What would you want me to do for you?” The thunder that followed the voice struck the butcher’s shed down.

“I want a lot of things. Fate has been wicked to me. First, I want to be a normal person,” he cried.

“Look behind you, there’s a rabbit there. Take it and feed it always with whatever it wants. Make sure you do all that it says. I’m trusting you with this rabbit. The day you betray me, you and all that you have will perish.” As the voice ceased, there came a louder strike. The dark clouds had begun to clear.

Like the bones that received life in the Bible, Olu’s legs and body quirked, and his bones were strengthened. Some villagers had come out to watch the scene. Olu sat up and moved his legs. He attempted to stand. It was a miracle.

“Olu can walk!” Everyone screamed and ran to hug him. He shoved them away, saying he didn’t need their friendship anymore. He carefully carried the rabbit into the bush. There, he proclaimed that he wanted a huge house and a  wife.

And just like magic, the ground opened up and mother Earth brought forth a mansion. Olu’s life had taken a whole new leaf.  Months and years passed and Olu’s wealth spread even more. But he soon forgot the events that set him on a different path. One day, the rabbit cried that it wanted to eat some carrots but Olu refused it.

“You’re just a rabbit; a mere animal. If you won’t eat grass, then you can starve to death for all I care,” Olu said. His wife pleaded with him to do as the rabbit had instructed but he wouldn’t budge. She went ahead to gave the rabbit what it wanted. When Olu found out, he locked her up and beat her till she passed out.

“Why are you beating your wife? Didn’t my father instruct you to give me anything I want? Do you want me to take it all away? Have you forgotten that you’re nothing without me?” The angry rabbit said to him.

“Take whatever you want. I’ve made investments. You can have your house back. I’ll build another one,” Olu said and locked the rabbit in a cage too.

The rabbit’s father watched as Olu maltreated his son. He grew mad and decided to collect all that belonged to Olu, including his life.

Olu woke up the next day to discover he couldn’t move his body. His clothes were tattered and soaked in his own drool. It was so dark that he could barely see a thing.

“Where am I?” He wondered

“You’re dead,” his consciousness spoke to him.

“What? That’s nonsense! How can I be dead? I still have a lot to do on earth,” he retorted.

“Well, an end has come to whatever you had in your mind, because you betrayed the father of the rabbit, who entrusted all to you. He gave you lots of chances but you chewed them up like pieces of paper that meant nothing. Now, the consequence of betrayal is death, so you’re dead and buried.” The voice in his head erupted in a burst of fading laughter.

“No, no, no, no. I can’t be dead. It can’t be. It can’t be!!!” He shouted till he couldn’t find his voice again. That was the end of Olu, the leper, who was given a new life, only to betray the trust of the person who gave him everything.

_{Precious Boluwatife Kolade (NOBLE INK) is a young writer who has explored different niches and genres. She’s a student at the University of Ilorin. She has written a few books, with more still in the works. Her writing journey is decorated with a few awards and certificates. Precious is not just a writer; she’s also a spoken word artist, a bag designer, a podcaster, a worshipper, and a lover of God.}