Wrongly Accused

When she first arrived there everyone knew she was the "new convert." Upon entering, the scent of what smelled like rotten fish and old soiled bandages pierced her nose causing her to vomit. She tried to hide behind a tree to be discreet while regurgitating. "You'll get used to it; this is how every newcomer reacts." She heard the voice of a lady sitting in the grass not far say. The lady walked over. "Hi my name is Lena, what's yours?" "Amenah." She said trying to gather herself sort of embarrassed. In a time and town where rules were rigid and male dominating, if a woman was unfaithful to her husband, he could have her cursed. He would take her before the Elders of the Counsel who would perform a ritual to determine if she had been unfaithful. After the ritual she would be returned to her house for seven days to wait for the effects of the curse to take place. If she was unfaithful her belly would swell with infection making her barren, and her thigh would rot. She would be openly ridiculed for her wrong, and then be removed from her home and loved ones to be exiled. Exile was place considered to be dreadful, a place of ill repute. There the people had very little provisions. Practically living outdoors, they scavenged for the things they needed to survive. But what happens if the woman accused is innocent? She would be allowed to remain in her home and with husband, but what effects would the public accusations have on her? How does she, being innocent, feel amiss such public ridicule? A woman accused was guilty until proven innocent. What does it say about her husband's love and care for her? Here, you will hear the account of Amenah a young woman wrongly accused. Anita Davis was born and raised on Chicago's south side. She received her M.A. from Governors State University. After many years of working for the public library, she began displaying her own skills as a writer in stage plays, short novels, and as a poet. She is the