Have you heard from Sara?

So I wonder what Sara is doing? That’s a question Trina and I have been asking each other, with no decent answer. We suspect she’s in Cali. I think since she’s been a roomie for so long we feel we’ve lost a friend to the big dangerous world, and we’re just hoping she’s okay. Which she must be… I haven’t seen her surface on facebook, which means I think she’s with family having a great, and confusing time possibly before falling to sleep each night, possibly a processing time, but enjoying great food, and beverage. If I went back to the states, I bet I’d just eat… all over the place, all the time. I’d hit all my favorite spots. All this to say, we’ll miss you Sara, we had some good times, some funny times, some tough times, but they were all real. Let me know some of your favorite visits, if you get the chance. Food and People. I’m sure Bekah’s going to look you up. It’s so crazy for me to think about. A transition into a new world, and a former life revisited. You’ll have to give me some “lessons learned.” Trina’s taken Tanya to the beach, you know how that goes. I’m writing, and Jer is reading “the shack.” I liked it. I finished it this morning, I had some issues with the dialogue from time to time, and occasional narrative bits I thought could have been greatly improved, but I was simultaneously reading Tolkien... That being said… I dug the whole concept, it was just a great story, I even read the “missy project” and I bet they’ll make it into a film. I was thinking that the whole time I read it, though I’m not confident it will transpose to film well… I guess we’ll see. It’s definitely a dialogue driven piece. Anyways, cheers Sara, a new life. A car, and people you once new well, and still know, and will now see face to face. I suspect it will go well. Sorry I didn’t knock on your door to say goodbye. I’m such the not goodbye person. I avoid them like something people like to avoid. I’m a great hello person though… so “Hello, I hope you’re travels went well. I’m sure we’ll see you again… “

A Hard Read

Francine Nijimbere relies entirely on her mother for basic things like bathing and eating.
Her husband cut off her arms up to the elbows in 2004, for failing to give birth to a boy. She was pregnant at the time and lost the baby due to her injuries, which included cuts on her stomach. The man - a soldier - was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison but was recently released following a presidential pardon.
After her arms were cut off, Nijimbere left for Burundi's southern province of Makamba with her daughter, now four, where she lived with her mother. She is now living in fear following her husband's release and has sought refuge with ADDF, an association based in Bujumbura, dealing with the protection of women's rights. She spoke to IRIN on 22 February:
"In December [2007], the president announced a pardon for all inmates suffering from incurable diseases. I hear my husband was released on a false name; how can a criminal like him be pardoned? The head of state pardoned inmates suffering from incurable diseases but my husband was not ill.
"I was married to his elder brother, who was a soldier. He died in 2000 five months after our wedding. However, I remained in the house as I waited for the end of the mourning period in order to return to my parents' home. My mother-in-law insisted I should not go to my parents since dowry had been paid. She convinced my parents that I should marry her other son; I was reluctant but my parents and in-laws reached an agreement.
"Right from the start, I never accepted him. One night, he forced the door to my house and raped me. I remained there; where was I supposed to turn?
"During our life together, he was just there; he never helped me, he did not buy me any clothes, nothing. Sometimes, I spent the nights out in the cold, other times he was good enough to let me in. When he realised I was not getting pregnant soon enough, he threatened to marry another wife and even built a house for her. He did not bring her home because I got pregnant then.
"When I delivered, he simply inquired about the sex of the baby. When he heard I had given birth to a girl, he did not even bother to visit me at the hospital, and he did not pay the bill when I was discharged. After three months, he came home from work and asked me: 'Do you consider yourself a mother after giving birth to girls?' He repeatedly told me I was worthless.
"I become pregnant again, four months later. This time he told me that if I gave birth to another girl, I would have to find somewhere to take her. Later when he came home on leave, he was all sweet, telling me he was sorry if he had wronged me and that from then on things would be different, that he was a new man. And I believed him. I actually hoped he would change.
"Then one evening, I saw him sharpening a machete. I did not know he was preparing to kill me. After the evening meal, I went to sleep, leaving him with his mother and sister. I was awakened by the machete blow on my arm.”
"I cried and cried, I begged for pardon but he cut my second arm. Nobody came to my rescue. Neighbours were afraid of him because he was armed. With cuts everywhere, I had a miscarriage. My husband left me there bleeding, and fled. He was later caught and imprisoned. I was taken to hospital out of pity, no one expected me to survive.
"I stayed in a coma for six days in hospital. When I was well enough, I went to live with my old mother. These days I depend on her for everything. If she is ill, I cannot get anybody to feed me. I cannot wash, I cannot clothe myself.
"If neighbours take pity on me, they come and assist me. I am more helpless than a newborn baby.
"Two weeks ago, my sister-in-law came to inform me that he has been released from prison. I know it meant death for me, so I fled to Bujumbura. I heard that while in prison, he had wed he would 'finish the work' if he ever came out. I hear he said cutting my arms was not what he wanted in the first place. All I want now is Justice and assistance.”