This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
DATE TALES: Dressed for drama ¶
Michelle's date night on March 17, 2017, was supposed to be a romantic evening with her boyfriend. But little did she know, it would turn out to be a night of chaos and terror.
According to Michelle, they had run out of gas and decided to go to a nearby hotel for dinner. As they were walking out of their gate, three men in masks and one with a gun accosted them. A neighbor had seen the men and alerted the landlord, who came out to investigate. Unfortunately, he ended up getting shot in the foot.
Michelle and her boyfriend were taken into a forest near Kabete, where they were beaten and robbed. Michelle was even forced to remove her shoes at one point, leaving her barefoot. The men took their ATM cards, phones, and money, and one of them went to the ATM to withdraw cash while the others assaulted Michelle's boyfriend.
After what seemed like an eternity, the men finally released them, covering them with branches from the trees. Michelle and her boyfriend ran out of the forest and into the first compound they saw, where an old couple took them in and called a neighbor with dogs to escort them home.
As they walked back home, Michelle couldn't help but think about how a few hours earlier she had dressed up for a date with her boyfriend. Little did she know, she was actually preparing for chaos.
When they finally made it back home, they found the area where the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) and some cops were looking for them. The landlord had already been rushed to the hospital. Michelle and her boyfriend were overjoyed to see the police and hugged them tightly. It was the first time Michelle had seen her boyfriend cry.
Michelle's ordeal was far from over. She was taken to the hospital, where she was checked and given 1,000 shillings to buy food. The OCPD even stayed with her until she was checked and made sure his officers took her home. Michelle's boyfriend, on the other hand, struggled with therapy for months, becoming an introvert. But the couple is still together, and they welcomed their first baby in 2018.
Michelle has since found a way to cope with her trauma. She now helps people get through their own traumatic experiences. 'Nowadays I help people get through their own trauma. The irony, right?' she concludes.
By Nation.co.ke
