Tuesday, 7 June 2016

CHAPTER 10: THE FATE THAT NEVER WAS

Hey, one more chapter to go!!!

CHAPTER 10

Bukky and Ade had slept off, tied to each other by their hands. Ade snored slightly.

Blessing thought about her life, her family and future. She knew if she kept this pregnancy and Emeka kept reveling in denial, she is already a single mother- a state that has a screaming level of discrimination in her part of the world. She remembered when one of her friend talked about condom and she was lying that she never had sex and wouldn’t. She regretted she should had learnt more about the use of it, instead of allowing Emeka to assure her that as a virgin, she is still far from getting pregnant.

The doctor also said something about infection. But she wanted to lie to herself that Emeka was free from it. She loved him and she had allowed herself to believe everything he ever said.

“If you love me, then we should not use the condom.” Emeka had once told her when she brought up the issue.

She was dunce that she should have known that he would say anything just to satisfy his selfish needs. And just like Bukky had said, she has every right to protect her life and future.

She was glad she didn’t tell Bukky that she once contacted an STD from Emeka. They had spent a fortune curing the disease. Even when the doctor had said it was sexually transmitted, Emeka had pushed the blame on her and accused her of sleeping around!

She could also recollect the time she saw messages from other girls on his phone- she approached him because the messages clearly denotes he was having sexual relationship with them. Emeka had went into a state of fury and warned her not to touch his phone again. Since then, he always locked his phone with a code.

Blessing heaved aloud and Ade and Bukky quickly unbundled and ran to her side.

“What is it?” Bukky asked her friend.

“Nothing.” Blessing managed a smile. It was a first after the whole storm had started. “I was just thinking of what happened few days back. I wondered if Uncle James would have been back.”

“You need to get rid of this pregnancy and move on, Blessing. I am not going to stop saying that. You don’t want to live with that animal.” Bukky said.

“I know.” Blessing started crying. “I just can’t believe I am going to murder my first child.” She covered her mouth with her clothes.

“I understand.” Bukky began. “But, you need to understand that this is not yet a child. It hasn’t taken a human form. Please, don’t let it become dangerous by letting it grow.”

“I am scared.” She snickered. “I can lose my life.” Her voice failing.

“Of course, you could. But, that is only if you decided to drink some concoction, use an overdose of certain drugs.” Ade added.

“So, do you know the drugs I can use?” Blessing asked.

“Drugs are not legal nor safe. We will have to take you to an abortionist. A legal one.” Bukky said.

“Can’t we just visit the nurses around? They may be able to…”

“No!” Bukky shouted her down. “We are not going to visit a quack, Blessing. We are going straight to a certified hospital for this.”

“I don’t have the money. I learnt it is expensive to have a proper and legal one. They said the chemists can also do it fine.”

“Who have you been talking to?” Ade asked.

“Yes, who have you been talking to?” Bukky added.

“I…” she waited a bit and continued, “I lied to Michelle that one of my sister’s friend is affected and wanted an abortion. She said she will give me the phone number of a chemist who has helped her many times.”

“Many times? Michelle?” Bukky was puzzled.

“Listen, she asked me not to tell anyone. She said it’s better than the hospital where many eyes will see you.” Blessing said.

Bukky said she should have thought about the shame before fooling around. Ade let her realized that because Michelle walks around fine doesn’t mean she is fine. There may be complications she wouldn’t realize until later. Infections, bad abortion leading to infertility and so on, which will manifest later. This scared Blessing who wanted another chance for the future. She agreed to get an abortion and move on with her life!


*******************************

Uncle James came back two days later and Monica was quick to relay the shameful actions of Emeka to him. Uncle James was very angry, but also scared that his nephew might have taken the wrong decision that could jeopardize his future. He called for Emeka, who without knowing, lied that Blessing had decided to take an abortion. He also lied that she slapped Blessing because she knew she has not being faithful to him and that was the reason she wanted an abortion.

“Are you saying she told you herself that the pregnancy is not yours, Emeka?” Uncle James asked again and Emeka said he was sure.

“Let me warn you, Emeka. I consulted the oracle before leaving for the meeting and I was assured that the pregnancy is yours. This lady, Blessing, must not abort this pregnancy. If she did, you are in a lifetime trouble.”

“But Uncle, why will you say that?” Emeka, who believed that his Uncle was saying that to make him accept the responsibilities he didn’t want, asked.

“I believe it will be best if you heard from the mouth of the gods themselves,” Uncle James said, "because if you are the one who coerced this lady, by your actions, to embrace abortion, then you will suffer greatly for it!"

Emeka flinched and frowned. "Uncle..."

"Listen, my child. This world and the people we meet, even the ones we never talked to, are all networked to each other. Each, has a significant part in our lives and when we severed a thread of this network through our stupidity, we already disturbed the balance and struck the cord that vibrates another sound through the network, thereby, affecting each and everyone, but particularly the one who is the culprit."

"I... I don't understand, Uncle. But if Blessing decides to abort, it should be on her."

"Did you tell her not to abort it?"

"I didn't ask her to abort it either!" Emeka lied. He was now sweating, afraid for himself.

"Then, the repercussions are on her. The child that is coming through may die or live. But no matter what, it is part of the of the network and whether it lives or dies, it's already contributed it's own quota. And when you tried to stop this..."

"But this pregnancy was a mistake, Uncle."

"There is no such thing as that. Things that happen, happened for a reason."

Emeka ran his hands through his bald head, he sighed. "What did you say the repercussions are if..."

"I did not tell you that there are any repercussions, the gods did."

"Okay, what did they say?"

"Son, I think it is besynyou hear from them yourself. Follow me."

He led Emeka to the shrine and gave him an ointment to rub into his ears.

“This will make you hear from the gods.” He said. "Now, stuff this into your ears." He said as he gave Emeka some cotton wool.

Then he consulted with the oracle while seated around a big glowing globe. He asked for the gods to tell Emeka the future if the pregnancy was aborted.

First, there was silence. Then, Emeka started to hear some sounds...then some words... and a clear statement from some coarse voices that seemed to overlap.

"What did they say?" His uncle asked. Emeka was silent.

Emeka removed the wools from his ears and drop them on the floor.

"Uncle, please, I will be back." He said and made a run for the exit.

"Emeka! Emeka!" Uncle James shouted after him but he didn't stop. Uncles Emeka ran after him, telling him to stop!

But Emeka wouldn't stop. He rushed into the house and rushed out, towards the main road- his mobile phone clamed in his fist!

End of 10!

2 comments:

Adams J-N said...

nice write up,
you can post on my blog with link to your site
blezzyy.blogspot.com.
thanks

Garriguy said...

Hey Nancy. I will do just that.

Thank you ma'am

 
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