TOO HARD TO LET GO.
I was shocked when the doctor congratulated me for the pregnancy.
“Congratulations, Mr Ibeh, your wife is a month pregnant”. He said, extending his hand to me for a shake.
“preg what?, doctor please check again, that may not be her results”. I doubted.
The doctor smiled.
“This is unbelievable right?. You have been trying for so long, I see. Anyways, congrats, extend my regards to her. He handed me the test results and walked me out of the office.
…. I need to check on other patients”. He said.
I got into my car, unseal the paper and stared at it.
Could this results actually belongs to Lucy?. I wondered.
It was I who suggested the test, after she complained of fever that morning. I had taken her to the hospital and driven her back home after her sample was collected, promising to pick the result up on my way from work.
My problem with the results wasn’t the pregnancy actually, after all, we were married. But the fact that we were married for just three weeks and she was already a month gone.
Every man in his right sense would question that result.
Lucy and I got married after 7 months of courtship. We met at a church program. where I was invited as a gospel minister… that is what I do on my leisure.
As I minister that night, a group of youths came out to take over the dancing floor. That was where I sighted Lucy. It was love at first sight.
I was lifted in the spirit and I sang more than I have ever done in my singing career.
I have never felt the way I felt for Lucy with any other woman. Infact, no woman has ever enticed me. Even my sister had one time questioned my sexual!ty.
“Are you sure you’re not g@y?”. She had asked, but I laughed it off.
I approached Lucy after the program ended, and without taking much time, we exchanged contacts..I think she felt same way I did.
We started talking and I was glad when she confessed she was single too… no serious relationship.
That was how our love story began.
After a month, she finally succeeded in visiting me for the first time after I had tried so much to keep her out of my house.
We were in the living room, watching a movie when she tried to kiss me, but I brushed her away and adjusted.
That got her really agitated and she couldn’t hold it anymore.
“What exactly is wrong with you?. Why do you keep avoiding me?”. She asked, angrily.
“You have to calm down, girl, this relationship just started”. I stated.
She looked at me, suspiciously and hissed.
“Douglas, if there is something you need me to know, you better start talking now, because this your behavior is abnormal”. She argued.
I cleared my throat and started.
“Okay. the thing is , I made a promise to my God to keep my virginity until my wedding night”. I said.
This made her laugh out so loud.
“You’re joking with me, right?, because there is no word like male virginity in the dictionary”. She said.
“I am damn serious, I am a virgin”. I repeated.
She laughed again, but then, stopped when she realized how serious I was.
“Wait, you’re serious?. She asked and I nodded.
… you’re serious?. So why did you bring me here?. Infact, what am I doing in a relationship with you?”. She asked.
“Lucy, there are a lot we need to talk about. We can…”. I began, but before I could finish, she’d already picked her handbag and was standing.
“I also made a promise to my God never to be in a relationship with any man that I will be begging for his attention”. She said, reaching for the door.
I rushed out and held her back.
“Please, you can’t do this, Lucy, don’t leave me just because of s3x. There are so many other things we could do as partners”. I tried to talk to her.
“So many other things?. Like praying and fasting with you?, doing night vigils?. What else gives pleasure in relationships?”. She asked.
“Lucy, listen, there’s something you need to know. Relationship shouldn’t be all about…”
“Spare me the gospel. Are you sure you’re alright?. Because my mind is telling me right now that you have something you’re hiding inside that short you’re putting on. Yes, something is definitely not right down there…like how can a full grown man stand here and shamelessly tell me you’re a virgin?, it doesn’t make sense at all”. She was still saying.
I tried to calm her down, but when it was obvious she wasn’t going to be calm, I had to let her go.
I cried all night long. Like I have said earlier Lucy was the only woman I had feelings for… I can’t let her go, just like that.
She refused to take my call the three days that followed, then I decided to visit her workplace.
I was there two consecutive times before she agreed to listen to me. After I pleaded with her to bear with me, she agreed to think over it.
She was in my house the following evening.
“I’m done thinking about it and I have come to the conclusion that I will wait with you”. She announced.
“Wow!, thank you so much for that”. I exclaimed, caressing her palm.
“Is that all you could do?, won’t you give me a hug or something?”. She asked.
I bent over and hugged her. She tried to press me hard against her but I backed out, smiling like something happened.
It was the toughest six months of my life. Once in a while, she tried to seduce me but I always maintain my cool.
“You’re just not a real man”. She would tease.
After we got engaged, I took her home to see my mother. My elder sister was visiting too, during that period.
My mother wasn’t impressed with my choice at all.
I overheard her telling my sister, that evening, that there wasn’t much difference between the dressing of the lady I brought home and that of those prost!tutes she saw, when she visited her town for omugwo.
They called me out for a meeting, later that night while Lucy was resting in the room.
“Why do you not want me to pick a decent girl for you the way I did for your brother Franklin?, or have you ever receive any ill report from him?. And their marriage is more than three years now”. My mother began.
“Douglas, I’m happy for you oo. At least for the very first time in my life, , I have been convinced that my brother is not g@y. But you see this particular girl you brought, she no work at all. Did you not see church girls?, you that like the things of God so much, why have you decided to pick a wife from the street?”. My sister had asked.
I expected this to happen, so I was already prepared for them.
“I only came back to show you the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, that’s all”. I said, stood up and went inside.
They fought really hard to stop the marriage, but it did happen. We did traditional, court and church wedding.
Today, just barely three weeks after the wedding, I am already being congratulated for a month old pregnancy. How is that even possible?.
The result might actually not be hers. I trust my wife. I concluded as started the engine.
We shall visit another hospital tomorrow morning, hopefully….
Typing 2….
ยฉ Joy Ifunanya
