ADUKE….
Chapter 10
…I opened my eyes slightly and I couldn’t recognize where I was,it was a strange place,Joyce was crying and praying beside me,her friend Stella was there too, immediately they saw me awake they jumped for joy,and Joyce ran out to get the doctor..
The doctor came with her,and he checked my temperature and some other vitals…this is only a miracle,your been alive is a miracle,thank your friends who timely brought you here…
Why would you abort a baby you have kept for five months,is it the four months to go that you couldn’t wait,even if you don’t need the baby,there are millions of people who do,and would be glad to have it,the doctor said…
I was ashamed of myself,I wished I didn’t wake up,,,to make matters worse,you allowed a quake doctor to handle the abortion,he or she was just busy destroying vital organs in your body,the doctor continued.
Doctor,how is my friend’s condition,I hope nothing has gone wrong with her,please doctor,talk to us,Joyce asked concerned…
Am afraid,a damage had been made,her womb was destroyed completely in the process,she would never be able to carry another child,I am sorry,the doctor said ….
It was as if someone had hit my head with a big wood,I felt a sharp pain,Joyce and Ada opened their mouths in shock,what have I done,oh God,how did I get here,what have I done to myself,I was in pains,not necessarily the physical pain I was going through,but the psychological torture I was experiencing…
I stayed back at hospital for some more days,I was bleeding and the doctor wanted to monitor me,let me call your mother,you need her now than ever, Joyce said,,no please don’t,my mother would die if she finds out my situation, please I don’t want her to know anything,I told Joyce….
After five days,I was set to be discharged,I told Joyce where I had kept my money even though it wasn’t enough for the bills,she added and completed it.
Getting home,I was expecting Joyce to be angry at me, especially since she had been so concerned all along,but I had shut her out…she didn’t mention anything about it and I was dying of guilt inside..
Isn’t this the part you say I told you,I warned you about Sharon but you didn’t listen,I had asked her,say something,talk to me J,I know I am a big disappointment, please talk to me…
ADUKE,what do you want me to say,what do you want me to say now, Aduke,I thought we were friends, infact I thought we were sisters,how could you have done this to yourself,I asked you,I asked you several times if you were pregnant,but you denied,and confided in Sharon instead,now see,see what you have done to yourself,she was already in tears,Aduke why,she asked crying,I went to her and hugged her tightly,we were both in tears…
After some moments of emotions,we sat down,J,I didn’t get pregnant for fun, maami’s shop was burnt to ashes,and that was our only means of livelihood,to make matter worse,she had borrowed money from different people to stock up the shop before the tragic incident,the persons that she borrowed from didn’t want to hear stories,all they needed was their money, they’d come home disgracing mammi, asking for thier money,of course you know Baami doesn’t care,it was hell,I called SHARON for assistance,and she said she didn’t have as she had bought a new car,but then she offered to help by introducing me to Chief who would give me the money,I didn’t want to lose my virginity to chief,hence I decided to steal from him and run away, unfortunately chief noticed I had stolen from him and sent his thugs after me,who got me by the gate…
Chief was angry at me for trying to steal from him and he ordered I be tied and he rape me mercilessly,I lost my virginity to chief in an horrible manner,he gave me 2million Naria as compensation,which helped in clearing all of maami’s debt and opened a shop for her,but I didn’t tell her the source of the money,I lied a friend’s parents gifted it to me….I explained my ordeal to J in tears..
Oh my,Aduke,I am so sorry for all you went through, it’s so horrible,but then,why didn’t you call me,she asked,J,it was thesame time your dad was hospitalized,I didn’t want to bother you,I said…she opened her hands and hugged me,am so sorry for all you have been through,with God I believe all will be well,the doctor may has given his report,but God has the final say, nothing is impossible with him,she encouraged me,,,,I really needed that,some words of encouragement..I took my medication judiciously,and Joyce was there every step of the way as she had promised,I was grateful for such a friend who had turned sister…..
AD,AD,I heard Sharon called me, I didn’t want to answer hence pretended I didn’t hear her,but she didn’t stop calling me,she ran and met up with me..
AD,why aren’t you answering me,,how are you,I came by to check up on you,but you weren’t home,I later heard you were at the hospital,but Joyce wouldn’t let me see you… Sharon explained.
Well,as you can see I am fine,so can I go now,I said.. why are you acting like I am the cause of everything that happened to you,for heaven’s sake I was only trying help,she said..
Well keep that help to yourself,I don’t want you around,you are just a bad omen, everytime I am around you it’s for evil,I lost my virginity,thanks to you,I lost my womb,thanks to you,what more do you want,that I lose my Iife,please stay away from me,I don’t want to ever speak to you again,leave me to my mystery alone, please,I said and walked out on her….
I was able to push through school,and at last I graduated,I was posted to Imo state for service….
I was happy at how far I had come academically, but there was this emptiness I felt inside,not even a single day passes, without me regretting my actions…
I met someone in imo,his name was Mike,at first I didn’t want to go into any relationship,I was scared of what might happen,but then I spoke with JOYCE who was serving in Benin,she adviced me to give love a chance,that perhaps I could find someone who would fight my misery with me….Aduke,you deserve to love and be loved right back,J had said…I decided to give Mike a chance,and it was a beautiful beginning….
written by
Rejoice Igbinovia Aluyi
