THE DEVIL ON THE ALTAR
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Patricia and Paul got back together ~and soon they became the happy couple they were before the incidence. Patricia returned to the hostel and the fellowship. Celestina was happy to have her back even though she scolded her for shutting everyone~ out and for disappearing to God knows where. She ~apologized and promised it won’t happen again and Celestina forgave her. Patricia also apologized to as many people that accused her of her disappearance and absconding from the fellowshi~ p.
Shortly after, she became very sick to the point that she could not go out ~of her room. Celestina advised her to visit the hospital but she refused claiming that it is just malaria and that she would be fine. Paul also advised her to visit the hospital and he insisted on taking her there. He finally succeede~ d and took her to the school’s health centre.
At the hospital, the doctor asked Patricia a few questions and certain tests were carried out on her and shortly after she was diagnosed of pregnancy.
“Congratulations ma’am, you are six weeks pregnant,” the doctor said, stretching out the paper containing the result of the test to Patricia.
Patricia just sat there looking numb. She didn’t want to believe what she heard.
“This can’t be true Lord!” She screamed amidst tears.
“Doctor, what did you say?” Paul asked after regaining his composure.
“You heard me Mr. I said your wife or whoever she ~is to you is six weeks pregnant and she got sick just because of stress and lack of proper care. So, please make sure that henceforth ~she avoids anyt~ hing strenuous for her safety and that of the child.” The doctor scribbled something on the paper and handed it over to Paul. “Make sure you get these drugs for her at the pharmacy,~ they are very important,” he said and walked away.
“Lord, why does this have to happen to me? I thought I prayed for forgiveness and I had the assurance that you have forgiven me. Why this?” Patricia kept on saying many things amidst tears.
Paul could not even utter a word. He just sat there in the doctor’s office staring at nothing in particular. He stood up after he had drunk in the situation and moved to where Patricia was still sobbing and lamenting.
“Let’s just go and please don’t make a scene once we get outside,” Paul said and tried to help Patricia up.
“Is that all you would say?” She was rather surprised at his nonchalant attitude.
“Well, we can’t talk or even think straight as of yet. So, please let’s just go.”
Patricia finally gathered herself together and went with Paul. They left the hospital that day and agreed to discuss the issue once Patricia fully recovered from her illness.
***********
After about a week, Patricia felt much better and she called Paul to fix a meeting so they could decide on what to do about the pregnancy. A lot had been going through Patricia’s head for the last one week. She had been having a lot of nightmares and most times she saw herself being covered with a red cloth in a coven and then buried, she would wake up so frightened and terrified. She could not tell Celestina what the problem was and all she told her was that she felt she was being attacked. She thought of a whole lot of things that could happen to her if she decided to keep the baby, her studies, parents, friends and even her reputation. She knew that having a child out of wedlock was not even an option for her.
“I can’t abort this pregnancy,” she said out loud to herself as she got ready to meet up with Paul as agreed. “Abortion is a sin against God, humanity and even my unborn child,” she thought on as she put on her shoes and took her bag, and she left the room that day in a confused state of mind.
“How is your health?” Paul said as he pulled out a chair for Pat to sit.
“I’m getting better. Just the constant headaches and cramps but aside those, all is well.”
“That’s good to know. Have you decided on what to do with the pregnancy?” He asked after a brief silence.
“Yes, I have but I’ve not really been able to figure out how exactly I would do it.”
“Keeping the pregnancy is not an option and you know that.” Paul looked up at Pat to get her confirmation but she just looked away. “Since we can’t keep it because it wouldn’t be easy for us to have a child out of wedlock and we can’t get married now *because of a lot of reasons. I think we are left with just one option and I’m very sorry to say this but we have to get rid of this baby. And please before you call me evil, consider the consequences of keeping this thing and I’m sure that God would understand.”
Patricia just* kept on staring at him. She could not judge him for thinking that way because she had also thought about aborting the pregnancy but what she can’t live with was Paul deciding that that was the only option they had.
“You are not saying anything,” Paul said after expecting a reply from her but he didn’t get any.
“What do you want me to say? You have planned everything and have decided that it is the only option so why are you asking me to give you a reply when you didn’t ask a question?”
“You don’t have to get angry with me, all I’m doing is for our good,” Paul said, trying to ease the tension.
“I am not going to kill my baby or put my life in danger. I’ve been having series of nightmares and I know that abortion is not an option for me.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“I’m going to keep the pregnancy and damn the consequences. We have sinned against God and it is high time we began to face the consequences of our actions without adding sin to sin. Do you remember David in the bible? He tried to cover his sin of adultery and ended up committing murder which led to the death of four of his children and if not for God’s mercy, he would have perished also,” Patricia explained trying to convince herself and Paul that keeping the pregnancy was the right thing to do.
“So, when people ask you who the father of the child is, what are you going to say to them?”
“I’m going to tell them who the father is of course,” Patricia replied with a slightly raised voice to show her irritation about Paul’s irrelevant questions.
“I have my reputation to protect and I’m not ready to become the father to a bastard. If you want to keep the pregnancy, don’t drag me into it. I’m not going to be responsible,” Paul said and walked away.
To be continued…
Paul the he devil