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Left alone in his hotel room, Kola dropped into a lone chair and gazed into the distance. His dinner sat untouched on a table beside him. He looked dejected and his body shook from deep, silent sobs. He was actually weeping.
Forget about his false bravado and seemingly hard heartedness, Kola was tired of the pregnancy saga and the attendant dramas associated with it. He wasn’t comfortable with the kind of man he was becoming. Just in a week, he had turned from being gentle, kind and considerate to a near monster. His life had taken a bad turn and he couldn’t control it, or so he thought. He wondered if things would go back to their normal state, remain as they were or get worse. He wished he could turn back the hands of the clock. Let something happen to erase the events of the last three and a half month. All the events except the good news of his wife’s pregnancy. That remained the only good point and the only glimmer in his otherwise gloomy life. Let Deaconess’ pregnancy disappear like vapour and not mar the joy of his wife’s pregnancy. If only he could make it disappear.
In his heart, he knew that what he was doing was bad. From lying to his wife, to the way he was treating deaconess. He also knew that God wasn’t happy with him. His relationship with God had suffered a major set back. He had intentionally closed his heart to the prompting and warning of the Holy spirit. All he wanted was to get things behind him. He concluded that at the end of it all, after the abortion, he would apologize to deaconess Beatrice for treating her badly. They would go their separate ways and everyone would be happy. Then he would go back to God, rededicate his life and turn a new leaf. God is merciful and plentious in mercy, he will forgive him.
That was what Kola used to console himself as he prepared to retire for the night. He managed to eat part of his dinner before retiring. Just before sleeping, he picked his phone to call his wife. They spoke last about an hour ago.
Kola assured her that he was okay and drew same assurance from her. He promised to be with her by the next day. When she asked if they had started what they went to do, he answered in the affirmative.
—–
In her room, Deaconess Beatrice prayed like she’d never prayed since the pregnancy wahala started. The crux of her prayer was for God to teach her what to do. She wanted his guidance. That should have been her desire before now. She had earlier pleaded for forgiveness and prayed for restoration. She also prayed for strength to do whatever she’s supposed to do.
Her mind was made up. She won’t abort the pregnancy. She planned to stand up to Kola and let him know that she’s keeping the baby. She knew she would have to come out to let the world know what had happened to her. She would need to explain things to the pastor and her children. She would leave Kola to tell his wife. She knew it would be a rude shock to them; especially her unmarried daughter. They might lose confidence in her after her confession.
She would take her time. She would pray for divine direction. She would obey God all the way.
——
Jumoke slept off soon after she ended the call with her husband. She felt a renewed warmth in her heart at the sound of his voice. She was happy that she had a man that could be called a man. A man that is not.lazy and is labouring for her and their unborn children. A good man that is using his productive years to do worthwhile things. She had a dependable and trustworthy husband; a man that Love her more than any other thing in the world.
She slept soundly until she was awakened by a full bladder at midnight. She was almost dribbling in her pant. Jumoke was used to that typical symptom of an expanding uterus and stood up to move to the toilet. Thinking about it afterwards, she couldn’t pin point what fell her down. It was possible that sleep had not cleared totally from her eyes, or maybe she slipped or misstepped. All she knew was that she saw herself falling face down. She landed on her stomach.
Jumoke saw stars with the kind of pain that shot through her system; from her stomach to her back. Forgetting that it was midnight and she was alone at home, she cried out. Hot tears ran down her face as the pain increased in intensity. It went round and round her tummy and she felt a pressing pressure at her lower abdomen. Turning to one side, she tried to stand but could not. The pain at her waist wouldn’t let her stand up.
She pushed on her side until she got to the bed. Frantically, she dialled the numbers of their neighbor. Both numbers were switched off. She couldn’t possibly call her husband. No! He would be worried stiff and might take a rash decision, like looking for a way to rush back immediately. He might put his life at risk. Instead of that, she will call her friend.
Jumoke tried sitting on her buttocks but cried out as a new pang of pain hit her. Picking her phone again, she dialled Tosin’s number.
Her voice shook as she explained what happened to her.
” I’m in serious pain. I slipped in the toilet and fell on my tummy. I think I’m bleeding.”
Jumoke made the last statement because she felt a wet and sticky sensation in-between her thighs. Raising her night gown, she noticed that she was wet.
” Jumoke talk to me, what’s the problem?” Tosin screamed into the phone.
” I’m in serious pain.”
Kelvin was already up. He picked the car key. ” Keep talking to her,” he said to his wife. ” How is she feeling?”
” What of Uncle Kola,” Tosin asked as they entered the car. She was happy that her younger sister was there on holiday and would stay with the children as they drive into the night.
” He travelled on a business trip.”
” Okay, hold on. Breathe deeply,” she advised. ” We are on our way.”
After exactly twenty minutes,they drove into the compound. Jumoke had pushed, dragged and shoved until she got to the door. Opening the door was another herculean task but she had to do it for Kelvin and his wife to get access into the house.
They met her on the floor at the door step. Gently, they pulled her up with both of them supporting her at the shoulder. She was almost crazy with pain. Tosin noticed that her night gown was wet. Water-like fluid was also draining down her legs. She whispered to her husband. ” She’s draining. We have to rush her to the hospital.
Jumoke winced in pain and placed her head on Tosin’s shoulder. She asked. ” Am I going to lose the baby? Is it possible to lose a 5-month-old pregnancy as a result of falling?”
She cried all the way to the hospital. Tosin sat with her at the back of the car and held her hands. She reassured her that everything would be okay. But Jumoke doubted her. She doubted if everything would indeed be okay. She wished she had the strength to pick her phone and goggle to know what could happen if a pregnant woman falls on her tummy. Her tears increased. She feared that the joy of expecting her baby would be taken from her.
She was rushed into the treatment room. Kelvin and Tosin were greatly disturbed. They paced to and fro the reception, praying for everything to be okay.
TO BE CONTINUED
Β©BOSEDE FAGBEMI
