Unknown Pregnancy
Episode 8
The next morning, Sandra and Aunt Grace were up before dawn, the air thick with unspoken tension. The previous night’s decision weighed heavily on them both as they prepared to leave for the hospital. Sandra felt a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach, a mixture of fear and dread that she couldn’t shake off. Aunt Grace, on the other hand, was resolute, her face set in a stern expression as she drove them through the quiet streets.
The ride to the hospital was silent, the only sounds the soft hum of the car engine and the occasional rustle as Sandra shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She glanced at her aunt several times, hoping for some reassurance, but Aunt Grace kept her eyes on the road, her thoughts seemingly miles away.
When they arrived at the hospital, they were ushered into a waiting room, where they sat in tense silence. Sandra fidgeted with her hands, her mind racing with all the possibilities of what the doctor might say. Aunt Grace sat beside her, her arms crossed, the tension in her body palpable.
A nurse finally called them into the examination room, where they met with a doctor who introduced himself as Dr. Obinna. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes, but even his gentle demeanor did little to ease the anxiety that Sandra felt.
“Good morning,” Dr. Obinna greeted them warmly as he sat down at his desk. “I understand you’ve been feeling unwell, Sandra. We’ll run a few tests to see what might be causing your symptoms.”
Sandra nodded silently, her heart p******g in her chest. Aunt Grace didn’t say a word, her gaze fixed on the doctor as he explained the tests he would be conducting. Sandra felt like she was in a daze, the room spinning slightly as the reality of the situation set in.
The tests didn’t take long, but the wait for the results felt like an eternity. Sandra sat on the examination table, her legs swinging nervously as she tried to keep herself calm. Aunt Grace stood by the door, her arms still crossed, her expression unreadable.
Finally, Dr. Obinna returned, holding a folder with the test results. He took a seat across from Sandra and her aunt, his expression serious.
“I have the results of the tests,” he began, his tone gentle yet firm. “Sandra, the results indicate that you are pregnant.”
The words hit Sandra like a punch to the gut. She felt the blood drain from her face, her vision blurring as the room seemed to close in around her. Pregnant? How could that be? Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she had just heard.
Aunt Grace, however, didn’t hesitate. The moment the words left Dr. Obinna’s mouth, she turned to Sandra, her face contorted with anger. “What did you just say?” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
Sandra didn’t have time to react before Aunt Grace’s hand came down hard on her cheek, the sharp sting of the slap jolting her out of her shock. “You’re pregnant?” Aunt Grace repeated, her voice rising with each word. “Sandra, how could you? How could you do this?”
Sandra recoiled, tears springing to her eyes as she held her stinging cheek. “Aunty, I—”
“Don’t you dare try to explain!” Aunt Grace snapped, cutting her off. “I trusted you! I brought you into my home, and this is how you repay me?”
Dr. Obinna cleared his throat, trying to diffuse the tension. “Please, ma’am, let’s stay calm. This is a difficult situation, but we need to approach it with care.”
But Aunt Grace was beyond reasoning. Her face flushed with anger, she turned on Sandra, her voice filled with venom. “You’ve disgraced me, Sandra! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Sandra could only shake her head, the tears flowing freely now. She was too stunned to speak, too overwhelmed to process what was happening.
Aunt Grace wasn’t finished. “Who is the father?” she demanded, her voice shaking with rage. “Who did this to you?”
Sandra’s mind went blank. She had no answers, no explanation to offer. The events of the past few weeks were a blur, and the idea of being pregnant hadn’t even crossed her mind until now.
“I… I don’t know,” Sandra stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aunt Grace’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You don’t know?” she repeated, incredulous. “What do you mean you don’t know? Who is responsible for this?”
Sandra tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She was paralyzed by fear and shame, unable to give her aunt the answers she so desperately demanded.
“Unbelievable,” Aunt Grace muttered, shaking her head. “This is what happens when you don’t have discipline, when you don’t respect yourself.”
Dr. Obinna tried again to intervene. “Ma’am, we need to focus on Sandra’s health right now. This is a delicate situation, and she needs support.”
Aunt Grace shot him a look that could have frozen water. “Support? What she needs is a lesson in consequences!” She turned back to Sandra, her voice cold and final. “Get up. We’re leaving.”
Sandra wiped her tears with the back of her hand, still too stunned to fully comprehend what was happening. She slid off the examination table, her legs shaky as she followed her aunt out of the room.
The drive home was even more silent and tense than the drive to the hospital. Sandra stared out the window, her thoughts racing as she tried to piece together the fragments of her shattered world. Pregnant. The word echoed in her mind, over and over, like a curse.
When they arrived home, Aunt Grace didn’t waste any time. She slammed the car door shut and marched inside, Sandra trailing behind her. The moment they were inside, Aunt Grace rounded on her again.
“How could you be so careless, Sandra?” she yelled, her voice echoing through the house. “Do you have any idea what this means? You’ve ruined your life, and you’ve brought shame on this family!”
Sandra flinched at the harsh words, the tears threatening to fall again. “I’m sorry, Aunty,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Sorry?” Aunt Grace spat, her eyes blazing with fury. “Sorry isn’t good enough! You’re going to pack your things right now. You’re going back to your mother’s house. I won’t have this disgrace under my roof.”
Sandra’s heart sank at the words. Back to her mother’s house. Back to the life she had been so desperate to escape. She looked at her aunt, her eyes pleading for mercy, but Aunt Grace’s expression was as hard as stone.
“Go,” Aunt Grace ordered, her voice cold. “Pack your things. You’re leaving today.”
Sandra hesitated for a moment, hoping her aunt might change her mind, but the look in Aunt Grace’s eyes told her there would be no mercy. With a heavy heart, she turned and made her way to her room, the tears finally spilling over as she began to pack her belongings.
As she stuffed her clothes into her bag, Sandra’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, shame, confusion, and a deep, aching sorrow. How had it come to this? Just a few months ago, she had been full of hope, excited about the future. And now, everything was falling apart.
Aunt Grace’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Hurry up, Sandra! We don’t have all day!”
Sandra wiped her eyes and hurried to finish packing. With one last glance around the room, she picked up her bag and walked back to the living room, where Aunt Grace was waiting, her arms crossed.
“Let’s go,” Aunt Grace said curtly, turning towards the door.
Sandra followed her in silence, her heart heavy as she stepped out of the house. Back to square one, she thought bitterly as they got into the car. Back to the life she had tried so hard to leave behind.
As they drove away, Sandra looked out the window, the tears streaming down her face. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for certain—nothing would ever be the same again.
To Be Continued
