Unknown Pregnancy
Episode 9
The drive back to Sandra’s old home was steeped in an uncomfortable silence. Sandra sat in the back seat, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery, her heart p******g with dread. Aunt Grace, driving with a firm grip on the steering wheel, didn’t say a word the entire journey. It felt as though the weight of the situation had pushed them both into an unspoken agreement—words would do no good here.
When they arrived at Sandra’s old house, her mother was outside, tending to the small vegetable garden she had managed to keep alive despite their struggles. She looked up as the car approached, her face lighting up in surprise. She hadn’t been expecting visitors, especially not her sister and daughter at this hour. Wiping her hands on her apron, she hurried over to greet them.
“Sandra, Grace! This is a surprise,” her mother said with a warm smile, her eyes scanning both of them. She could immediately sense the tension in the air. “Come in, come in.”
Aunt Grace didn’t return the smile. Instead, she walked briskly into the house, her expression somber. Sandra trailed behind her, her feet heavy with the burden of what was about to unfold.
Inside, they all sat down in the small living room. Sandra’s mother, sensing something was wrong, looked from her sister to her daughter with growing concern. “What’s going on? Is everything alright?”
Aunt Grace took a deep breath, her voice firm but tinged with irritation as she spoke. “There’s no easy way to say this, and I won’t sugarcoat it. Sandra is pregnant.”
The words hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Sandra’s mother stared at her sister, her eyes wide with shock. She turned to Sandra, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find the right words. “Sandra… Is this true?”
Sandra nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. She couldn’t bring herself to meet her mother’s eyes, the shame too overwhelming.
“But… But how?” her mother stammered, disbelief coloring her voice. “Who is the father?”
Aunt Grace sighed, her frustration evident. “That’s the worst part, she doesn’t even know who the father is. Can you believe that? This girl, who I took into my home, who I tried to help, has brought this disgrace upon us.”
Sandra’s mother looked at her daughter, her heart breaking at the sight of Sandra’s bowed head, the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “Sandra, how could this happen? What have you done?”
Sandra tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She felt trapped, like a child being scolded for a crime she didn’t fully understand. “I… I don’t know, Mama. I don’t remember… I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Her mother’s face crumpled, tears welling up in her eyes. “Oh, Sandra… What are we going to do now?”
Aunt Grace stood up abruptly, clearly eager to wash her hands of the situation. “She can’t stay with me anymore, that much is clear. I have my own family to think about, and this… this situation is too much. I’m sorry, but she has to stay here with you.”
Sandra’s mother looked at her sister, desperation in her eyes. “But Grace, how are we going to manage? You know how hard things are for us.”
Aunt Grace’s expression softened slightly, but her resolve remained firm. “I’ll send you some money when I can, to help out. But I can’t promise anything regular. I’ve done all I can, but this is where my responsibility ends.”
With that, Aunt Grace picked up her purse and headed for the door. Sandra and her mother followed her, still reeling from the shock. “Grace, please… Don’t just leave us like this,” Sandra’s mother pleaded, her voice shaking.
But Aunt Grace was already out the door, walking briskly to her car. “I’ve said all I can say. You two need to figure this out on your own now.”
Sandra watched her aunt drive away, the sound of the car engine fading into the distance until it was gone. She stood there, rooted to the spot, unable to believe that this was really happening. How had her life spiraled out of control so quickly?
Sandra’s mother gently placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, her voice soft with concern. “Come inside, Sandra. We need to talk.”
They went back into the house, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. Sandra’s mother sat her down at the kitchen table, her face a mask of worry and sadness. “Sandra, we need to figure out what we’re going to do.”
Sandra’s voice was barely a whisper, her emotions still raw. “I’m so sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Her mother shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “I know, my child. But what’s done is done. We have to deal with it now, as best we can.”
Sandra wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her mind racing with all the questions she didn’t have answers to. “What are we going to do? I… I can’t stay in school now. And I don’t know how we’re going to manage with a baby on the way.”
Her mother’s voice cracked as she spoke. “We’ll find a way, Sandra. We’ve survived this long, haven’t we? But it won’t be easy. You know how things are with us… We’re barely getting by as it is.”
Sandra’s heart sank even further. She knew her mother was right. Life had always been a struggle for them, and now, with a baby on the way, things would only get harder. The future seemed bleak, a long, difficult road ahead with no end in sight.
Days turned into weeks, and as time passed, the reality of Sandra’s situation began to settle in. Her aunt never sent the money she had promised. Sandra’s mother tried to make do with what little they had, but it was clear that things were getting worse. The stress and worry weighed heavily on them both, and Sandra could see the toll it was taking on her mother’s health.
Sandra had to drop out of school, her dreams of a better future slipping through her fingers like sand. Instead of focusing on her studies, she spent her days caring for her mother and preparing for the arrival of the baby. The once lively and hopeful girl was now a shadow of her former self, her spirit crushed under the weight of her circumstances.
Every day was a struggle, and every night was filled with fear and uncertainty. Sandra often lay awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering how she had ended up in this situation. The thought of the baby growing inside her filled her with a mixture of dread and sorrow. She still had no idea who the father was, and the thought of raising a child on her own was overwhelming.
To Be Continued
