ONE WRONG TURN
EPISODE 24 (FINAL)
I opened my eyes slowly, trying to figure out where I was. I knew I had passed out a while ago, but I couldn’t guess how long. I turned my head sideways to look properly at the figure sitting in front of me. My vision was inaccurate and blurry at first. As it began to brighten, I could see my mother sitting close, with tears flowing from her eyes. I looked around the room carefully, it was obvious I was in a hospital. Fear gripped me as I saw the sadness on my mum’s face. I was scared that something bad may have happened.
“What happened? “I asked, trying to prop myself up on the bed. My mum handed me a piece of paper. I snatched it from her, and scanned through it’s content. It made no sense to me, it was mainly medical jargons.
“I don’t understand, what does it say? ” I asked as I handed the paper back to her.
“You are pregnant “she said, in between sobs. My heart skipped a beat, my head felt lighter. If I were standing, I’d have fainted again. I broke down in tears, thinking it was not possible. I remember I swallowed the pills Sarah gave me.
“No no it has to be a mistake “I screamed.
“Blood and urine tests have confirmed it” my mum replied
I held my head in my palm, utterly confused and dejected. I had no idea what to do or say. I felt like dying. I could feel my energy draining away. I wanted to cry, but It seemed my tear glands had dried up, or my pain was more than tears. My father burst into the room, and screamed at the top of his voice.
“so you have disgraced me finally, you have brought shame to me” He tried to hit me, but my mum held him back.
“She is pregnant, don’t hit her please”.
I just laid motionless on the bed, at this point I couldn’t care less if I was dead. My life was empty and meaningless.
“Who is responsible for this “my father shouted.
”Matthew!!! ” I blotted out without hesitation.
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“Get up, we are going to his father’s house”. My dad dragged me roughly from the bed, he led me out of the door, not minding my current state of health. My mum tagged along, as we headed for Matthew’s house.
*****
The atmosphere was tense, the reception was hostile. Matthew’s dad had labelled my dad a failure for not being able to control the “small prostitute” he had in his house. He was convinced that his son wasn’t responsible for my pregnancy, even before hearing his side of the story . He ordered us out of his house, but my dad insisted on hearing from Matthew first.
Matthew’s Dad called him over the phone, and ordered him to come home immediately. We sat and waited quietly for about 30 minutes. I stood behind my mum who was weeping profusely. My face was devoid of emotions, I had cried myself to the limit. Although I was falling apart inside, my countenance didn’t reveal much.
Matthew arrived so sooner than expected, he entered the living room unannounced, perhaps expecting to find his father alone. The faces before him threw him back. He paused for a while and examined our faces closely. No doubt, he must have deduced the situation appropriately. He reorganised himself and greeted everyone.
His father pointed a finger at me.
“Do you know her?”he asked.
“We attend the same church” he replied calmly.
“She said she is pregnant for you”
“Jesus! “Matthew exclaimed, putting his hands on his head.
“Daddy, I don’t know what she is talking about” Matthew denied.
“Shut up, the catechist caught both of you in church the other time” my father cut in.
“That was then, she was my girlfriend, but we broke up when I caught her in a hotel with a man” Matthew continued.
“I told you she is a prostitute ” Matthew’s Dad contributed.
“She has been sleeping with my cousin, what ever she is carrying there must belong to him,” pointing at my abdomen.
“Did I not catch you with him in a hotel? ” Matthew asked.
The entire scene was inhuman and embarrassing for me and my family. Being called a prostitute with circumstantial evidence made me want to die.
Who would have believed that Matthew would ever treat me like this? Few weeks ago, he took my virginity, he was my knight in shining armour. Today he is the one labelling me a whore. I bent my head in shame, as everyone turned towards me, waiting for a response . Any reply I give would make no difference, I’d be damned anyway.
“His cousin has returned to Canada, you can take your prostitute daughter and grand child to him there, but for now get out of my house” Matthew’s Dad barked. My dad jumped to his feet and hurried out of sight. My mum and I walked slowly towards the door. I walked closer to Matthew and whispered to him.
" You’ll come looking for your child someday.”
He totally avoided eye contact with me, he knew deep within himself that he was the father.
My dad’s car was not parked outside anymore, he had left us in anger. My mum and I took a cab home. We cried all the way home, other passengers looked at us in amusement, wondering what was wrong.
We got home, me and my mum went in separate direction. I went to my room and continued my tears. Daniel joined me in my room, and cried along.
About 10pm, a sharp knock on the gate awakened everyone. Daniel went outside to open. My father staggered into the compound, towards the house. I came to the seating room to have a good view of him. The stench of alcohol and vomit escorted him as he staggered along. He began to utter several senseless words.
“You disgrace me you disgrace yourself. I’m a failure, but your education is over, you and your life.” I knew he was referring to me, I was grieved. I had never seen my father drunk before. As I watched my father throwing up, and my mother weeping, I felt terrible. I knew I had brought shame and disgrace to my household, and myself. I had made mistakes that would change my life forever. All it really took was one wrong turn.
-THE END-
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