Flashback
Many Years Earlier
CHINENYE
"Are you pregnant?"Emeka asked instantly. His grip on my arm tightened which made me shudder in fear. I couldn't even look him in the eye as I put my face down trying to fight the tears that were threatening to spill over my cheeks.
What would he think of me now?
A prostitute. A shameless girl. Nobody would believe me when I tell them the real truth behind my pregnancy. The society will call me shameless, they will all say I put on something revealing which is why I got raped.I hadn't even told my mother yet. My family name will be ruined, my child will be a bastard.
My silence was already an answer to Emeka, I could feel his gaze on me like a knife piercing into me.I really loved him but now he will think I'm shameless and a prostitute.
But why?
Why is the society so quick to judge a female when she gets pregnant outside marriage?Why do they say "it's because she's wayward"? Why don't they listen to our own side of the story?It didn't matter now, I planned to tell Emeka but I was so scared. I'm sure by now he already knows.
I just couldn't hold in the tears anymore and I let them roll down my cheeks."I'm.. I'm sorry" I manage to cry out whilst still facing down.
Emeka's grip on my hand softened."It wasn't my fault please...you..you..have to believe me"
Emeka then cupped my face with his hand and brought my face up so I can meet his gaze.Looking deep into his eyes, I couldn't see any disgust for me on his face which shocked me. I was just seeing a young man who deeply loved me.
"How did it happen?"he asked calmly as his facial expression softened.
"I was..was.."my voice trailed off. I suddenly lost my voice thinking of that uneventful day.
What if he doesn't believe me?"Raped"I said in a whisper as more tears kept on rolling down my cheeks.
"What?!"Emeka shouted.
I was taken aback by his sudden outburst.Maybe I was right, he wouldn't believe me. He probably thinks I'm trying to cover it up.
"Where?when? Who is that animal that forced himself on you? How dare he?"
Now I became perplexed. He didn't shout because he was angry at me, he reacted that way because he was angry at the person who raped me.
I couldn't have asked for a better partner. I hugged Emeka tightly and crying onto his chest. He hugged me back and patted my back.
"It's ok honey. I believe you. I know you are not promiscuous"
"You--you do?"I whispered softly.
I didn't know how to feel. One part of me felt disgusted for carrying another man's baby, whilst the other part was happy because I now know I've gotten myself a partner that would never doubt my modesty.
"Yes I do"he replied whilst patting my back.
We stayed like that for some seconds before I pulled out facing Emeka who smiled at me.
He then started asking me how I got raped.I narrated to event to him and I saw his fist was clenched and his anger was rising."You really don't know who did it?"He asked again. This was like the hundredth time he asked me that same question.
I shook my head and he cupped my face in his hands once more.
But now that he had forgiven me, will he accept my baby? Will he love this baby?How can he? He isn't the father. I don't even know who the father is.
"I'll take care of this baby"Emeka said cutting into my thoughts.
I gasped in surprise. It was like he knew what was on my mind.
Before I could say anything else, he cut me short."Yes I'll. It's now our baby. I love you and I love our baby ok. Just always know that"I was so speechless. He wants to take care of another man's baby. God what did I do to deserve this kind of Man!?
I couldn't control my self anymore. I hugged him so tightly and kissed him.
"Emeka..thank you...for everything..I love you"was all I could say after the kiss.
"I love you too honey"
He pulled me again for a kiss and I wrapped my arms around his neck deepening our kiss.****
Lydia kept on watching Chinenye and Emeka as she eve'sdropped on their conversation.
"Ok so she is now pregnant. It's good atleast now I know my Francis will take his eyes of her and face only me" she said to herself with a smile forming on her lips.
Then she suddenly frowned"why didn't she die while getting raped? Couldn't he kill her?"
Lydia really hated Chinenye. Every thing Chinenye did annoyed her. She always thought that Chinenye liked to show off as the good and modest daughter everyone wanted to have. Even her own mother compared her to Chinenye.
And Chinenye only made her hatred for her grow by stealing Francis away from her.
She just wish she could kill Chinenye.Suddenly there was a glint in her eyes.
"Maybe Emeka might still accept her,but will Nne accept her? And what will the society say about her? It will be a shame if somebody goes and turns the story upside down"Lydia said to herself again with a sly smile curved on her face as she thought of the many ways to ruin Chinenye's reputation.AMARACHII stepped outside the house with heavy sleepy eyes. Scanning the empty buckets in the backyard, I realised my workload this morning will be much. The atmosphere was so cold and sky was still dark. Some stars could be spotted as the darkness covered the entire horizon. I rubbed my hands together trying to feel warm.A deep sigh escaped my mouth as I took a jerry-can and made my way out off the house."It was still dark, why couldn't aunty Lydia just let me rest?"Stepping outside the iron gate of my house, I felt the cold breeze run through my body and I shivered.There were just few people on the road, probably those of the working class as they went their way not even minding anybody elseI greeted some of them, most replied while some didn't.Heaven knows I was still sleepy as I tried to keep awake whilst wa
AMARACHI I took hold of her hand and she led me to herparked car. We got into the car and the driver ignited the engine."Take us home" she ordered but with a soft tone.The driver nodded and turned the car around. I still felt a bit tense which I'm sure she noticed as I found her gaze on me."What is it my dear?"she asked me with a smile on her face.I didn't want her to think I was being rude so I smiled back at her and shook my head."Nothing ma"She sighed and let out a laugh"it's ok. I understand you may be a little scared. I'm just trying to help you"I didn't know this woman from Adam but the kindness she showed me within this few minutes surpassed aunty Lydia's attitude towards me my entire life."You can come to my house whenever you want to fetch water ok. My d
FlashbackMany Years Earlier Lydia quickly and stealthily walked out of the compound, opening the gate quietly and closing it in that same manner so as not to make a noise. "Where could Francis be now?"Lydia thought to herself once outside the gate."Yes, he is probably at Dike's workshop. Francis my love prepare to loose your Chinenye" A smile formed on her lips on the thought of Francis loosing his love for Chinenye. She quickly hurried towards meeting Francis.She would have to pass the community market which was a very good way of seeing Adanne or as she is popularly referred to as "Nne", Francis' and Emeka's mother.
AMARACHI I felt sick in my stomach every time I had to explain myself to aunty Lydia. She can never love me, I want her to love me the way she loves Ogechi but she can never love me. I atleast thought she will be happy on seeing that I fetched the water early but instead she called me a witch.Was it fair?Isn't this life being too unfair to me?"Answer them Amara. Quiet their tongues"Nne nudged my shoulder.I had been silent the whole time I didn't even realise it. "Nne she can't say anything now. What can she say? You are spoiling Amarachi o"Ogechi remarked harshly which got her a glare from Nne."Aunty Lydia"I began"Yes the community tap was obviously closed but I met Chief Justice's wife and she took me to her house and told me to fetch from her house" I explained.I saw how quickly both aunty Lydia
AMARACHII stepped outside the door of the house, putting on an okrika(fairly used) blue floral gown. I didn't have much fancy clothes like Ogechi, aunty Lydia hardly bought me any nice cloth so the ones I had, I made sure to keep them in good shape. My afro virgin hair was combed and packed to a bun and I carried a little handbag which contained some sowing equipments.I was already through with the house chores and I had already freshened up but I had not eaten.The heat of the sun had already begun, it was probably ten o'clock by now.I spotted aunty Lydia and her husband, my uncle Francis, sitting under the umbrella mango tree discussing. 'Uncle Francis', that tittle 'uncle', was he really my uncle?He accompanied his wife in maltreating me, he hates me the way aunty Lydia hates me.Is this man really my late's father's younger brother?I doubt it.If
AMARACHI After I finished sweeping, I proceeded with cleaning the sewing machines, tables and chairs. I had to make sure everything was neat and orderly if not I'll attract the wrath of Aunty Lydia.Something which I definitely didn't want. I had already gotten enough of her anger this morning, I didn't want more.Once finished, I sat down on my own personal sewing machine. It was actually my late mother's own. The only material things I had in remembrance of my late mother was the locket she gave me when I was still little and this sowing machine.The locket had a small space for storing a photograph and her picture was in it. I wore it everytime, it became my skin. I never took it off because I was so use to it. I took some materials from a polythene bag next to me. Gosh customers cloth! They were so many and they needed to be sewed. I really worked all round th
AMARACHI After my friends left, I went back to my work. It really wasn't easy. Time moved really slow and it frustrated me.I was cutting, sewing and mending customers cloth. More and more customers kept on trooping inside aunty Lydia's shop, bringing materials for sewing.I took measurements endlessly. I liked the fact that aunty Lydia's business was booming but the effect was taking a toll on me seriously. I was working round the clock here and I didn't even get a 'thank you' from aunty Lydia.I kept on working until aunty Lydia came in during noon.She was on a yellow lace top and she tied a wrapper matching the lace coupled with her handbag and her heavy jewellery.I immediately stood up and cleaned her particular seat for her even though I had cleaned it before."Aunty good afternoon" I greeted her with a courtesy bow.She eyed me and hiss
AMARACHI God I'm so dead!Aunty Lydia kept on screaming, calling me a thief. I didn't steal anything. I was innocent.I knew she wouldn't listen to my side of the story. My heart was beating so fast as if it was threatening to break out of my rib cages."God please help me""Aunty wait... it's..."I began but I was quickly interrupted by her."It's what?! It's what Amarachi!? After that old hag called your grandmother will see you as an angel not knowing you are a thief! Nothing but a thief! Just like your mother!"Really? My mother? Why does she always add my mother in her insults! Why can't she let my mother rest?My mother isn't a thief and I'm not one either."Aunty Lydia my mother isn't a thief"I said immediately surprised by my own bravery."What did you say?"Aunty Lydia asked