CHAPTER FOUR

"Daphne, your daughter is too young for an abortion."

"She is too young? When she was opening her legs for whoever, she didn't know that she is young? The same way she opened her legs, that's the same way, she will do that abortion. My words are final!" Mrs. Daphne said with tears.

"If you won't do it for her, I will find someone else." she added

Aunt Kim was perplexed.

"Maybe you guys need a break from each other. I will take her with me." Kim said to her friend.

***

Aunt Kim walked up to me.

"You will have to stay with me for the meantime. Your mum isn't happy with you, and your presence here, won't help."

"Wh..at ab..ou....t my ba..by" I stammered.

Aunt Kim gave me a deep stare. it felt like, she welded a sharp knife right into my heart. I saw the burning rage in her eyes, and the broken trust.

I really do hate myself at this moment.

"We'll keep it. Pack your things and let's leave"

I didn't make a move and she understood.

"Stay put. I will do it for you."

Aunt Kim understood me instantly. She knew I couldn't face my mum inside.

I and mum shared the same room but different bed.

My mum? I don't think she will ever want to see me except if I eventually become a surgeon.

I owe everything to this woman and yet, I decided to act stupid because of love. I deserve every treatment I get from her.

***

"let's go" She said, holding firmly to my Ghana must-go bag.

"What about mum? how is she?" I asked with heavy guilt.

"Your mum will be fine. In no time, she will accept you, and your baby, but right now, it's just too hard for her to accept."

"Okay."

"Where did you go to when you left the hospital?" Aunt Kim asked.

I quickly recalled what happened hours ago.

"Did you go to meet the father of your baby?"

The father? nah. I guess he won't want to ever see me, and I will never let him know of this child. He doesn't deserve to be a father.

Aunt Kim hailed a taxi, and we got in.

"I asked you a question, Khloe". She repeated herself

"No, ma'am"

"You went to open your leg for someone else?" she added.

Her words shattered me completely.

I know I messed up but I won't mess up again.

"No, ma'am" I responded.

"Khloe, who is the father of this baby?". This question was followed by an unusual silence. I couldn't tell her. No one, apart from my classmates knew about my relationship.

"You don't want to say anything?".

Aunt Kim drew closer to me, and for a moment, I was expecting a loud thud on my face.

She wrapped her arms around me and it felt so comforting.

'How did she know I desperately needed this?' I pondered.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I will always be with you because I don't want you to harm yourself or your baby. I hope you know this whole pregnancy thing, just jeopardized with your study for the mean time."

I love this lady so much. I felt much comfortable with her than my mum.

She understood me much better. All I could do, was nod my head without uttering any word.

"No.7 lane" she told the cab driver as he pulled up in front of a gate.

I have been here countless times, and here always felt like home but today felt different. I felt I was being taken to a strange land, away from my mum, without mum trying to hold me back. Is it because I will soon become a mother? I will miss mum dearly.

Aunty Kim lived in a one bedroom flat. Her house was well furnished with middle-class furniture. The view from the room was equally great.

"I will help you unpack" She called out.

"Thanks" I shivered.

I have a lot of thinking to do. Here I am, about to bring in a child, without a father, just like me to suffer.

***

I walked into Aunt Kim's room, and it felt like a different room. I have been here countless times, This has always being my second home but why did it feel different today?

I placed my hands on the blue marble wall and stared at my favorite wallpaper. it was a picture of a woman, and her little baby.

For the first time, this picture made sense to me. it reflected my current situation.

The lady looks like a girl in her teen, left alone to raise her baby all by herself.

Beside it, A large frame of Aunt Kim in her nurse uniform was there.

Aunt Kim is a tall elegant lady in her late 40's. Sometimes, I wonder why she isn't yet married.

She has an oval shape of face, just like me.

"Sit" She said behind me

"I didn't notice your presence" I said, turning to her direction, and heading to the bed.

I noticed her nails on the bed, it was well-polished. I could see the wrinkles on her face, seems like she aged few seconds ago. That disappointed stare never left her eyes. I wish she could stop glaring at me.

"I am sorry" I heard myself mutter again. I felt judged by her eyes.

She chuckled. "Sorry? What can sorry do right now? it can't fix anything" she said

I know sorry meant nothing but that's all I could say.

"Hey" she pulled me closer. "Do you want to keep the baby?" Do I? Hell no! I really don't know what will become of me if I keep the baby. At this point, I want to see the baby, and strangle her with my hands. I just want my life back.

"I am talking to you. All I need is a yes or no response" Her voice sounded firm.

"I don't know. I don't want to keep the baby, and I want to keep the baby. I am so scared, and too young for this." I responded with teary eyes. Did I just say, I am too young? No, I am not. I will soon be a mum.

"You will soon be a mum then." Aunt Kim said, like she has been listening to my thoughts. "First thing first, you need to sleep. Don't think about anything right now. You need a sane mind. okay?" Why is she so nice to me? it made me feel uncomfortable because it felt like, I don't deserve it but then, she is not just my mum's friend, or my second mum, but my bestfriend.

"Trust me, when I say, I am disappointed in you, and you'll always get reminded of this. We expected so much from you, Khloe. By the way, I will prepare something for both of us, and you look pale." Her voice sounded sad, and yet she still managed to smile at me.

I felt alive once she left. it felt like I have been holding my breath for so long.

"Khloe, go take your bath." She called out from the kitchen.

***

Royce Cornell sat across Mike, his bestfriend. His browny hair was unkempt, which was unusual.

"Man, you look mad. Did you guys break up again?" Mike asked.

"Yes. Not really but yeah, we are no longer together. Man, I can't keep up with it" Royce replied.

"I told you long ago to leave her. You deserve better. There are a lot of sophisticated ladies out there." Mike said

Royce and Mike has being best of friends ever since their childhood. Royce, clocking 20 by next month, and Mike, already 19. They grew up telling each other everything, never keeping secrets.

Mike opened the Declan wine, poured a little quantity into his friend's wine glass. "Trust me, the wine tastes real good." he said, pouring some for himself, and raising his glass for a toast.

Royce took a sip, "Yeah, this is really good" he said, smacking his lips.

"Did you ever love her?" Mike asked

Royce almost got choked on his wine. "Why?" he asked, after recovering, "Why will I be with her for this long if I didn't love her? What do you take me for, man?"

"Sorry, dude. I got curious at a point, because of the constant break-up. I am just looking out for you. No shades."

"Do you think, it's easy on me? Do you think I am okay?" Royce continued questioning his friend in a bittered tone.

Mike felt tongue-tied, but minutes later, he found the words to say. "Why did you guys break up this time around?" he asked, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

"It just didn't work out. We are still teenagers trying to figure our lives." Royce replied. He gulped in the last wine in his glass, and stood up. "I will see you around." he said to Mike.