JEMIMA

Chapter 37

"Wait!!!" Ephraim called after Jemima who was running with tears flowing down her eyes. He ran as fast as he could to reach her. "Jemima!!!" He called again but she wasn't listening. The students who stood near watched as they ran, with puzzled and confused looks.

He caught up with her and puller her. She turned immediately and stared at him, her eyes were wet and she looked like she was going to pass out any minute from now. Ephraim who was so worried grabbed her arms.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked his fear evident in his voice.

"Wrong with me?" Jemima asked. After a brief silence, "I can't even talk about it!" She yelled. Whatever was wrong was terrible, and Ephraim was too scared to imagine.

"Jemi. You can talk to me about anything",

" Leave me alone!"

"Talk to me! I'm your boyfriend!" Ephraim said.

"I said leave me alone!", Jemima shouted and released herself from Ephraim's grip. She dashed off and Ephraim watched her leave. His heart was wounded seeing he didn't know what to do. All eyes were on him, he glanced around and rubbed his head, walking away from where he was standing.

••••

"Olatoni!", Nurse Temidayo called as she set the table. They were having dinner but Toni was busy reading her new Bible in the room.

Nurse Temidayo had gotten her a Bible the same day she said the sinner's prayer and gave her life to Jesus. It had been a jolly ride, she found solace and life with the words she read from the Bible. Nurse Temidayo was also more than excited to help her out in her walk with God.

" Ma!" Toni answered from the room. She rushed downstairs and to the dining room. "Oh my God, I didn't know you have set the table. I'm so sorry ma, I should have been here to help you", Toni said hurriedly making moves to help her host with the housework before them.

Nurse Temi laughed as she watched Toni. A lot had changed about the young girl in just a few days and she was grateful to God for the changes visible in her. She has become more peaceful and happy for the moment she accepted God's love and forgiveness. Nurse Temidayo was more than happy for her. But there was still a lot unclear to her, and she hoped to get some things out from Toni soon.

" Toni dear. I can do this so why stress you. Besides I love that you love your Bible so much. There's a lot God wants you to know through his word". Nurse Temidayo said.

"Yes. I see that. I can't help but smile with all I've read from the Bible. All I have learned in just a few days of reading. I can not imagine I have missed all this, for most of my life". Nurse Temi giggled as they sat down and settled to eat. "Just last night. I read about how Jesus not only save us from sin but also gave us the chance to be God's children. Like, I'm God's daughter!", Toni said happily.

" Yes, you are. And I'm sure he is so proud of you now", Nurse Temi said. Toni said the prayers and they started eating. The food was a plate of Jollof rice, fried plantain, and chicken. Toni started eating, but nurse Temidayo watched her while taking small spoons.

"Olatoni", she called her.

" Uh", Toni answered lifting her eyes from her food and watching her.

"I wanted to ask. You've not talked about your family before", Toni sighed and pulled a sad look. Nurse Temi felt bad for raising the topic. " I'm sorry--"

"I'm an orphan", Toni blurted.

" Oh. I'm sorry about that", Nurse Temi stuttered. "It must have been hard for you", Toni nodded and continued eating. They finished eating and Nurse Temi left Toni to clear the dishes. Toni cleared the table and watched the plates. After that, she walked to the living room where Nurse Temi was seated watching a movie.

" You are done", Nurse Temi said as Toni sat down.

"Yes ma"...

" How old is your pregnancy?" Nurse Temi asked.

"Three months", Toni answered.

" We should start you antenatal soon", Toni nodded.

Nurse Temi, sat up as she could not ignore the burning in her heart to ask this question. Though she was sure it could upset Toni.

"I need to ask you something. And I apologize in advance if this makes you feel bad", Nurse Temi said in a motherly tone.

" No problem ma. You can ask", Toni responded.

"What about the father. Does he know about the pregnancy", Nurse Temi asked.

Toni's countenance fell at the mention of the baby's father. It was a topic she wished to forget but she would have to face it sooner or later. She felt Nurse Temi deserved to know, besides, she had been the one taking care of her and the baby all this while. It was only fair she knew the history of the girl under her roof.

Meanwhile, Nurse Temi felt bad that she had asked Toni that question. It was obvious the girl had passed through a lot and probably wasn't proud f the way her pregnancy came. She shouldn't have. Opening her mouth, she proceeded to apologize for asking Toni such questions.  But Toni beat her to it.

"I'm sure he knows already", Toni said.

"Oh?", Nurse Temi asked, expecting her to say more.

" His wife must have told him", Toni said, tears forming in her eyes.

" His wife? ", Nurse Temi asked confused. A million thoughts ran through her mind. But she dished them since she wasn't proud of what she was thinking about.

"Yes", Toni burst into uncontrollable tears. Nurse Temi stood up and walked up to her. She sat on the edge of the couch she was sitting and rubbed her shoulder in a bid to calm her down.

"It's okay Toni. There's nothing to feel bad about, it's in your past and you are a new being now. It's okay", She consoled.

Toni sniveled, making up her mind to let out all she had been keeping in her. She could trust Nurse Temi won't judge or condemn her, and if she did, Jesus was there for her.

"I'm pregnant for my uncle", Toni said.

"What?!" Nurse Temi exclaimed. She didn't expect that. She was expecting pregnant for her boss, or her teenage boyfriend or raped by a street tout. Not her uncle.

"This is not my first time being pregnant. He would make me abort my babies. For years! " Toni said, and she felt the pain she used to feel back then all over again.

"I lost my parents when I was eight. He took me in,
and cared for me at first. I had nobody, only him and his wife. So I trusted him", Toni said as she cried. " Two years after I started leaving with them, he got a junior colleague pregnant. At that time he and his wife didn't have any child. His wife went crazy and vented her anger on me all the time. After a while, my uncle would come to my room. Fondle me. He said it was his way of relieving the stress his wife was giving him", Toni paused. " He would have sex with me and I couldn't say anything. Because he was all I had, I believed that was my way of repaying him for being there when no one was. But he was taking advantage of my Innocence and I had no idea. Until now!"

" God! Your uncle is such a creep. Olatoni, you've passed through a lot", Nurse Temi said in a shaking voice as she was in tears too. She hugged Toni tightly not wanting to let her go. All she had just said made her love Toni more. She was just innocent and kind. How could a girl pass through that much?